MPA Rejects UK Government Plan to Involve Streamers in BBC Licence Fee Collection

The streaming industry is pushing back against regulatory attempts to offload public broadcasting funding challenges, underscoring a broader tension between traditional media models and global digital services. For platforms, new collection responsibilities could increase operational costs and negatively affect user experience, potentially leading to churn in a competitive market. While the UK government explores modernizing the BBC's funding, the industry's firm opposition complicates efforts to broaden the licence fee's reach. Watch for the forthcoming government White Paper later this year, which will outline concrete policy intentions for the BBC's next Royal Charter.

The pushback from the MPA comes as the UK media landscape undergoes significant regulatory shifts. In February 2026, the UK government laid secondary legislation to implement the Media Act 2024, bringing major video-on-demand services with over 500,000 UK users under enhanced Ofcom regulation (per GOV.UK, February 2026). This means platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ will face content standards and accessibility codes similar to traditional broadcasters. Ofcom's proposals, published in May 2026, require Tier 1 streaming services to subtitle at least 80% of content, provide audio description on 10%, and signing on 5% (Broadband TV News, May 2026). These regulatory moves highlight an ongoing effort to create a more level playing field between linear and on-demand services, particularly regarding audience protection and accessibility. However, the studios' current rejection of licence fee collection suggests a clear boundary for their engagement with new regulatory burdens, especially those impacting direct revenue or operational structure. The BBC's current Royal Charter expires at the end of 2027, with a new one slated for January 1, 2028, necessitating a resolution to these funding and regulatory debates.