Do I need a TV licence to watch Netflix?

YOU don't need a TV licence to own a TV set - but you'll cop a hefty fine in certain circumstances.

So what are the rules surrounding subscription services like Netflix, Amazon or Now TV?

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Do I need a TV licence?

The law says you need to be covered by a TV licence to watch or record programmes as they're being shown on TV, on any channel, according to .

Viewers also need a TV licence for:

• Watching or streaming shows live on an online TV service, such as ITV hub, All 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video (in certain circumstances), Now TV, Sky Go (on mobile, tablet/laptop) etc
• Any +1 channels
• Any BBC iPlayer, live or streamed later

Amazon Prime Video subscribers will need to have the licence if they watch live TV series.

Watching live TV or catch-up through the BBC iPlayer on any device without a TV licence is a criminal offence and if you're caught, you could be fined up to £1,000.

In Jersey the maximum fine is £500.

You can pay for your licence all in one go or spread the cost throughout the year using direct debit.

Almost 3.5million Brits have cancelled their TV licence fee in the last four years — a rate of almost one million a year.

The cost of the annual TV licence will rise by £3 from April 1, 2020, from £154.50 to £157.50.

The Government said in 2016 the fee would rise in line with inflation for five years every year from April 1, 2017.

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Do I need a TV licence to watch Netflix and iPlayer?

You don’t need a TV Licence if you only ever use the subscription services of Netflix, Amazon or Now TV to watch on demand or catch-up programmes.

But, it's a different story with iPlayer - to download or watch any BBC programmes on iPlayer, you need to be covered by a TV Licence.

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Is the TV licence free for over-75s?

In June 2019, BBC bosses axed free licences for the over-75s.

Any household where at least one person still receives pension benefit will continue to get the licence for free.

But from June 2020, around 3.7million pensioners will have to shell out to watch TV.

That's because free TV licences, funded by the government for all over-75s, will come to an end.

Instead, from June 1 there will be a new, more restricted scheme for free TV licences.

TV fans eligible for the BBC-funded scheme are those aged 75 or over receiving Pension Credit.

If you're not receiving this credit in your, or your partner's name, you'll need to pay for your next licence.

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Which streaming services are exempt from the TV licence?

You don't need a TV licence if you only ever watch on-demand or catch-up programmes on services other than BBC iPlayer.

Many are snubbing the BBC in favour of streaming sites such as Netflix, statistics reveal.