Amazon Fire Stick owners warned they could face £1000 fine in DAYS over simple streaming mistake

AMAZON Fire Stick users could be hit by an unexpected £1000 fine this week when streaming a special event.

Brits are reminded that they must have a TV Licence to watch live streams on any device, not just Fire Sticks.

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Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson will be live on Netflix this week[/caption]

AFP

Netflix has done a number of one-off live specials in the last couple of years[/caption]

You also need one if you use BBC iPlayer whether it’s live or not, and for recording live TV too.

Those who don’t use these and only watch non-live streaming services don’t require a TV Licence.

But with a big live special on Netflix happening this week, some users may forget they will technically need a TV Licence to watch it lawfully.

This one-off live is for the big Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson boxing match.

The pair will face off in the early hours of on Saturday, from the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The main card is set to start at 1am in the early hours of Saturday, November 16.

Ring-walks for Paul vs Tyson are expected to get underway from approximately 4am UK time/11pm ET.

Then Paul vs Tyson, the main event, will get going from around 4am GMT.

It’s not Netflix’s first live special – the streamer began them with The Netflix Cup in November 2023.

An annual TV Licence currently costs £169.50.

The maximum fine for not having one when required is £1000 if you’re caught.

A TV Licensing spokesperson told The Sun: “A TV Licence is needed to watch live content on streaming services, watch or record a TV programme on any channel and when using BBC iPlayer.

“Further information is available on the TV Licensing website or via the customer services team, who can help with any queries.”

TV Licence rules for streaming

The TV Licensing website states that live TV means “any programme you watch or record as it’s being shown on any channel, TV service or streaming service”.

And that doesn’t mean simply live events like football, cricket, news and music, but anything at all as it’s broadcast.

TV Licensing say an online TV service is “any streaming or smart TV service, website or app that lets you watch TV programmes over the internet”.

So this can include services like Channel 4, Sky Go, Now, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and ITVX IF you watch live content on them.

If you only use them to watch on-demand content, you don’t need a TV Licence.

Those caught and found guilty for watching live TV without a TV Licence can receive a maximum fine of up to £1,000.