Nandy cautions that any subscription or paywall moves must be balanced against national unity and broad access to BBC content.

Reports, including from The Times, suggest that Netflix and Amazon Prime subscribers could be required to pay the TV licence under widened scope proposals.

The government says it will respond after reviewing responses to the BBC Charter Review consultation, with a white paper due later this year.

The BBC notes in its March green paper that on-demand viewing isn’t licensable unless it involves BBC content on iPlayer, highlighting a shift away from traditional live TV.

Data in March showed only about 80% of Britons pay the licence while 94% use BBC services monthly, indicating a mismatch between payment and usage.

Ministers worry that introducing advertising could harm commercial rivals like ITV and Channel 4.

The licence fee stands at £180 (as of April), with the BBC reporting a 25% income decline over the past decade and a £500 million savings plan expected to cut around 2,000 jobs over two years.

The BBC has adopted a £500 million cost-cutting programme over two years aimed at saving about 2,000 jobs, amid the revenue drop.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has signalled openness to exploring subscription-based approaches while warning about potential impacts on national unity and access.

There is an ongoing UK debate about expanding the TV licence to cover streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video to stabilise BBC funding.

The BBC rejects advertising or individual service subscriptions as the main funding path, instead signaling a move toward an expanded universal licence fee that would cover streaming platforms.

The BBC argues current rules no longer reflect how audiences consume content and suggests the licensing model should adapt to modern viewing habits.