Netflix fans will need to make sure they’re playing by the rules (Picture: Illustration by Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Netflix fans could face a whopping £1,000 fine after tuning into a massive new show.
Earlier this month, long running WWE programme Monday Night Raw premiered on the streamer, with hundreds of wrestling shows now available to stream on the platform.
The debut episode on January 6 pulled in 4.9million live viewers globally, including 2.6million in the US, and days later landed at number 4 in Netflix’s weekly global TV rankings.
However, Brits could be facing a penalty for watching the live show – which airs at 1am every Monday night – if they don’t already have a TV License.
Although you don’t need one to watch Netflix content on demand, live broadcasts are another issue.
On Gov.uk, the site warns: ‘You can be fined up to £1,000 if you watch or record live TV without a TV Licence.’
WWE has arrived on Netflix in a big way (Picture: WWE/Getty Images)
‘Under UK law, any live television broadcast requires a valid TV Licence, regardless of the streaming platform,’ Daniel McAfee, head of legal operations at Lawhive, told MailOnline.
First airing in January 1993, Monday Night Raw is one of the longest running weekly episodic shows in history, with fans tuning in all around the world.
Its move to Netflix was the end of an era after over three decades on traditional television – but now WWE fans can access everything via the streamer.
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As well as live weekly shows Raw, NXT and SmackDown on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, fans can also tune in to see every monthly premium live event, with the Royal Rumble approaching on February 1.
There are some gems to delve back into as well, with almost all historic WWE pay-per-view/premium live events – including every single WrestleMania – available to watch on demand.
Every NXT TakeOver is on there too, along with select episodes of Raw and SmackDown (including everything from the last couple of years), with plenty more on the way in the coming months.
The Netflix Era is here – but fans have to be careful (Picture: WWE/Getty Images)
The first Raw on Netflix was a star-studded affair, with everyone from Seth Green and Macaulay Culkin to Ashton Kutcher and Vanessa Hudgens shown in the front row.
As well as returning legends like The Undertaker, John Cena, The Rock and Hulk Hogan – who had a night to forget with fans booing him out of the building – the event also gave new fans a taste of what’s on offer.
CM Punk, Roman Reigns and Rhea Ripley were among the big winners on the night, with the latter beating longtime rival Liv Morgan to become Women’s World Champion.
Penta made his debut on the second Netflix episode of Raw (Picture: WWE)
WWE continued the momentum earlier this week on Raw, as former AEW luchador Penta made his highly anticipated debut.
SmackDown star Chelsea Green told Metro: ‘He is incredible, such a talented human being. So I would be – oh my gosh! I would be so excited to work alongside him.’
Netflix is the official UK home for WWE.
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