U.K. Netflix Tax Unlikely as Streamers Could be Affected by Trump’s Trade War

A recent proposal in the U.K. about adding a tax on foreign streaming platforms raised concerns among industry experts. The U.K. Parliament committee highlighted the threat to the local TV industry posed by global streamers following the massive success of the British series “Adolescence” on Netflix.

The report presented to the British House of Commons stressed the need for urgent action to protect distinct British content, as emphasized by industry professionals such as director Peter Kosminsky and producer Jane Featherstone. Despite the significant investment U.S. streamers like Netflix have made in British content, the report pointed out a decline in domestic high-end TV productions due to rising costs and fewer commissions from traditional networks.

In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Kosminsky shared insights about the challenges faced during the production of “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light,” citing high production costs that almost prevented the project from happening. Despite financial hurdles that required both the writer and star to make budget cuts, the show was able to move forward.

Furthermore, producers raised concerns about streaming commissions, which often involve buyout deals where the platform owns the intellectual property instead of the creator. This business model differs from traditional broadcaster collaborations, posing challenges for content creators in the industry.