The number of people ditching their TV licences in favour of streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or Now TV.

More than 860,000 TV licences were cancelled in 2017-18, compared to 798,000 in 2016-17.

The figures amount to 2,300 cancellations a day.

The BBC has confirmed the TV licence's price will increase to £154.50 starting from April, 1

Netflix is believed to have 9.78 million UK subscribers and is becoming increasingly popular

Television licences are compulsory to watch live television or use the BBC's iPlayer service.

The charge applies whether the show is being watched on a TV set, computer, tablet or any other equipment.

In March last year, 25.8 million licences were held.

Television licences are compulsory to watch live television or use the BBC's iPlayer service

It is now believed that the 'Netflix effect' is leading viewers to abandon their BBC TV licences entirely.

Streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or Now TV do not require any license.

A basic Netflix subscription costs £5.99 a month (about £72 a year).

Twitter users showed their disapproval when the BBC announced their plan to bring the TV licence up by £4 starting from April, 1

The annual cost of a television licence is £150.50 at the moment.

The BBC has confirmed the price will increase to £154.50 starting from April 1.

More than 670,000 licences were cancelled in the first nine months of 2018, The Times reported.

A basic Netflix subscription costs £5.99 a month, which amounts to about £72 a year

A total of 5.9 million licences have been cancelled since 2012.

TV Licensing said people cancelled their licences for various reasons, such as moving in with a partner who already had a licence.

Cancellations include some payment failures.

Netflix alone is believed to have 9.78 million UK subscribers.

The BBC is currently having talks with ITV and Channel 4 about setting up a British rival to Netflix with a monthly fee, offering access to programmes on iPlayer for up to a year after broadcast.

7 per cent of households were found to have evaded the licence fee despite watching TV.

Streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or Now TV do not require a licence

Programmes shown on the BBC include Strictly Come Dancing, Killing Eve, Bodyguard, EastEnders and the World Cup.

Customers can now buy their TV licence with small cash payments or direct debit.

A Government-funded scheme proving free TV licences to older viewers will come to an end in June, 2020.

According to Age UK, about 50,000 UK pensioners could be pushed below the poverty line if the free TV licence is scrapped.