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Streaming Rights 101 for Venues: What Newcastle Bars Need to Know After JioHotstar’s Big Numbers

nnewcastle

2026-02-11

9 min read

A practical 2026 guide for Newcastle bars on streaming rights, public performance licences, costs and how to avoid legal pitfalls when screening cricket or football.

Facing a packed bar for the next big match? Don’t get shut down mid-game.

Newcastle bars and sports venues face two hard truths in 2026: audiences are bigger than ever (see JioHotstar’s record cricket figures) and broadcasters are stricter about how their feeds are shown in public. This guide explains streaming rights, public performance obligations and the practical steps Newcastle venues must take to legally screen high-profile cricket and football.

Why 2026 is different — and why it matters to local venues

Late 2025 and early 2026 saw further consolidation of sports rights into large streaming platforms and regional holders. Case in point: JioHotstar’s record engagement during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup final (reported 99 million digital viewers) sent a clear industry signal — live sport online draws massive audiences and generates major commercial value. That means rights holders are investing in monitoring and enforcement, and they're packaging licences differently: more exclusive digital windows, bespoke venue packages and stricter public-performance clauses.

Bottom line: A consumer subscription or a mate’s laptop won’t cut it. Venues need proper licences — and the closer the match (or the bigger the crowd), the higher the scrutiny.

Key legal frameworks Newcastle venues must know

Three legal pillars sit behind venue screening in the UK. Understand these and you’ll avoid the common pitfalls.

1. Copyright law: public performance rights

The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 governs broadcasting and public performance in the UK. When you show a live broadcast to a public audience, you’re making a public performance. That right is usually controlled by the broadcaster or the programme’s rights holder, not the customer who logged into a streaming app.

2. The Licensing Act 2003 and local council rules

Displaying televised sport can trigger obligations under the Licensing Act 2003, especially if you sell alcohol while showing the event or charge an entry fee. Check Newcastle City Council’s guidance — you may need a premises licence, a variation, or a Temporary Event Notice for one-off screenings.

Playing songs before, during or after a match requires PRS for Music & PPL licences. These cover musical works and sound recordings and are separate from the licence to show the match itself. Most venues hold both; if you don’t, you’ll face separate enforcement actions.

Common myths that get venues in trouble

Myth: "Our Netflix/Disney/JioHotstar account covers public viewing." —False. Consumer accounts explicitly forbid public performance.
Myth: "If it’s on a phone or laptop it’s OK." —False. The device doesn’t change the need for a public-performance licence.
Myth: "Small crowd = no enforcement." —Partly false. Rights holders prioritise high-value events, but even small venues can be targeted if the screening is promoted publicly or tickets are sold.

Costs — what to expect (ballpark figures for Newcastle, 2026)

Costs vary widely with the event, the rights holder, and how you plan to show the match. Expect:

Commercial sports feed subscription: From a few hundred to several thousand GBP per year. High-profile, exclusive rights (e.g., top-tier football or marquee cricket finals) can cost significantly more.
One-off screening fees: Events like cup finals sometimes attract pay-per-screen fees from rights holders. These can be from £100–£2,000 depending on venue size and the match.
PRS/PPL music licences: Typically £200–£1,000+ annually depending on turnover, capacity and hours of music.
Equipment & connectivity: Commercial-grade streaming hardware, a reliable business broadband line and failover can run £500–£3,000 upfront.
Local licence variations or Temporary Event Notices: Council fees are modest (often under £200), but legal advice or consultant support adds cost.

Step-by-step: How to legally show a high-profile match in your Newcastle bar

Follow these practical steps to reduce risk and deliver a great match-day experience.

Step 1 — Identify the rights owner

Check who holds the broadcast rights in the UK for the specific fixture. For football this may be Sky, TNT/Warner Bros Discovery, Viaplay or BBC/ITV for domestic cup ties; for international tournaments or overseas feeds (e.g., JioHotstar coverage), rights may differ. The rights owner is the party who can sell a commercial screening licence.

Step 2 — Don’t use consumer accounts

Consumer streaming T&Cs nearly always prohibit public performance. Using a personal subscription is a breach and grounds for civil action.

Step 3 — Request a commercial licence or venue package

Contact the rights holder’s commercial or pub-licensing team. Ask for a “pub/commercial screening licence” or an authorised venue package. Expect them to ask for venue capacity, postcode, planned admission charges and whether food/alcohol are sold.

Step 4 — Confirm music licences and council permissions

Ensure your PRS and PPL licences are current. Contact Newcastle City Council’s licensing team if you plan to sell entry or extend opening hours.

Step 5 — Deploy robust tech and redundancy

Commercial streaming to venues needs reliable connections and licensed devices. Get a dedicated business broadband line, a hardware encoder if the rights holder requires it, and a monitored router. Have a backup feed (e.g., satellite, second ISP or a licensed DTH feed) for high-stakes matches.

Step 6 — Promote legally

When advertising the screening, use neutral language unless the broadcaster’s promo guidelines allow use of their logos. Avoid implying exclusive partnerships unless confirmed in writing. Overpromoting can attract enforcement.

Practical scenarios and solutions

Scenario A: “We want to screen the ICC final shown on JioHotstar”

JioHotstar holds rights in India and nearby regions; rights in the UK may belong to other broadcasters. If you attempt to source the feed from JioHotstar (for example via an overseas subscription or by streaming a personal login through a VPN), you’ll breach both the platform’s terms and UK copyright law. Instead, locate the UK rights holder and obtain a commercial licence. If the event isn’t licensed in the UK, don’t screen it publicly.

Scenario B: “We’ll show a major football match and charge entry”

Charging entry raises the commercial value of your screening and often increases fees. Make sure your screening licence explicitly allows paid admission, and confirm any limits on advertising or sponsor signage. Notify your insurer, and check fire and capacity rules.

Scenario C: “A customer brings a laptop with a live stream”

This is a risky trap. The device used is irrelevant — if you show the content to your patrons as part of your business activity you need a licence. Politely refuse and offer an authorised feed or refund their cover charge.

Enforcement: what happens if you get it wrong?

Rights holders are now using AI-powered monitoring, watermarking and third-party investigators to spot illicit public screens. Consequences include:

Cease-and-desist notices and takedown demands
Financial claims for unpaid licensing fees and damages
Seizure of equipment in extreme cases or injunctions
Reputational damage and temporary closure until compliance is proved

How new 2026 trends affect licensing and pricing

Three trends are reshaping the venue-screening landscape in 2026:

Streaming consolidation: Fewer, larger rights holders mean clearer but sometimes pricier venue packages.
Venue-focused commercial products: After 2025 market shifts, major platforms now offer explicit “hospitality” tiers for restaurants and bars — cheaper than ad-hoc licences and designed for multi-room, multi-screen venues.
Improved enforcement tech: Automated detection of public streams increases the risk of quick takedowns and penalties for unlicensed venues.

Budget-friendly options for small Newcastle bars

If you’re a small venue, full commercial licences for every match can be costly. Consider these strategies:

Partner with a neighbouring venue to share a licensed feed and split the cost (ensure licence allows shared use).
Promote smaller-scale sports or non-exclusive events that have cheaper licensing options.
Use licensed highlight or recap packages instead of live feeds for certain events.
Leverage the venue-targeted streaming tiers many rights holders launched in 2025–26 — they’re often priced for hospitality businesses.

Checklist: What to do this match-day season (actionable steps)

Identify the event and current UK rights holder.
Contact the rights holder’s commercial licensing team and request a written licence quote.
Confirm PRS and PPL licences are active and adequate for capacity.
Check Newcastle City Council for any premises-licensing requirements or needed notices.
Invest in business-grade broadband, a second ISP or satellite backup for marquee fixtures.
Train staff on refusing unofficial streams and on how to present proof of licence when asked.
Document every purchase and store written permissions — rights audits happen.

Sample email template: Reach out to a rights holder

Use this quick template when contacting a broadcaster or rights team:

Subject: Licence enquiry — public screening at [Venue Name], Newcastle — [Event & Date]

Dear [Rights Team],

We are [Venue Name], a licensed bar at [postcode] in Newcastle. We would like to obtain a commercial screening licence to show [Event name & date] to our paying/non-paying guests. Our capacity is [x] and we will be showing on [number of screens] screens. Please provide licence terms, fees and any technical or promotional restrictions. We can provide additional venue details on request.

Kind regards,

[Name] — [Role], [Venue Name] — [phone] — [email]

Local contacts and services in Newcastle

Need help? Newcastle.live lists trusted local AV installers, licensing consultants and hospitality lawyers. For quick reference:

Newcastle City Council — licensing team (for premises & event notices)
PRS for Music & PPL — public music licences
Local AV contractors — for hardware and redundancy installs
Hospitality insurers — update policies before charging admission

Final thoughts: Make match-days profitable — legally

Streaming numbers like JioHotstar’s huge cricket audience show why fans will flock to venues for shared experiences. But with growing viewership comes stricter enforcement and cost pressures. The safest route is transparent: obtain the right commercial licence, confirm music and council permissions, invest in reliable tech, and promote responsibly. That way you can turn big fixtures into consistent, legal revenue streams for your Newcastle bar.

Quick reference — do this now

Don’t use personal subscriptions for public screenings.
Contact the rights holder early (4–8 weeks before big matches).
Budget for commercial fees and tech redundancy.
Keep written licences and proof available on-site.

Need help navigating licences or finding AV partners in Newcastle?

We can connect you to local specialists who handle venue licences, hardware installs and compliance checks. List your venue or search our local business directory to compare quotes from Newcastle-licensed providers. Start your screening season the right way — legal, reliable and profitable.

Call to action: Find licensed AV installers, licensing advisors and insurance providers on Newcastle.live — or claim your venue listing to get one-on-one help preparing for the next big match.

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