Many people refuse to pay for a TV licence, with some of the general public becoming increasingly disillusioned with the BBC.
The TV licence is a bill that most households in the UK pay on a monthly or yearly basis. It is the BBC’s main source of funding, providing around £3.7 billion of its £5 billion annual income, although thousands are now voting with their feet and refusing to fork out for one.
You need one if you watch live TV – as in live when broadcast – or use the BBC’s iPlayer. It costs £159 per year and is expected to be kept at its current rate until April 2024, reports the Liverpool Echo.
You don’t need one, though, if you only watch streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, ITVX, Disney Plus, YouTube, Discovery Plus, 4 On Demand or any other channel’s catch-up service. There have been talks of the fee being scrapped completely by 2027, but for now the annual payment continues.
What is a TV licence? When do I need one?
A TV licence gives the holder legal permission to use television-receiving equipment, such as an aerial, to watch programmes as they are being shown on TV. So if you are watching a TV show, while it is going out live, you need a licence.
That includes watching the shows through paid-for services like Sky, Virgin Media and NOW TV, and viewing on a computer, or through an app on your games console, phone or Smart TV. You also need one if you use BBC’s iPlayer to watch any content.
If you are watching other apps, like ITV Player, you need a licence IF you are watching the shows as they go out live. You also need a licence if you are recording live TV to watch later.
What does a TV licence cover?
A single TV licence covers all of the following in a single property:
TV sets; computers; laptops; tablets; mobile phones; any other device that can receive a TV signal.
How long does a TV licence last?
A TV licence is usually valid for a year after the day it is paid for.
I pay for Sky/Virgin/BT TV – do I still need to buy a licence?
Yes, if you watch TV through a digital box, such as Sky, Virgin or BT, you still need to pay for a licence.
You need to be covered by a TV licence if you watch live TV on any channel or device. This includes:
– if you’re watching on TV or on an online TV service;
– for all channels, not just the BBC;
– if you record a programme and watch it later;
– if you watch a programme on a delay;
– to watch or record repeats;
– to watch or record programmes on +1, +2 and +24 channels;
– to watch live programmes on Red Button services;
– even if you already pay for cable, satellite or other TV services;
– to watch satellite or online programmes shown live from outside the UK or Channel Islands
You can be fined up to £1,000 if you watch or record live TV without a TV Licence. You don’t need a licence to watch anything on a battery-powered device if you have a license for your home or parents home.
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