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Do I need a TV licence to watch live TV?
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Do I need a TV licence for BBC iPlayer?
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Do I need a licence to watch a programme?
Jan 15, 2024 · If you have a TV but don't watch it, you don't need a licence. Many wrongly believe you need to be covered by a TV licence if you have the ability to watch 'live' television, even if you don't watch it. You only need a licence if you actually watch live television, or use BBC iPlayer.
- Overview
- Apply for this licence
- How much it costs
- If you live in a shared household
- Students
- Businesses
- Change or cancel your TV Licence
- Apply by phone
- Fines and penalties
You need a TV Licence to watch or record programmes on a TV, computer or other device as they're broadcast, and to watch on-demand BBC programmes on iPlayer
Start now on the TV Licensing website
You need a TV Licence if you:
•watch or record live TV on any channel or service
•use BBC iPlayer
You may be able to get a free or discounted TV Licence if you’re 75 or over and get Pension Credit, or if you’re blind or in residential care.
You do not need a TV Licence to watch:
A TV Licence costs £159 (£53.50 for black and white TV sets) for both homes and businesses.
You need your own TV Licence if you have separate tenancy agreements and you watch TV in your own room.
You can have one TV Licence for the whole household if you either:
•watch TV in a single shared area
•have a joint tenancy agreement
If you’re living in university accommodation you’ll need a TV Licence to watch TV in your own room. Shared areas may already be covered by a TV Licence.
If you live at another address outside of term time, you can use its TV Licence while you’re at university on any device that’s:
•battery powered
•not plugged in
If your business offers overnight accommodation, for example a hotel, you need a TV licence for guests to watch TV in their room. A single TV Licence will cover up to 15 rooms or accommodation units.
If you move home you can update your address on the TV Licencing website.
You can cancel your TV Licence or apply for a refund on the TV Licencing website.
TV Licensing
Telephone: 0300 790 6071
Minicom: 0300 709 6050
Find out about call charges
You can be fined up to £1,000 if you watch or record live TV without a TV Licence.
Don’t need a TV Licence? Before you decide to tell us that you don’t need a TV Licence, please make absolutely sure. Your TV Licence lets you enjoy a huge range of TV. It covers you for: All TV channels, like BBC, ITV, Channel 4, U&Dave and international channels. Pay TV services, like Sky, Virgin Media and EE TV.
You need to be covered by a TV Licence to watch TV channels live on any TV service or streaming service - such as ITVX, Channel 4, Amazon Prime Video, Now or Sky Go. You don’t need a TV Licence if you only ever watch on demand programmes on any TV service apart from BBC iPlayer*.
If you watch or record 'live' TV on any channel – either through your TV or through a website or app – then you need a TV licence. This applies whether you receive Freesat, Freeview or a pay-TV service in your home.
You need a TV Licence to watch or stream live TV on any streaming platform, channel or device. Can I watch BBC catch up without a TV Licence? No, you cannot watch any catch up programmes on BBC iPlayer without a TV Licence.
May 30, 2024 · Key points. In the UK, a TV licence is mandatory for watching or recording live TV, including streaming live content online. A TV licence is not required for watching on-demand services like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, or Britbox, which do not feature live broadcasts.
