With almost one in ten households not currently holding a TV licence, it seems many people are unwilling to pay the £159 licence fee. Therefore, people all over the UK are at risk of facing a fine of up to £1,000. We asked Peter Goodchild, Programme Lead for the GDL and MA Law at The University of Law, to share some advice to help TV owners understand when they need to purchase a licence, how much it costs, and the potential consequences of avoiding paying for a licence.
By Editorial Team. Published 21 March 2019. Last updated 11 May 2023.
<果冻传媒视频直播 style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Do I really need a licence?
If you’re a homeowner or tenant of a property, and you watch or record programmes on a TV, computer or any other device as the programme is being broadcast live, and/or you download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer, then a TV licence is required. By purchasing a licence you cover anyone in the residence that watches or records a live broadcast through a TV, computer, laptop tablet, mobile phone or any other device that can receive a TV signal.
You don’t need a licence if you are watching non-BBC programmes with online catch-up services, videos, DVDs or Blu-Rays, clips on websites that aren’t live broadcast (e.g. YouTube) and closed-circuit television (CCTV).
<果冻传媒视频直播 style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">How much will it cost me?
The cost for a full colour is currently £159 per year, which can be paid monthly, quarterly or in one lump sum. There is also a licence for black and white TV sets which costs £53.50 per year.
<果冻传媒视频直播 style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Am I exempt from paying for a licence?
If you’re 75 and over and receive Pension Credit, you can apply for a free TV licence. Individuals who have a severe visual impairment can also get a discounted licence. Finally, there are also discounted licences available to those living in residential care homes or sheltered accommodation, which can be organised by management on behalf of the individual.
<果冻传媒视频直播 style="color: #0e101a; background: transparent; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">What happens if I don’t have a licence?
If you’re caught without a TV licence, you could face a fine of up to £1,000 plus any legal costs and compensation incurred. It’s estimated over 250,000 homes currently don’t have a TV licence, 33,000 of which are occupied by young people who are putting themselves at risk of facing a fine. The TV licensing agency has a national database of all licence holders and has enforcement officers that check for TV owners. They also have a fleet of detector vans that can target homes that they think don’t own a licence.
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