Paying your TV Licence is expensive. Not paying may be more expensive still
With so many bills to pay and so little cash to go round, the £145.50 annual requirement for a TV Licence is by some people purposely overlooked. But this small saving can later cost you dearly: watching live TV without a valid licence is a criminal offence, which can lead to prosecution, a court appearance and a fine of up to £1,000 plus legal costs. See all digital home reviews.
There's a good chance that those who don't own a licence but do watch live TV will be caught out, too. If your home doesn't have a TV Licence, you are already on the TV Licensing authority's database; don't make the mistake of thinking the TV Licensing authority will simply take your word for it if you say you don't own a TV. Enforcement officers carry handheld signal-detection devices and have access to a fleet of vans that can quickly identify TV-receiving equipment at targeted addresses. Visit Digital Home Advisor.
There are ways you can save money on your TV Licence, of course. If you're prepared to watch black-and-white TV the licence will cost you a more manageable £49 per year, while over-75s can apply for a free licence. If you're registered blind or severely sight-impaired you qualify for a discount; those who live in your home can benefit by transferring the licence into your name. If you're a student, you can also get a refund for the summer months that you spend away from uni. But if you really want to avoid paying the TV Licence fee, just don't watch live TV.
Do you still need a TV Licence?
That final suggestion would have been laughable (read petrifying) only a few years ago. But, today, with fast broadband available to more of us than ever, a range of online catch-up TV solutions, YouTube and other web video sites, LoveFilm, Netflix, DVDs and Blu-ray, it's quite possible to get your telly fix without parting with the annual premium. Potentially, you could even start saving right now, and cash in what's left of your TV Licence today.
In simple terms, a TV Licence is required to watch only live TV broadcasts, whether that's on a TV, a PC, a laptop, a smartphone or a tablet. If you are using some sort of time-shifting technology to pause, rewind, fast-forward and record programmes, this feed is still considered to be live and you will need a TV Licence. However, watch on-demand that content an hour or so later and it doesn't fall under this licensing requirement. Likewise, movies and online video do not demand ownership of a TV Licence.
The number of households that subscribe to broadband but do not hold a TV Licence is estimated to be very small. If this figure dramatically increases changes then the BBC has in the past said it may seek to include under the TV Licensing authority's remit catch-up TV; for now, though, on-demand content remains a loophole.
Do I need a TV Licence to own a TV?
No, you do not need a TV Licence to own a TV. When you buy any equipment that is capable of receiving a TV signal you will be asked for your home address. This information is passed on to the TV Licensing authority and, if it doesn't have you on its database, it will send you a reminder to buy a TV Licence. If you are not using the equipment to watch live TV (for instance, it's hooked up only to a games console or used for playing training videos) you will need to declare this to the TV Licensing authority; it's possible that an enforcement officer will be sent to verify this is the case. However, according to the authority, one in five people are found to need a TV Licence; if this is you, you could face prosecution, a court appearance, and a fine of up to £1,000 (plus legal costs).
Do I need a TV Licence to watch TV on my smartphone, tablet or laptop?
You don't need a TV Licence to watch on-demand content on your smartphone, tablet or laptop. However, if the content is live, you will need a TV Licence to watch TV on a mobile device.
Your home's TV Licence also covers any device that is powered solely by its own batteries, wherever you are. This means, provided that you don't plug your device into the mains, you can watch live TV on a mobile phone, tablet or laptop inside a property that isn't covered by a TV Licence, such as when you're in a shop, bar or restaurant or at work. (You might get sacked, of course, so be careful.)
"As long as the address where you live is licensed, you’re also covered to watch TV outside your home using any device powered solely by its own internal batteries. This includes your mobile phone, laptop and tablet," according to the TV Licensing authority.
Do I need a TV Licence to watch catch-up TV?
No, you do not need a TV Licence to watch BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, 4oD or any other on-demand TV service. However, any live features within these services, such as iPlayer's 'Watch Live' simulcast option, demand a licence.
According to the BBC, "A 'live' TV programme is a programme that is watched or recorded at the same time (or virtually the same time) as it is being broadcast or otherwise distributed to members of the public. As a general rule, if a person is watching a programme on a computer or other device at the same time as it is being shown on TV then the programme is 'live'. This is sometimes known as simulcasting.
"If you are using the live rewind function to either restart the current live programme or to rewind any live stream for up to 2 hours, a TV Licence is required as you are still accessing the live simulcasts."
Do I need a TV Licence to watch YouTube?
No, you do not need a TV Licence to watch YouTube videos: you are not watching live TV content as it is broadcast. TV programmes that are uploaded to the video site following their broadcast follow the same rules as catch-up TV.
Do I need a TV Licence to watch films?
A TV Licence is required to watch films only as they are broadcast on live TV. Films enjoyed following their broadcast via on-demand services, and those provided via DVD or Blu-ray, are not subject to the licensing requirement.
Do I need a TV LIcence to watch Netflix and LoveFilm?
No, you do not need a TV Licence to watch Netflix or LoveFilm. The content provided by these services is offered on-demand; that is, it is not streamed as it is broadcast. If either service starts to stream live TV then a TV Licence will be required.
Do I need a TV Licence to watch TVCatchup?
Yes, you do need a TV Licence to watch TVCatchup. Some confusion may be caused by the naming of this service: rather than catch-up TV, it offers live broadcasts of free-to-air television programmes through a web browser or mobile app on your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. Since you are watching this content at the same time as it is broadcast on the TV, a TV Licence is required.
Do I need a TV Licence to watch Sky Go?
Yes, Sky Go demands a TV Licence. Regardless of whether you watch content from the BBC and other Freeview channels or stick to Sky's own programming, your home must be covered by a TV Licence if you subscribe to Sky. In this case, you will also be covered to watch live content from Sky using Sky Go on your smartphone, tablet or computer - and do so from outside the home, provided the device is powered solely by its own batteries. Although the catch-up content within Sky Go is technically exempt from the licensing requirement, a Sky subscription itself is not.
Comments
Joe Donut said: Thats why I watch on mixvidnet
Gerard White said: Wrong radio is broadcast free to air and no license is needed to listen to live radio programmes
Gerard White said: You do not need to prove you do not watch live TV It is the TV licensing authority who have the burden of proof that you do watch live TV
Gerard White said: Enforcement officers carry handheld signal-detection devices and have access to a fleet of vans that can quickly identify TV-receiving equipment at targeted addressesThe above quote is absolute rubbish it would be illegal for anyone to use such a device without a search warrant issued by the Courts in order to get a warrant they would need to produce evidence that you are watching television without a license if they have such evidence then they can get a search warrant However even then you do not have to alow them entry to your home and they cannot force their way in You would however be in contempt of a Court Order and would need to attend Court to explain why you did not alow entry
Richard Sebire said: So I got my youview box today 299 500gb of secure boot rom really If I plug in the aerial on the back its another 150 for the licenceWe are already looking at hacking it via the USB It seems a simple daisy chain attack will work just like we did with the PS3I personally hate the BBC with their political evilness Constantly broadcasting their views on homosexuality and pedophilia Every show from them its seems is to feature one as in a representation of British lifeIm hoping to add my own ips to the EPG as soon as soon I can open the romThe only service I care for is death row tvcom 299 to choose an inmate and to get a live execution Brilliant With all electrocutions burning is normalYou could even add an ip to the EPG for liveleak so you can watch all the murders on it Much more entertaining than the bunch of fags and pedos I have come to expect from the BritishThe irony of watching someone get their throat slit or hostages being eaten is much more interesting and entertainingBritain is dead long live cyberspace150 for a licence they should be paying usits an insult really not even in the unfair tax list just a plain and simple insult
Tasha said: Yes but how do I prove I dont watch live TV We almost never watch live TV with the exception of Formula One Which we can watch on catch up anyway So do I just site my Broadband connection
Patrick said: This myth of detection equipment crap is all bullshit Possibly in the old days but now its just straight database managementThey have a database of homes and they run lists of who hasnt got a licence They then send a fat bloke round to ask you if you have a tv If you do you get a direct debit mandate and they go on their wayI got visited and asked why i had no licence and i replied that i had no tv cause the ex took it I showed them the other rooms and they said thank you and leftTwo years on I still dont have a TV and I wont be getting one either life is better without one
Charlesjones said: Even if BBCTV License detection did what they claim it does evidence from such equipment has never been used for prosecution Why The BBC boasts that it is secret technology but this makes itinadmissiblein court Thedefenseneeds access to thespecifications of such equipment
Marie Brewis said: Actually although just over 2 of your monthly TV Licence fee is spent on radio you dont need a TV Licence to listen to radio This is from TVLAs site Is a TV Licence required for listening to digital radio broadcastsA TV Licence is required to watch or record TV programmes as they are being shown on TV regardless of the channel and device being used eg TV computer laptop mobile phone game console digital box or DVDVHS recorder and how it is receive terrestrial satellite cable via the internet or any other way You do not need a TV Licence if you only use this equipment to listen to digital radio broadcasts
cyteck said: You havent answered the next most obvious question YES I know your only talking about TV programs What about radio programs do you still need to have a license to listen to radio I suspect the answer is YES if your listening to a live braodcast ie in real time not recorded But what about BBC Iplayer radio which is a new BBC service is this also considered live broadcast