You can't escape the adverts on TV, on the radio and even on billboards from TV Licensing warning you that it's illegal to watch television without a valid licence and if you are caught without one you will be fined up to £1,000.
With an estimated 98 percent of the UK's population already owning a television set, that's a lot of licences.
But if you think because you haven't got a television set and you watch TV either on your PC or on a mobile phone or portable media -player you're not affected, then think again.
TV Licence: PCs
If you watch or record TV programmes as they're broadcast, you must, by law, be covered by a TV Licence, no matter what device you are using.
However, you don't need to be covered by a licence if you're using only an 'on-demand' service to watch programmes after they have gone out on TV. So, you need a licence to watch any channel live online, but you wouldn't need one to use BBC iPlayer to catch up on an episode of EastEnders or TopGear.
TV Licence: Sky+, Playstation 3 and digital TV recorders
Because Sky+, Playstation 3 and digital TV recorders record programmes as they are broadcast, you still need to be covered by a TV licence to use one. The same rules apply if you use a video or DVD recorder.
TV Licence: Mobile phones
Just as with any other device, if you're watching programmes as they're broadcast on a phone or other mobile device, you need to be covered by a licence.
There are two types of licence available; black and white which costs £47 and a colour licence that is priced at £139.50. There are a number of ways to purchase a licence too.
Choose from one of any of the 20,000 PayPoint outlets across the country, set-up a monthly, quarterly or annual direct debit or purchase your licence online with a debt or credit card. You can also pay over the phone by debit and credit card or by post via a cheque.
If you already own a licence that covers the address you live at, then you are legally allowed to watch TV on computers, mobiles or any other gadgets even those that are powered solely by their own internal batteries outside the home too.
However, it is worth remembering that if you've got a black and white licence then any device you use to watch TV on, whether it's a television set or a mobile phone should only be capable of displaying a black and white picture. If you own a black and white licence yet watch TV in colour then you are breaking the law and will need to upgrade to a colour licence.
There's also some circumstances where you maybe entitled to a concession, for example if you are 74 you can apply for a short term licence which covers until you reach 75, when you qualify for a free licence and also if you are blind or severely sight impaired.
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Comments
Gary said: Thank you for clarifying this I have on occasions used BBCi player whilst at the office and was worried about the licence issue Now i know i am in the clear
Cherry said: contdSo if an MP decides to stand up and announce he is going to do away with this Licence Fee he would certainly get my voteBut on another note sort of money is on the way out and it is about time some of the supposedly governmental bods started looking towards a better future for all If you want to know more go to storeslulucomin-tomorrows-w and read this free book it will certainly open your eyesWell thats my rant over for the day now back to more peaceful thoughts-
Cherry said: contdchoose whether we watch it if its to pay for the airtimeairspace used then that is ridiculous no-one has control over the airspace because the universe is continually expanding and so any airspace we go through is always different and can never be the same section so no-one can charge for using it the airspace belongs to everyone and no-oneWe might need to regulate how many people can use a particular section at anyone time as there are only so many wavelengths but I think it still rests onj choice we no longer have any choice as to whether we want to watch these programs Its a case of we the BBC broadcast them so you WILL pay for them whether you like them or notIf it was to be a nominal fee that might make more sense but at the price it is and then having to pay for other TV stations which have far better content makes the whole cost prohibitivecontd
Cherry said: But Neil the appropriate word here is choiceWith the licence fee we no longer have that choice And as the fee doesnt cover Skys or Freeview programs why are you comparing them to the TV provided in other countriesIf a tv station is mad enough to run programs with a break every 7 minutes I doubt that they will have many viewers for long and whats wrong with having adverts At least you get to know what is being brought to the high street and if you dont like watching them then pre-record the program and press the FF button to whizz through them Added to which the BBC could make far more money through Adverts than they ever will through a licence fee no matter how many times they raise it So its not just about the price of it its about the principal what exactly are we paying it for does anyone really know If its for the programs then there should be a subscription to the service so that we have the option to - contd1000 characters is not enough
Neil said: I support the TV licence - People who complain about it have you seem the TV in other countries Adverts every 7 minutes and awful programs to boot You resent paying for BBC prgrams but you pay for Sky Sky has ruined the sports coverage in this country and others forcing the BBC to pay stupid amounts for programs or games and government policies have forced the BBC to cut a lot of trained staff who make the same programs outside and sell them backThe BBC is free of the commercial imperative which forces other TV companies to make money and attract advertising - which leaves it free to make innovative and challenging programs Yes there are duds and I dont listenwatch all the channels but others do and hopefully enjoy them - do you watch all the channels on Sky
Tony said: BBC is BRITAINS BIGGEST CON Why is it that most people in the UK are now watching SKY and Cable tv and are still forced to buy a TV LICENCE This is a Tax on every home in the UK with a tv to fund the fat cats at the BBC
Terry Steen said: In Australia in the 1970s there were so many watching TV without licenses the patrolling license policing vans were overwhelmed so the government decided to scrap the licenses and fund the ABC BBC from Taxes then everyone paid
ex bbc boss with no cash said: Computers are becoming so inexpensive and the internet ever faster When the time comes for everybody to have the net connected to or part of their downstairs widescreen tv accessing the net to view the majority of all their programmes via on demand services the license will become ever cheaper before finally being phased out It will take time the media may even have to have a hand in bringing the bbc to see some sense perhaps a non payer arguing against the license one day and winning through the courts but the end of the license will one day happen
AuntieTV said: 98 owning a tv-thats alot of tv licenses the bbc wont be running out of cash anytime soon So thats alot of big wages for the big bods and megastars but for two main channels Lol The tv license wont last much longer Americans laugh at the thought of a license to watch tv
David said: One important question you could have answered is When a laptop is powered from the mains is it using mains power or battery power ie is the mains power charging the batteries which power the laptop
dwr50 said: Shirley this is a joke They should be paying viewers a fee to watch the crap put out by TV