What can I watch without a TV Licence?
A TV licence used to be something that every household would need in order to legally watch television. But the ways we watch TV have changed dramatically, particularly over the last few years. There are lots of on-demand services and various streaming services available now and it can be tricky to know whether you really do need a TV licence or not.
The consequences of not owning a licence when you really should have one can be costly, so many people still pay for a licence when in actual fact they really don’t need to.
I like to think I’m fairly clued up on what we need to pay for and what we don’t, but even I have wondered from time to time whether we really need a licence and asked myself what can I watch without a TV licence?
[lwptoc]Do I need a TV Licence?
You don’t need a TV license just to own a television, it’s not something you’re asked to prove when you head out to Currys and buy yourself a new TV. But, depending on what you use your television for, it’s likely that you will need to pay for a TV licence.
If you use your television to watch or record live television shows then you do need to make sure you own a valid TV licence.
There is often confusion when it comes to online TV services, so let’s take a look at the rules.
Do I need a TV Licence to watch YouTube?
If you only use YouTube to watch on-demand videos on YouTube.
However, you DO need a licence if you watch live TV programmes through YouTube, an example of this would be Sky News.
Do I need a TV Licence to watch Netflix?
No, you don’t need a TV Licence to watch Netflix.
Do I need a TV Licence to watch Amazon Prime?
Maybe. If you’re using Amazon Prime to watch any live programmes, then you do need a licence. If you only watch on-demand, pre-recorded programmes, then you’re fine without one.
Do I need a TV Licence to watch Disney Plus?
Again, you can legally watch pre-recorded, on-demand programmes on Disney Plus, but you’ll need a licence to watch anything live.
Do I need a TV Licence if I don’t watch the BBC?
As above, if you watch or record TV programmes that go out live, then you need a licence, regardless of whether these are on the BBC or not.
Do you need a TV Licence to watch BBC iPlayer?
Yes. If you watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer then you do need a licence.
Do you need a TV Licence if you watch on your mobile phone?
It doesn’t matter whether you’re using a mobile device, your laptop or tablet, if you watch anything live, then you need a valid TV Licence.
What happens if I don’t have a TV Licence?
If you don’t have a licence because you don’t need one, then it’s a good idea to fill in a No Licence Needed Declaration. You can do this by filling in the TV Licensing Online Declaration form.
If you don’t have a licence and it turns out that you actually should have one, then you could face prosecution.
How to buy a TV Licence
It’s really easy to buy a TV Licence. You can either buy your licence online through the TV Licensing website or by calling them on 0300 790 6165. You can no longer purchase a licence at the Post Office.
At the time of writing, the annual licence fee is £159 per year. There are a number of different ways you can pay for your licence.
Direct Debit
You can choose to pay by direct debit either annually, monthly or quarterly. Note that there is a £1.25 extra to pay every three months if you pay quarterly. How much is a TV Licence?
Debit or Credit Card
You can pay for your licence in full using a debit or credit card. You can do this either online or over the phone. Just be careful about using a credit card to pay a bill and only do so if you plan to pay your balance in full before you begin to get charged interest.
TV Licensing Payment Card
You can pay small amounts using a TV Licensing Payment card. You can use this card to make weekly or monthly payments either using a PayPoint, via text, over the phone or online.
PayPoint
As well as using a payment card, you can also pay for your licence at a PayPoint using your debit card. You will be asked for your name, address and postcode.
You can find your nearest PayPoint here.
Do over-75s get a free TV Licence?
Some over 75 households are eligible for a free TV licence. In order to be eligible, you must be in receipt of Pension Credit.
Other people who may be eligible for a discount.
There are a few other groups of people who can get a discount on the annual fee.
Discount for Black & White TVs
If you only own a black and white television set, then the annual fee is reduced to £53.50. Whilst it’s no longer possible to buy a new black and white TV set, some older people will still have their old TVs so this is really worth knowing.
Discount for care home or sheltered accommodation residents
Residents of care homes or sheltered accommodation can receive a hefty discount from the licensing authority with an annual fee of just £7.50.
Discount for blind or severely sight impaired
Blind or severely sight impaired TV Licence holders can apply for a 50% reduction in the licence fee.
So there you have it. The vast majority of us probably do need to buy a valid TV Licence. But, if you’re sure you only ever use Catch-up TV services and you don’t use BBC iPlayer, then you don’t need to worry.
