Millions of households pay the TV Licence each year, but many are unsure what they’re actually paying for. The fee funds a range of BBC services, not just popular shows like Doctor Who, EastEnders, or Strictly Come Dancing.
Without a licence when one is needed, you could face prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000, plus costs. The standard cost of a yearly TV Licence is £180, and an officer may come to your door if they think you need it but do not have one.
What does my TV Licence fee pay for?
TV Licensing confirms money raised from the TV licence helps fund BBC programmes and services across TV, radio and online, giving licence payers access to a wide and growing range of content, including:
- Eight national TV channels plus regional TV services
- BBC iPlayer - 1000s of live and on demand programmes (including news, sport, dramas, comedy, documentaries, entertainment, and featured films), box sets and exclusive content
- BBC Sounds - a huge range of musical genres, radio stations and podcasts
- Radio stations - 10 pan-UK, six national and 40 local
- BBC website - including News, Sport, Weather, CBBC, Food, Bitesize, Arts, BBC Three
- BBC World Service - TV, radio and online
- BBC apps - like Bitesize, CBeebies, Food, News, Sport and Weather
It adds: "The licence fee also ensures that all radio, TV and online services are free from commercial advertising and free at the point of use, on a wide range of platforms and devices."
What does my TV Licence cover at Christmas?
Christmas is a busy time of year for everyone - and TV is a big part of this. TV Licensing explains: "Your TV Licence fee funds a range of films on TV and BBC iPlayer throughout Christmas, including new blockbusters, well-known classics, festive comedies and family movies." The TV Licence also supports programming on Christmas Day with festive films, comedies, and seasonal favourites, all included in the schedule.
It adds: "You also need a TV Licence to watch live football on TV or online over the busy Christmas and New Year period. This includes matches broadcast by Sky Sports and TNT Sports, as well as highlights on the BBC." You can visit TV Licensing to view a breakdown example of a monthly spend per household.
Can TV Licence inspectors come into my home?
If officials think you are watching TV that requires a licence and you are found not to have one, they may appear at your door. But you don't need to let them in. According to TV Licensing, officers will show their ID and explain the purpose of the visit. They will act lawfully without threats, respect privacy and only enter with your permission, they say.
However, there is one circumstance where they can enter your home without permission. TV Licensing confirms officers can "enter your property only when you give permission, unless a search warrant has been issued." They explain that when officers visit a property, they will:
- Show their ID card. If requested, they’ll also give you a telephone number so you can call and confirm the details on their card
- Explain why they’re visiting
- Be polite and fair
- Follow all laws, regulations and policies
- Not use threats. Or any intimidation
- Respect your right to privacy. And confidentiality
- Enter your property only when you give permission, unless a search warrant has been issued
- When necessary, complete a record of interview. And ask for your signature to confirm that their notes are correct
- Make sure the person being interviewed knows what may happen as a result of watching or recording any live TV or BBC iPlayer without a TV Licence
- Stop the visit if you ask them to leave, unless a search warrant has been issued
- When necessary, use detection equipment or apply for a search warrant if they believe that someone at the property is committing an offence
TV Licensing also confirms that you do not need to say anything. Discussing the "rules that apply to a record of interview" it explains: "Officers may interview a person they believe or suspect to have committed an offence under the Communications Act 2003. But only after they’ve cautioned them." This is in line with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 in England and Wales. Or equivalent in other areas. An Officer will take the details of the person being interviewed, ask to check the TV receiver and write down everything that’s said under caution.
"The person being interviewed doesn’t have to let the Officer into their property and has the right to remain silent. They can ask to speak to a lawyer and can refuse to sign the record of interview. They can also ask for changes to be made to it if they disagree with anything before signing."
What can I watch without a TV Licence?
If you don't have a TV Licence, you can legally watch:
- On-demand films or TV shows that you watch, rent or buy online from providers like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Sky, EE TV, Sky, Apple TV+, Disney+ or Now
- DVDs or Blu-rays
- YouTube streamers' videos or clips live or recorded
- Catch up programmes on services other than BBC iPlayer, such as ITVX, All4 and My5
- S4C programmes on demand
If you do have a TV Licence, you can watch all of the above, as well as:
- Live streams of programmes, news or sport on services like ITVX, Sky, YouTube or Netflix
- Live TV on any channels included in a package you pay for, like Virgin, EE TV or Sky
- Live TV on all free channels, including BBC One, ITV2 and Sky News
- Everything on BBC iPlayer, including award-winning British TV dramas and thousands of other boxsets exclusive to BBC iPlayer
- Live sporting events, like the Rugby World Cup, UEFA Euros and the Olympics
- Other memorable live events, like the King's speech, Royal weddings, Glastonbury and the Eurovision Song Contest
TV Licensing adds: "With a TV Licence, you can watch all of the above on any device."
