How much is a TV licence and why do I have to pay for one?
THE price of a TV licence will go up in April 2024, adding to the current £159 cost.
But some people don't have to pay the fee at all. We explain everything you need to know
How much does a TV licence cost?
A TV licence will cost you £159 a year right now, if you watch a colour television, as most people do.
But you'll pay less for a black and white set - £53.50.
The fee is set by the government, and usually rises in line with inflation.
It was frozen at £159 in April 2022 and again in April 2023 though, to help amid the cost of living crisis.
Before then the last rise was in April 2021 when it increased from £157.50 to the current mount.
The fee will rise again in April 2024 to £169.50.
Why do I need a TV licence?
You don't need a TV licence to own or have a TV set.
However, watching live TV or catch-up through the BBC iPlayer on any device without a TV licence is a criminal offence and if you're caught, you could be fined up to £1,000.
In Jersey the maximum fine is £500.
You can pay for your licence all in one go or spread the cost throughout the year using direct debit.
Almost 3.5million Brits have cancelled their TV licence fee in the last four years — a rate of almost one million a year.
What do I need a TV licence for?
You need a TV licence if you're watching any programmes live on any online service.
That includes shows on ITVX, Channel 4, Amazon Prime Video, Now or Sky Go, as well as on BBC iPlayer.
You won't need to pay a fee if you watch on demand programmes, unless it's on BBC iPlayer.
In short you need a TV licence if you watch:
- Any live TV on any Channel including Sky channels
- Any +1 Channels
- Any BBC iPlayer, live or streamed later
What do I NOT need a TV licence for?
Without a licence, you can watch:
- Netflix
- Amazon Prime on demand
- DVDs/Blurays
- YouTube
- Non-BBC catch-up including ITV Player, Channel 4 on-demand, but it can not be live
Here's how to watch TV legally without paying for a licence.
Do over-75s need a TV licence?
On July 9, 2020, BBC bosses confirmed that free licences for the over-75s would be scrapped.
This means that three million households were asked to start paying the annual £159 fee from August 1, 2020.
Now, only households where someone receives the Pension Credit benefit is eligible for a free licence.
Why won't the BBC pay for it?
The free licence fee was first paid for by a Labour Government in 2000.
Under the Conservatives in 2015, ministers announced that an agreement had been reached between Government and the BBC, and the broadcaster would shoulder the cost.
Yet in 2019 the Beeb said it couldn't afford it and now pensioners will have to pay.
Under the scheme, over-75s started paying licence fees from August 1, 2020, after two months of deliberation due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Beeb has defended the move, saying funding free TV licences for all over-75s would have led to "unprecedented closures".
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It claims the scheme would cost it £745million, which in practice would have meant the closures of BBC Two, BBC Four, the BBC News channel, the BBC Scotland channel, BBC Radio 5 Live, and a number of local radio stations.
A petition led by Age UK to demand the Government takes back responsibility for funding free TV licences for everyone over 75 has gained more than 250,000 signatures.