TV License Laws

TV Licences are legal permissions that allow a person to install and use a television, watch programmes online and download BBC programmes when required. The TV Licence is required irrespective of which channels a person watches and is not, as is often mistakenly believed, a payment for BBC programmes alone. However, the BBC is funded by the TV Licence fees.

The following article explains TV Licenses, including why they are required, who needs to have one and the penalties for installing and watching a TV without a licence.

Why is a TV Licence needed?

As per the Communications Act 2003 and Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004, those who install and watch a television are required to have a TV Licence and pay a fee for it. It is unlawful to watch, download or record programmes on any channel or on any platform if a valid TV Licence is not held.

The fee that is paid for the TV Licence is used to fund the BBC as per the contents of the regulations.

Is a TV Licence needed just for ownership of a TV?

The law does not demand that a TV Licence is held by those who own a TV set only. It is a legal requirement to have a valid TV Licence if the TV set is used to watch or record programmes as they are shown or by downloading or recording them.

The TV Licence is required even if all programmes are watched on catch up, recordings, downloads or online and it does not matter which channel the programme is aired on.

Is a TV Licence needed if I don't watch BBC programmes?

The TV Licence affords an individual the legal authority to install and watch television equipment as well as to download programmes from the BBC online. Even if the television owner does not watch any BBC programmes, the TV licence is required. It is also important to note that if the programmes are watched on a laptop, computer tablet or another device that is not a TV set, the TV Licence is still a legal requirement.

The fees for the TV Licence are used to fund the BBC, but the licence is not a subscription to BBC services. The BBC acts as the licensing authority which gives it the right to collect fees and issue the licence.

Is it unlawful to watch programmes on devices other than a TV set without a Television Licence?

Watching a programme live or on demand, downloading a BBC programme or watching catch up tv or BBC iPlayer are all activities that legally require a TV Licence. This means that if a person does not own a television but watches their programmes on a laptop, tablet, phone or other device, they will need a TV Licence to do so legally.

Are TV Licences covered by consumer law?

When a TV Licence is issued, it is not recognised as a sale of goods or services, and as such, consumer law does not apply. Instead, the BBC, as the issuing authority, has a relationship with the TV Licence holder that is subject to public law.