What is a TV licence (UK) actually for?

[satchnz]

So our TV licence is up for renewal soon and we’ve received a letter to remind us. I’ve blindly paid the licence fees over the past four years but the recent dissent amongst the population about this fee has got me wondering - where is my money going?

My understanding is that the licence fee goes to fund BBC activities (TV and radio). But the letter I received goes into more detail in terms of when you are required to pay for a licence. From my letter:

Your TV Licence lets you enjoy a huge range of TV. It covers you for:

• All TV channels, like BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Dave and international channels
• Pay TV services, like Sky, Virgin Media and BT
• Live TV on streaming services, like YouTube and Amazon Prime Video
• Everything on BBC Player

This includes recording and downloading. On any device.

I’m sure this has been discussed many times but why ITV and Channel 4 etc? Do these channels get any of the licence fee? Why international channels? Sky? Live TV on YouTube when I already pay for YT Premium? Feels like a rort to me.

I watch very little live TV, and that’s only really for news events shown live on YouTube. I’ve never attached a terrestrial aerial to any of my TVs while in the UK (if this is even a thing now), nor have I ever used a set top box to achieve the same thing. I don’t even use the TV networks online streaming platforms.

I get it that I’m liable for a licence because I watch a few hours a year of live TV on YT, so I pay the licence. But if I was to never watch any BBC produced content then why is a licence required?

 

[Jono777]

Good question and one I'd like to see someone who knows answer lol....

I've always paid mine, more so as it feels like one of those bills which cannot be avoided, bit like council tax lol.

However my sister scoffed at me a couple of weeks back saying I was mad to pay it, regardless of what they say it is for or the consequences if you don't pay.

Stuck too as I'm sure these get nasty if you avoid paying and can even refer to bailiffs / court???

 

[interlog]

It funds the likes of Lineker and other overpaid twats.

 

[satchnz]

I must add that before I started living in the UK, my only knowledge of a TV licence here was from The Young Ones where they were avoiding the TV Detector Van. Or was it from Bottom?

 

[Jono777]

Never knew until years after those vans were fake but had the country shitting themselves

 

[steveh35]

So our TV licence is up for renewal soon and we’ve received a letter to remind us. I’ve blindly paid the licence fees over the past four years but the recent dissent amongst the population about this fee has got me wondering - where is my money going?

My understanding is that the licence fee goes to fund BBC activities (TV and radio). But the letter I received goes into more detail in terms of when you are required to pay for a licence. From my letter:

Your TV Licence lets you enjoy a huge range of TV. It covers you for:

• All TV channels, like BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Dave and international channels
• Pay TV services, like Sky, Virgin Media and BT
• Live TV on streaming services, like YouTube and Amazon Prime Video
• Everything on BBC Player

This includes recording and downloading. On any device.

I’m sure this has been discussed many times but why ITV and Channel 4 etc? Do these channels get any of the licence fee? Why international channels? Sky? Live TV on YouTube when I already pay for YT Premium? Feels like a rort to me.

I watch very little live TV, and that’s only really for news events shown live on YouTube. I’ve never attached a terrestrial aerial to any of my TVs while in the UK (if this is even a thing now), nor have I ever used a set top box to achieve the same thing. I don’t even use the TV networks online streaming platforms.

I get it that I’m liable for a licence because I watch a few hours a year of live TV on YT, so I pay the licence. But if I was to never watch any BBC produced content then why is a licence required?

You need a tv licence fee to watch any live broadcast in the UK including ones on Youtube, Netflix and any programme live or recorded on the BBC I-player, if you watch a none live programme on Youtube or Amazon or Netflix you do not need a TV Licence.

If however you choose to watch a none live show on Netflix or Amazon and you stumble across a live show and click on it then you will need a licence and can be done for not having a licence

In 2027 the licence fee is up for review and streaming services could be added to take into account the increasing use of streaming services.

itv and channel 4 do not receive any of the licence fee money although S4C and some other minority channels are funded from the licence.

You need to separate the "I don't watch the BBC" and the live viewing, you may pay the BBC when you pay for your licence but the law says you need one to watch live tv not to fund the BBC.

 

[dunover]

The Wireless Act requires a TV license. It funds the British Board of Communists (BBC) but that is not why we have one - it's a license to own and operate any TV signal receiving equipment. So PCs, set top boxes, cable, aerials, satellite receivers etc.

Basically a tax on access to the televisual media. Australia said 'Farc that!' when they tried it, NZ's was abolished after a campaign of non-payment disobedience.

Your usage of the state propaganda channels is completely irrelevant.

 

[geordiecolin]

The license fee goes towards the maintainance of their hommage to that godfather of peado's who had sex with his own daughters and even the family dog,Eric Gill which is situated at the main entrance to the BBC building.
That and to pay for expensive lawyers that fend off the accusations against the perverted activities conducted by those they employ.
Each time the license fee is up for review the government of the time use it as a stick to ensure the the BBC keep on message and ensures ministers are treat to very nice meals.
A lot of people that I know simply ignore the threatening letters and have not paid or been visited in 5 years or more.
There are a lot of videos on youtube that instruct how to not pay that outdated tax. The numbers not paying is growing fast

 

[mulven]

I've never paid the TV licence fee in my life and I don't plan to. I do pay tax though.

Since I moved to Glasgow I've not had a single visit from one of those vampires - no slight on the people who do the job, its just that they can't enter without being invited in.

I like to sail the high seas anyways, too many streaming platforms and too much money these days. All I'll say is Stremio+RealDebrid=Jackpot. Both those things are legal to use, it's just how ya use them thats up to you.

I do not condone or encourage any illegal activities, x200b wagering, max bet £0.10, 10s delay per spin, £5 SOW check

 

[geordiecolin]

The fact that we where conned and lied to by the BBC via lying in their broadcasting clips of their vans locating those without a license, their tv adverts on ITV, newpaper stories of those being "detected" and sometimes imprisoned for repeat offending then it is an indication of how easy the system can control us and our way of thinking.

 

[satchnz]

I like to sail the high seas anyways, too many streaming platforms and too much money these days. All I'll say is Stremio+RealDebrid=Jackpot. Both those things are legal to use, it's just how ya use them thats up to you.

I do not condone or encourage any illegal activities, x200b wagering, max bet £0.10, 10s delay per spin, £5 SOW check

The only service I pay for is YouTube. Otherwise I have access to all the content I’d ever want, including live sports. I’ve been toying with the idea of Stremio and RD if my current source ever disappears.

 

[geordiecolin]

The only service I pay for is YouTube. Otherwise I have access to all the content I’d ever want, including live sports. I’ve been toying with the idea of Stremio and RD if my current source ever disappears.

I only ever watch terrestrial tv for the odd sports or concert. TV stick and Youtuve does me. All of the woke shit and bullshit spouted on the news would just do my head in

 

[mulven]

The only service I pay for is YouTube. Otherwise I have access to all the content I’d ever want, including live sports. I’ve been toying with the idea of Stremio and RD if my current source ever disappears.

I have access to on demand stuff through my "live" source but never use it. Stremio allows me to watch at seamless speed with the highest quality possible (e.g. bluray REMUX 7.1 sound 80GB files for big movies)

 

[Webzcas]

Seriously hacked off with paying for the TV licence. If I did not watch live sports ie I have a subscription to DAZN, I would cancel and put up with the quarterly inconvenience of goons from the BBC employed Capita turning up to see if I watch either the BBC or live broadcasts.

The sooner the BBC is defunded the better. It is 2025 not 1955. Let them become a commercial entity and compete with the likes of Netflix et al for our £'s

 

[goatwack]

It's an antiquated TV tax that is written into law, despite its irrelevance in today's customer-led streaming landscape.

Governments don't want to abolish it, despite its outmoded model, and far from being the standard-bearer in an age of Television when there were around three channels, it serves mostly as a propaganda outlet incapable of producing any content to justify its fee.

With the granny-scaring TV licence ads all but debunked after around half a century, their only card left to play is the bolded, threatening letters in which to wrangle their £130's worth of flesh, albeit one can simply opt to not have a licence at all - this is done by informing them directly, and must be 'updated' once a year (much like the extortion racket they exert on auntie Fanny).

Yes, 'TV Licence Inspectors' don't have to be let in to your property, and yes, they can be told to be on their merry way, as for when one is unfortunate enough to encounter them.

As long as it's not content streamed from the BBC i-player itself, nor obviously watching 'live' programming on any of the terrestrial channels, recorded programmes on e.g YouTube are fine. Though with VPN-usage now commonplace, with that went the BBC's last leverage, so I say 'good luck' with ascertaining BBC usage!

 

[satchnz]

£130

£169.50

But I knew I could count on you for an in depth reply! Cheers!

 

[Reelsoffun]

it's a license to own and operate any TV signal receiving equipment. So PCs, set top boxes, cable, aerials, satellite receivers

I’m afraid this is wrong, you don’t need a tv licence for just owning equipment, as @steveh35 says you only need a TV licence to watch ANY live broadcast no matter the channel, platform eg sky, Netflix, prime etc or to watch iPlayer.

However as more and more people are realising this, I can’t see this continuing to be the case.

I have not had a TV licence for over 30years, as I don’t legally need one. I watch nothing live, and don’t use iPlayer, but I do have TVs etc used for other things eg Netflix.

 

[andysbetting1187]

Never had a TV license - don't ever intend on getting one. They stopped knocking on my front door around 4 years ago. They used to be relentless - they stopped knocking in the end after I resorted to answering the front door completley naked and invited them into the house - for some reason they never came back

Not sure if I should be offended or not.

 

[Reelsoffun]

Never had a TV license - don't ever intend on getting one. They stopped knocking on my front door around 4 years ago. They used to be relentless - they stopped knocking in the end after I resorted to answering the front door completley naked and invited them into the house - for some reason they never came back

Not sure if I should be offended or not.

LOL that was brave, not sure I would have risked calling their bluff in the buff by potentially giving them permission to enter the house, but fair play sounds like it worked

 

[mulven]

Never had a TV license - don't ever intend on getting one. They stopped knocking on my front door around 4 years ago. They used to be relentless - they stopped knocking in the end after I resorted to answering the front door completley naked and invited them into the house - for some reason they never came back

Not sure if I should be offended or not.

Honestly I'm pretty disappointed I've never had a visit in a similar amount of time, I've been looking forward to actually meeting one and just messing with them or letting of a bit of steam till they leave.

Last time i remember seeing one in the flesh was when I was school age and they knocked on the door at my mums house.

 

[mulven]

LOL that was brave, not sure I would have risked calling their bluff in the buff by potentially giving them permission to enter the house, but fair play sounds like it worked

definitely rolling the dice there, there'll definitely be atleast one naturist/nudist who works for them.

 

[dunover]

I’m afraid this is wrong, you don’t need a tv licence for just owning equipment, as @steveh35 says you only need a TV licence to watch ANY live broadcast no matter the channel, platform eg sky, Netflix, prime etc or to watch iPlayer.

However as more and more people are realising this, I can’t see this continuing to be the case.

I have not had a TV licence for over 30years, as I don’t legally need one. I watch nothing live, and don’t use iPlayer, but I do have TVs etc used for other things eg Netflix.

Semantics really, as I can't see a scenario where you could watch live TV in your address without equipment. You must have equipment to be able to watch live TV whether you do or not. The equipment to receive live TV must be present for you to be prosecuted. DVD players etc. linked to a monitor without internet connection or aerials are exempt. The license applies to residents of any given address, it can actually be used to cover family members say in halls of residence at university too.

I actually said 'license to own/operate TV signal receiving equipment' obviously the signal you receive must be live!

 

[justdoit]

IPTV works fine, over 24000 channels £50 a year from some chines guy on ali express , never paid for TV licence

 

[satchnz]

IPTV works fine, over 24000 channels £50 a year from some chines guy on ali express , never paid for TV licence

But you have to view it using one of those dodgy android TV boxes?

 

[mulven]

Semantics really, as I can't see a scenario where you could watch live TV in your address without equipment. You must have equipment to be able to watch live TV whether you do or not. The equipment to receive live TV must be present for you to be prosecuted. DVD players etc. linked to a monitor without internet connection or aerials are exempt. The license applies to residents of any given address, it can actually be used to cover family members say in halls of residence at university too.

I actually said 'license to own/operate TV signal receiving equipment' obviously the signal you receive must be live!

With TV packages being sold without the need for antennas

But you have to view it using one of those dodgy android TV boxes?

No, a proper one will give you an xtream code or m3u which can be used with any device and app.

I personally use tivimate which is one of these best UX, looks and works much better than all the generic apps most services reskin for their first-party app.

Can run on android TV, streaming sticks, phone etc. there are similar apps for apple TV. Something like a proper formuler box would be needed for recording and/or rewinding, I currently use without such features.