TV Licensing

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

• All TV channels, like BBC, ITV, Channel 4, U&Dave and international channels
• Pay TV services, like Sky, Virgin Media and EE TV
• Live TV on streaming services, like YouTube and Amazon Prime Video
• Everything on BBC iPlayer.

This includes recording and downloading. On any device.

A colour TV Licence costs £174.50. Find out about ways to pay.

Other TV Licence types and costs

Do I need a TV Licence to watch live TV on an online-only TV channel or service?

Yes. You need a TV Licence if you watch live on any channel, TV service or streaming service.

An online TV service is any streaming or smart TV service, website or app that lets you watch TV over the internet. These include BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, Netflix, Sky Go, Now, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and YouTube.

Any other questions

Do I need a TV Licence if I only ever watch on demand or catch up TV online?

It depends what you watch.

You don’t need a licence if you only ever watch on demand or catch up programmes on services other than BBC iPlayer (and you also never watch TV programmes live on any channel or TV service, including on iPlayer).

But you do need a licence if you watch live on any channel, TV service or streaming service. Or use BBC iPlayer*. On any device.

 

*A licence is not needed to watch S4C programmes on demand.

 

Do I need a TV Licence if I watch on a mobile device?

If you’re using a mobile device powered solely by its own internal batteries – like a smartphone, tablet or laptop – you will be covered by your home’s TV Licence, wherever you’re using it in the UK and Channel Islands.

However, if you’re away from home and plug one of these devices into the mains and use it to watch live on any channel, TV service or streaming service, or use BBC iPlayer*, you need to be covered by a separate TV Licence at that address (unless you’re in a vehicle or vessel like a train, car or boat). It’s the law.

Pay for your TV Licence

 

*A licence is not needed to watch S4C programmes on demand.

 

Do I need a TV Licence to watch live TV from outside the UK or Channel Islands?

You need a TV Licence to watch live on any channel, TV service or streaming service, on any device, no matter where they are broadcast or distributed from. This includes satellite or online streamed programmes from outside the UK or Channel Islands, such as sporting events and foreign shows.

Pay for your TV Licence

Do I need a TV Licence to watch paid-for subscription channels?

Subscription channels like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Now are television services that are normally paid for on a monthly basis via cable, satellite or the internet.

You will need a TV Licence if you watch live TV on a subscription channel. But you don’t need a TV Licence to watch on demand programmes (other than those on BBC iPlayer) on paid-for subscription channels.

Pay for your TV Licence

Please tell us if you think you don't need a TV Licence.

*A licence is not needed to watch S4C programmes on demand.