TV Licensing

What can I watch without a TV Licence?

If you don't have a TV Licence, you can legally watch:

• Catch up programmes on services other than BBC iPlayer, such as ITVX, All4 and My5
• 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
• S4C programmes on demand
• DVDs or Blu-rays
• YouTube streamers' videos or clips live or recorded

If you do have a TV Licence you can watch all of the above, as well as:

• Live TV on all free channels, including BBC One, ITV2 and Sky News
• Live TV on any channels included in a package you pay for, like Virgin, EE TV or Sky
• 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
• Live streams of programmes, news or sport on services like ITVX, Sky, YouTube or Netflix

With a TV Licence, you can watch all of the above on any device.

Buy a TV Licence

What channels can I watch without a TV Licence?

You can watch on demand programmes on all catch up services excluding BBC iPlayer, like ITVX and All 4, without a TV Licence. You need a TV Licence to watch or stream live TV on any streaming platform, channel or device.

Can I watch BBC catch up without a TV Licence?

No, you cannot watch any catch up programmes on BBC iPlayer without a TV Licence. You can watch BBC programmes that are available to stream on other platforms, like Netflix.

Can I watch ITV without a TV Licence?

No, you cannot watch any live TV channels without a TV Licence, including ITV. You can watch on demand programmes on ITVX without a TV Licence.

Can I listen to BBC radio without a TV Licence?

Yes, you can listen to BBC radio without a TV Licence.

Can I listen to BBC Sounds without a TV Licence?

Yes, you can listen to and download audio programmes from BBC Sounds without a TV Licence.

Can I watch BBC on YouTube without a TV Licence?

Yes, you can watch clips and short videos on BBC's YouTube channel without a TV Licence. However, you need a TV Licence to stream any live TV, sports or news programmes on YouTube.

Can I watch and read BBC news online without a TV Licence?

You don't need a TV Licence to read anything or watch news clips online on the BBC website. However, if you want to stream live news via the BBC news website, you do need a TV Licence.

You can read BBC news online on the BBC news app or website without a TV Licence.

Do I need a TV Licence if I don't watch the BBC?

A TV Licence doesn't exclusively cover the BBC. You need a TV Licence to watch all live TV channels. Therefore, if you don't watch the BBC but you do watch any other live TV channel on any pay TV or streaming service, you must be covered by a TV Licence.