A standard TV Licence costs £174.50, and failing to have one when required can lead to prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000. However, many people are unaware that certain services and programmes can be watched legally without a licence.
You need a TV Licence to watch or record live TV on any channel or streaming service, including BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky, Virgin Media, and live content on YouTube, Netflix, or Amazon Prime Video. Using BBC iPlayer for any content—live or on demand—also requires a licence.
On-demand programmes on catch-up services like ITVX, All 4, and Disney Plus can be watched without a licence. You can also view user-generated content, clips, and non-live videos on YouTube, as well as BBC programmes available on other platforms like Netflix, as long as they are not being watched live.
For live TV on Netflix or Amazon Prime, a licence is needed, but on-demand content on these services does not require one. The rules apply to all devices, including TVs, laptops, tablets, and phones.
For full details, visit the TV Licensing website.
