No TV licence: how to watch television legally

Is there a way to watch TV legally without paying for a licence? This video clarifies when a licence is required and when it's not.

Chapter Headings
0:00 - Intro
0:58 - When you need a TV licence
4:00 - Legally watching TV without a licence
5:23 - Discounts

Links for this video

Communications Act 2003 Part 4
The Communications (Television Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 2016
TV Licensing – Apply for and manage your licence
YouGov survey - How fair is the BBC licence fee

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♨️ IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
This video is published by Employment Law Services Limited. The information in this video is for general guidance only and, although the presenters and publisher believe it was correct at the time it was recorded (January 2022), the law may have changed since then. You should always seek your own independent legal advice. Please note that for employment law, the law explained applies to England, Scotland and Wales. For all other areas of law, it applies to England only.

PS: Some of the links in this description are to my own products or are affiliate links that I get a commission from.

[MarkFitzgerald]

As a former TV repair engineer, it is impossible to detect who is watching a TV with any equipment. As the Television apparatus is a receiver not a transmitter. There are ways of detecting a single T.V. has been used, however in this modern day and age we live in most people have 2 or 3 bedrooms, with T.V's in them then 1 in the Lounge and some even have 1 in the kitchen. So that would 3, 4 or maybe 5 T.V's in a house hold. How can you detect with 100% accuracy that a T.V and which T.V was used to break the law and have proof of the program they where watching? For legal purposes in a court of law they would need to. Do not forget that you are allowed to watch catch up T.V without a T.V licence, just not allowed to watch live broadcasts.

[hollytreelodge]

I've recently stopped watching live TV. When I informed the BBC the online form states no tv even catch-up tv isn't allowed. I wondered how it would feel to give up tv in the traditional sense; relying on YouTube films and topics of interest and Amazon films but It has been liberating! I waste a lot less time and the freedom to choose my own menu is great.

[scaryfakevirus]

Having been a police officer for 30 years (now retired) I have never attended any address with a TV licence inspector to execute a warrant and I have never heard of anyone who has.

[FrankyHindamrsh]

I don’t watch TV and cancelled my licence. How dare the TV companies charge £169 per year to watch repeats? I am 80 but I have a small private pension which precludes me from Pension Credit and now the winter fuel payment. People my age paid into the NAT in’s scheme for 40 years only to find we are being treated like a nuisance. If the government treats us badly, the younger generation will follow suit. It’s sad really

[happyfeet]

Show the BBC plenty of love by cancelling your licence. The best best move I ever made. The BBC ain't worth £1.59p a year let alone £159.

[gino]

Sir you mentioned tv detector vans, as far as I am aware they have no such devises

[fatnacker]

Been over a year without live TV. I feel 10 yrs younger.

[BedsitBob]

Haven't had a licence in over 12 years.

In that time, I've had close to 140 letters, and at least a dozen visits.

I'm delighted to have cost them some money.

[aldeshotoffice]

My cousin had a knock on the door by a rather rude 'inspector'. He said he had proof she watched TV as she had an ariel on the roof. She replied 'I have loads of birds on the roof but I don't have an aviary they just come and go as they please

[choppercam]

Here's a simpler explanation: you only need a TV licence if you watch live TV, as it is aired. You do not need one for Netflix or Prime, providing you don't watch anything live like sports on Prime. There are no such thing as TV detector vans, that bit was misinformation which I find worrying coming from a barrister

[freddyeverready]

Only self admittance will get you prosecuted.
Say nothing🤫
Sign nothing❌ ✍️
Seeing or hearing a TV in your home will not get you prosecuted.
TV licence detector van 😂 behave yourself.

[willspin]

From what I've read the average fine if it goes to court is approx the cost of the licence fee. Apparently the £1k is for people earning over £50k. Nearly all cases are people talking to much at the door or inviting them in. When someone knocks on your door asking who you are/are you the homeowner etc your response should always be who are you? Then close the door.

[dazdaz]

Even a barrister didn’t get all the facts right.
You do NOT have to let them in at all under any circumstances.

[chrisgironde]

You don’t need to physically cancel license, just don’t pay

You don’t need to speak to TV license goons. They are just salesman

[licencefreetv]

- "Enforcement officer" is just a Job Title - they have no statutory powers in their day-to-day work.
- There are no TV detectors or Detector vans in routine use, and they have never been used to provide evidence for Court.
- TVL Warrants are extremely rare (around 100 per year in England & Wales). There are none in Scotland.

[JohnSalmon]

Are we entitled to a partial refund if the BBC continues to show repeats of old programmes?

[Han-rwev]

I rarely watch TV and I don't think BBC's got anything I want anyway.

What irritates me is that I paid for a TV licence for years before learning I never had to, partly due to some of the stuff implied in the BBC's letters at the time.

What now also annoys me is that the BBC wants to add a BBC button on all UK remotes. I'd find that an absolute turn off.

[phina]

I remember my mum forgetting to renew our license way back in the 80s, and my dad seeing a weird grey van going up the road. Guess who made us unplug the T.V until the next day 😂, , love them days….

[jayjayfire]

Agree with all comments made regarding the detector Van.! even if such a Van existed, having TV receiving equipment DOES NOT mean you are watching "live TV" therefore you "DO NOT" need a licence unless you are watching live TV on said equipment...
Be great if Daniel the Barrister can validate his detector van claim ?
Unless he is on the BBC payrol??? 🤔😬

[alanrace]

Forcing entry with a police officer present is meaningless if you are not actually using a TV at the time of their visit. You can have a 1000 sets in your house but if none are actually switched on during a forced visit then there is no offence committed.