Viewing TV legally without a TV licence
What is Live TV?
Live TV is scheduled content that is viewed or recorded at the time of broadcast, such as News at Ten.
What is On-Demand TV?
On-Demand TV is unscheduled content that can be viewed over the internet at any time.
What can I view without a TV Licence?
You can view all on-demand TV content except for BBC iPlayer. This includes Catch-up TV such as ITVHub, All-4, My-5 and On-Demand providers such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and YouTube.
What can I not view without a TV Licence?
It is illegal to view, record or download any live broadcast TV or BBC iPlayer without a TV Licence.
What about On-Demand internet services that provide a little live TV?
You can subscribe to on-demand services that feature a minority of live TV, such as Amazon Prime, but you must avoid the live content and only watch on-demand content if you do not have a TV licence. You should completely avoid internet apps and services that provide 100% live content.
What is BBC iPlayer?
BBC iPlayer is the BBC's own On-Demand channel and cannot be viewed, recorded or downloaded without a TV licence.
Can I view Sky and Virgin satellite channels without a TV licence?
No, it is illegal to view or record live satellite TV without a TV licence.
Can I view Sky and Virgin broadband content without a TV licence?
Yes, you can view non-live, on-demand Sky and Virgin broadband content without a TV licence.
Can I view the BBC website without a TV licence?
Yes, you can view anything over the internet, including the BBC website, without a TV licence, so long as you avoid any live streamed content and do not access BBC iPlayer.
TV equipment legal requirements
Do you require a TV Licence to own a television?
No, you do not require a TV Licence simply to own a television.
How can I make my television set safely legal without a TV licence?
- Remove any TV aerial or satellite cables from the TV and place them beyond practical use.
- Remove any live TV viewing or recording boxes and equipment from your TV unit.
- Detune your TV of any live channels.
How do I detune my TV of live channels?
To detune your TV set of live TV channels, use either of the following two methods:-
- Go into the TV menu system and perform a “Factory Reset”.
- Remove the aerial cable then go into the TV menu system and run the channel finding function. No channels will be found which should effectively clear your TV of any tuned live channels.
Be sure to test your TV after detuning it to ensure that no live TV channels can be viewed.
What about the BBC iPlayer App?
- Some Smart TVs and On-Demand TV Sticks and Boxes come with the BBC iPlayer app pre-installed and on some models the app cannot be removed.
- Be sure to delete any existing BBC iPlayer accounts on the BBC website.
- Any BBC iPlayer apps that cannot be deleted can then simply be ignored and never used.
- The BBC iPlayer app cannot be used without an online BBC account so not having an account at all prevents accidental access.
Should I blank off my TV aerial and satellite wall sockets?
You can block off your TV aerial and satellite wall sockets with blanking plates to prevent them from being used. In the case of a loose TV aerial or satellite cable coming into the building, you can snip off the connector socket. This step is recommended but is not legally required if you do not have a TV licence.
Should I remove my TV aerial and satellite dish from the outside of my property?
No, this is not necessary to remain within the law without a TV licence.
What about DVD players and games machines?
You are allowed to watch DVDs and play video games without a TV licence so DVD players and games machines are fine and legally safe to have installed. Be sure that games machines are not set up to view or record live TV or BBC iPlayer.
TV licence enforcement
Should I be worried about the law if I do not have a TV licence?
If you are abiding by the law in relation to TV licensing and sticking to the rules regarding live TV and BBC iPlayer, then you should have no fear of the law.
Do you have to speak to a visiting TV Licence Inspector who knocks on your door?
No, there is no legal requirement to consent to an interview on your own doorstep. You are legally entitled to say nothing and close the door.
Do you have to sign any document if requested to do so by a TV Licence Inspector?
No, there is no legal requirement to sign any document or written statement if requested to do so by TVL. Be aware that you might be requested to sign a written statement that could incriminate you and subsequently be used against you in a court of law.
Does a TV Licence Inspector have a right to enter a house without a search warrant?
No, TVL has absolutely no right to enter your home without a search warrant unless voluntarily invited by you to do so. TVL must also leave your property immediately at your request.
Can I film TV Licence Inspectors on my doorstep or inside my house?
Yes, you are legally allowed to film TV Licence Inspectors inside and outside your property. You can film a routine visit by TVL and also film the execution of a search warrant for your own legal protection.
When can TV Licensing obtain a search warrant?
If TV Licensing believes it has credible evidence that a person is illegally viewing or recording live TV or viewing or downloading BBC iPlayer, it can apply to a magistrate for a search warrant. A search warrant enables TVL to gain access to a property to inspect television equipment.
How many TVL search warrants are issued every year in the UK?
TV Licensing declines to publish figures on the precise number of search warrants issued annually but cross referenced research tends to indicate only around 150 a year in the United Kingdom, a nation of over 20 million households and over 5.9 million businesses, many with multiple premises.
This is an unofficial estimate and we cannot be 100% sure of the actual total, however, search warrants are difficult to obtain and expensive to carry out. It’s extremely unlikely that you’ll have a warrant issued against you unless TVL has enough evidence to convince a magistrate there is a very high likelihood you are viewing live TV or BBC iPlayer.
What if TV Licensing calls with a search warrant?
- You should ask for the TV Licence Inspector’s ID card.
- TVL will likely be accompanied by the police, to prevent a breach of the peace.
- If you refuse your name, the police can technically arrest you to establish your identity but this rarely if ever happens.
- You may be charged with obstructing the warrant if you refuse your name, prevent TVL from entering your property or verbally or physically prevent them from inspecting your television equipment.
- There is no legal requirement to answer any questions that are not directly related to the testing of television equipment so keep your answers simple and to the minimum of information required only for TVL to inspect your TV.
- There is no legal requirement for you to sign any written statement or other document and it is suggested that you don’t under any circumstances do so.
- TV Licensing is only allowed to physically check your TV and TV recording equipment, not any computers or mobile phones but they will note if they are attached to a live TV feed.
- You may be requested to turn on your television; if you refuse then TVL may attempt it themselves.
- If you are not found to have committed any TV Licensing related offences and have not obstructed TVL in executing the warrant then you should not be prosecuted.
TV licence cancellation
When should I cancel my TV licence?
Cancelling a TV licence is a matter for the individual. It is strongly recommended that after cancelling, a person should avoid viewing, recording or downloading live TV or BBC iPlayer to avoid any possibility of prosecution.
How do I cancel my TV licence?
You can cancel your TV licence online, over the phone or in writing as follows:-
- Online at:-
- By telephone, depending on how you pay:-
- For Direct Debit, call 0300 790 0368.
- For TV Licensing payment card (cash plan), call 0300 555 0286.
- In writing to:-
- TV Licensing, Darlington DL98 1TL.
Can I claim a refund when I cancel my TV licence?
Yes, you can claim a refund if money is owed to you.
What happens when I cancel my TV Licence?
- You will be asked to make a declaration stating that you do not require a TV licence.
- You will be asked to renew the above declaration every two years.
- You should request a refund if you think you are owed money by TVL.
- You may be asked to provide a written statement that you no longer require a TV licence.
- You may be asked some questions about your viewing habits, but not always.
- After your TV licence has been cancelled, you can cancel your direct debit.
- A matter of weeks later, you should receive any refund that is owed to you.
- You should receive no more letters asking you to renew your licence but some people still do.
- You will be told that a TVL Licence Inspector may visit to inspect your television equipment but this does not always happen.
Further reading
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