So, again, you’d need a TV licence to watch these. Excessive TV watching turns you into a potato in time. Without a valid licence, you risk prosecution and a maximum penalty of up to £1,000, plus any legal costs. Do not engage in conversation. If you don't watch or record live TV on any device, or use iPlayer, you can let TV Licensing know by completing a declaration here. Switch your TV on. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. The last time I came up against a search warrant from TVL was in 2011 and it didn't have any details on it no name and no address so I advised the person to tell them to f*ck off as they could just as easily use it against any home in the country. They may still send someone round to investigate (although I did it a few months ago and haven't heard from them since), but if they do you have no legal obligation to let them into your home. It is for TV Licensing to prove you are watching TV broadcasts unlicensed. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your privacy controls. To enable Verizon Media and our partners to process your personal data select 'I agree', or select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. If I were to watch live TV, I would need a TV license. Let us know you’re covered Tell us you've moved. You can find out more about pricing and pay options (yearly, quarterly, monthly or weekly) on the TV licencing Theres seems to be a lot of debate about Amazon Prime's new 2 week Christmas Premier league coverage and if you need a TV Licence or not to watch it, to which the short answer is yes. We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Viewers caught watching BBC iPlayer or live TV without a licence could be prosecuted and fined up to £1,000, plus legal costs. If you live in a residential care home, the person who is in charge of the home can apply for a licence for you. - any conventional television service, in addition to internet "live" TV services or iplayer, whether on a TV or a PC. BBC iPlayer support can only offer support with using BBC iPlayer. It has been proven that more material goods makes us happy to a certain extent. Yahoo is part of Verizon Media. If you choose to change “rarely” to “never” watch live TV then you will not need a licence and can happily carry on watching all other catchup channels bar the Iplayer. You can have a Roku 3, Apple TV or a Chromecast plugged into your TV and you can be streaming BBC catch-up content without needing a licence. Here’s how you can get out of paying a TV licence – even if you watch the BBC . For instance, a caller pretending to do a survey; "Have you got a music centre? Beyond that point, one’s satisfaction level in life stops being correlated with wealth/consumption. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your privacy controls. You do not need a licence for a TV used only with pre-recorded media or games consoles etc. It’s a criminal offence. Whether you want to watch or record live TV on any channel, or download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer, you’ll need a TV licence. You don’t need to be covered by a licence to watch any films or TV shows that you buy online. I'm at university, and I am allowed to watch programs on catch-up services like BBC iPlayer without a TV license. If you don't want a TV licence you can tell them here. It would be impossible to be in a vehicle and detect a single signal from an aerial with any kind of equipment. You need to be covered by a TV Licence to watch BBC programmes on iPlayer, or to watch or record live TV on any channel, no matter what device you use. There is no way at all they can tell if a licence is actually needed at any given address or not. They do not have to go anywhere near your house to find out you have been using the BBC iPlayer. Also NEVER ADMIT TO WATCHING ANY INTERNET STREAMING BROADCAST as it is also shown on TV. This can be SKY NEWS or AL-JAZZERRA originally beamed from Doha. To enable Verizon Media and our partners to process your personal data select 'I agree', or select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. When a TV is switched on it can be detected. Detector vans We also have a fleet of detector vans that can detect the use of TV receiving equipment at specifically targeted addresses within minutes. Sure, they'll send threatening letters if you live at an unlicensed address, but completely TV-less people get those too. What You Should Know about Content Licensing for IPTV - An Interview with Richard Bennett, CEO Smart Video by Lawrence Harte : This month we interviewed Richard Bennett, president of Smart Video to find out why content licensing is important to the IPTV industry. Information about your device and Internet connection, including your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Verizon Media websites and apps. Note this … Especially now that old type aerials are defunct. A licence is needed if you watch terrestrial TV, freeview, satellite TV etc. But TV Licensing officers may visit your address to "verify the situation", and while they won't disclose how they do it, they say they can tell if you've been watching … You'll also need to … vi) Beware dirty tricks. If the reply is "TV Licensing" or similar, replace the handset. And even if you do let them in, all they will probably do is check that you don't have a TV plugged into an aerial. Check now Tell us you are already covered. Get a portable radio and tune it up and down the medium wave until you get a buzzing noise - sounds a bit like an electric shaver. If you are not, they can't prove that you are. Thank you for the A2A. Always confirm the identity of the caller. I was just wondering how the TV Licensing company, the government or whoever can tell and prove if I were watching live TV without a license. They have to catch you using it but the only safe way for them not to find out is to never switch it on which makes it a bit pointless in having one. Find out more about when you need a TV Licence . Information about your device and Internet connection, including your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Verizon Media websites and apps. I think you mean “prove” rather than “probe,” but I'm not sure you can, anyway, or not in any way that would make economic sense. If a rare encounter with any BBC TV Licensing salesperson does occur, then ensure you NEVER ADMIT to them that you have watched or recorded ANY LIVE TV or the BBC iPlayer on ANY device for ANY reason. If the device is plugged in at a separate address, you need to be covered by a licence at that address. If you tell us that you do not need a TV Licence, our officers may still visit you to confirm this. Do you need a TV Licence if you watch live TV via an online provider only? I can answer this request truthfully for you, there does not exist any vehicle that can detect a TV signal in the way you describe. It might be true that you need a licence if you watch iPlayer however it is perfectly possible to watch if you don't have a licence and the BBC have no way of knowing whether you watch it or not they're just full of bullshit, they can't prove you watch telly and it's up to them to prove it rather than up to you to prove that you don't If you don't have a TV licence they could technically ask your ISP. Jen Mills Friday 3 Jul 2015 11:51 am. Advertisement . We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. On this site you can watch UK, and a range of other channels from around the world, live. If TV Licensing can't knock on a door to try conducting enquiries, they might consider an application to a court for a search warrant. Yahoo is part of Verizon Media. at another address, you need to let us know. If you are covered by a TV Licence, e.g. I currently live in student halls, so TV licensing companies … Hypothetically of course ; ) But, beware, don’t think that you can just cancel your licence, still watch live TV and get away with it - you could face a fine of £1,000. Which websites are legal for watching TV, without requiring a license? ", or "What's your favourite TV programme?" "These are very rare and very few are granted each year. They keep your internet history too. If you already have a TV Licence for your address, you are already covered to download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer when you’re on the go, provided the device you’re using isn’t plugged into the electricity mains at a separate address. More than 400,000 households have declared they do not need a television licence, according to BBC figures that signal the increasing popularity of viewing on-demand services only. It really is that simple. You can prove it yourself. If you have a TV which can receive a signal then you need a licence even if you don't have an aerial whether you watch it or not. Read Materialism Breeds Unhappiness for more on this. What matters is whether it has a tuner and of course a TV does. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. If you are 75 or over, visit the TV Licensing website to find out more about your TV licence requirements from 1st August 2020. If you pay by direct debit you can cancel it by filling out TV Licensing's contact form, confirming you no longer watch TV along with your current address. We share some of your personal data with TV Licensing, to check if you are using BBC iPlayer and to keep their database to up date. ", followed by, "Have you got a TV? And seeing as advertising agencies know what ISP you are using - believe me, they do - then it is not a stretch that the BBC licencing authorities can get the info. I know 4OD and BBC iPlayer are fine as long as the program is not being watched live, but if I wanted to watch a TV series for example which is not on either of those websites, can anyone recommend good sites to watch them on (after they have been shown live). If you give your identity, it enables TVL/BBC to update their database.