Thursday 7 August 2014

{Ask Mary} What is a TV License?

via
 

Kate G. asked:: "A TV License??"

Answer::

You must have a TV License in the UK if you watch or record programmes on a TV, computer or other device as they're broadcast. A TV license (or broadcast receiving license) is mainly used to fund the BBC.

The cost per household is £145.50 (£49 for black and white tv sets) per year. You can pay weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly.

You can be fined up to £1,000 if you watch or record live television without a TV License.

When I first moved here I thought this was the dumbest tax I had ever heard of. I still think that.  But, along with the license you receive all the BBC channels/radio stations and a handful of other channels. It's like basic cable accept they make you pay for it. We could just not have a TV, computer, tablet or mobile in the home. Don't think I haven't considered it!  Now it is just part of our budget and I don't notice.

I don't want you to be fined so when you move to the UK you must obtain a TV License ASAP.

You can get one here::

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/

ps. There are some great discussions/comments on my Facebook page about this. Great insight!

2 comments:

  1. Whoa! That is interesting. And crazy. So if we aren't planning on having a TV set in the flat, but want to use our computer to stream Netflix or websites that air past episodes, do we still have to get a license for that?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Becki. Licences aren't needed for tellies, computers etc - you can have hundreds of these without needing a licence. You only need a licence to allow you to watch or record LIVE tv. This is something misunderstood by a lot of people, including many Brits. Check out the TV Licensing FAQs for very detailed information on what you can and can't do....http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/technology--devices-and-online-top8?WT.ac=home_plt_technology.

      Watching Netflix is specifically mentioned and they say that you don't need a licence to cover this activity, however you watch it. Happy viewing!

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