TV Licence for son at university... Advice please!

[QuirkyLurk]

DS heads to uni next week. I think he needs a TV licence but he says he only watches YouTube, games and accesses the Internet.

What are your thoughts please, on whether he needs one, what for exactly and how likely in a halls of residence of 300 students anyone will find out?

TIA

I dont think that any students pay tv license, especially not in halls x

Depends if he’s telling the truth? Would he mad to pay for a TV license if you don’t watch TV!

He doesn’t need one. He doesn’t watch live tv.

If you have a license at home he is covered to watch TV as long as it is not plugged in, so watching TV on a laptop/ phone/ tablet is fine.

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/for-your-home/students-aud1?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=6566432765&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIr4nmlpjRjwMV95hQBh1syxwDEAAYASAAEgIvOvD_BwE

You need one if you watch anything on bbc IPlayer, even if it isn’t live.

Well he’s not doing that either is he.

If parents have a licence and he is not plugging in laptop to watch via iplayer etc there is a loophole. Halls may have a licence too.

There was a big advertising campaign a while ago saying students need a TV licence if you have a TV at uni, so I think he needs one if he takes a TV.
However if he has a monitor for gaming and a PS5 he can stream iplayer, Netflix etc and won't need a TV license (as its a monitor not a TV)
Ditto for he streams on a laptop or ipad.
Also if he's in a flat or house where there is a shared TV provided by accommodation in the kitchen /lounge then he's also probably covered.

This isn’t entirely true. It depends what you watch and what you’re watching it on.
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/for-your-home/students-aud1?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=6566432765&gbraid=0AAAAAD1J5cHqRvL3KFw-rNQN9gYty9dXb

I didnt say that they weren't supposed to

Just that they dont

If he doesn't own a telly and claims he doesn't watch iPlayer etc then no he doesn't. I don't think any students have never bought one. I mean it's one per household anyway so why should he pay when he's sharing with a load of randoms.

DD is heading off to Uni this year, we haven't got her a TV licence. She won't have a TV with her just her laptop and phone. We don't really watch BBC anymore, I will see if I can add her to my Disney+ subscription (which I think you can do) and she'll have YouTube.

You only need a tv licence if you watch the bbc including iplayer or any live tv at all. So sports matches etc.

DD's halls has two common/sitting rooms with TVs and licences. If she wants to watch TV she'll go in there and otherwise, just use her laptop and watch no live TV/iPlayer etc.