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Telly addicts

Tv licence

16 replies

LeaAndDer · 17/07/2025 20:24

What can I watch without a licence?
the reminder says this:
Your TV Licence lets you enjoy a huge range of TV
It covers you for all TV channels, pay TV services like Sky, and live TV on streaming services like Amazon Prime Video. As well as everything on BBC iPlayer. On any device.

but I thought it was only any bbc channel and iPlayer, radio stations too

OP posts:
TerrierCollector · 17/07/2025 20:25

You can watch Amazon and Netflix, etc. as long as you don’t watch any of their live content like live sports and concerts.

ShesTheAlbatross · 17/07/2025 20:26

It’s any live tv, regardless of the channel.

PuzzlingRecluse · 17/07/2025 20:27

Hi I don’t have a licence you can watch on demand streaming services ie Netflix, now, Disney plus. You can’t watch any live tv or iplayer. You can listen to bbc radio that’s not covered by the licence.

Its1971Again · 17/07/2025 20:28

Apparently you need a licence to watch any TV channel that is being broadcast, (ie if it's scheduled in the TV guide and you're watching it at the scheduled time), any programme on BBC i-player and any live sports coverage on any channel or any platform.

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 17/07/2025 20:35

What can I watch without a licence?

Anything you like.

If you are worried about being caught, simply shut the door on any enforcement goon who appears without engaging with them. There isn't a thing they can do.

LittleGreenDragons · 17/07/2025 20:48

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 17/07/2025 20:35

What can I watch without a licence?

Anything you like.

If you are worried about being caught, simply shut the door on any enforcement goon who appears without engaging with them. There isn't a thing they can do.

You would be surprised. The media has been reporting recently that nearly 1,000 people are being prosecuted every week for not having a licence. If it was as easy as shutting the door it would be a hell of a lot less and every newspaper and sm would be shouting that tip out loud.

Themomentsheknewshefkedup · 17/07/2025 21:02

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 17/07/2025 20:35

What can I watch without a licence?

Anything you like.

If you are worried about being caught, simply shut the door on any enforcement goon who appears without engaging with them. There isn't a thing they can do.

This

Magnir · 17/07/2025 21:05

You can watch Prime, Netflix, Disney, Apple, series on ITVx, 4, 5, just not the broadcast programmes or the sports that some of the streamers show.

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 17/07/2025 21:17

LittleGreenDragons · 17/07/2025 20:48

You would be surprised. The media has been reporting recently that nearly 1,000 people are being prosecuted every week for not having a licence. If it was as easy as shutting the door it would be a hell of a lot less and every newspaper and sm would be shouting that tip out loud.

Edited

I don't believe that figure for a single instant, but nonetheless, if people are genuinely being prosecuted it's because they have unwittingly let enforcement officers into their home, and either admitted to, or demonstrated that they are indeed watching live TV without a licence. No media source is going to highlight this either, because none of them would want to antagonise either the BBC or legislators for fear of becoming subject to litigation or censorship themselves.

Capita have, quite literally, no other method of enforcing this. You are not under any obligation to comply with their letters, under no obligation to entertain their visits, under no obligation to allow them access to your home, and no magistrate or sheriff is going to grant them a warrant simply because you did not invite them in when they requested.

There are no such thing as "detector" vans or equipment. Even the letters they send out if you happen to inform them by email you do not require a licence and then later sign into iplayer using that same email address are nothing but empty threats, because licences are tied to postal addresses, not email addresses, and it's utterly impossible for them to prove that it was you using that email, email addresses are recycled, its also legal for someone who owns a licence to watch at your living address provided they are not directly wired to a power socket or aerial socket, and they could well have perfectly legally logged into iplayer using your email address.

Their threats are nothing but a bullying tactic designed to frighten into compliance, and if you do not incriminate yourself, there is not a single thing they can do to prosecute.

LeaAndDer · 17/07/2025 21:17

Ok thanks everyone

OP posts:
Magnir · 17/07/2025 22:23

The not plugging in things like iPads and laptops to watch TV at unlicensed houses has got to be a relic from the old days as it sounds so ridiculous.

x2boys · 18/07/2025 07:30

LittleGreenDragons · 17/07/2025 20:48

You would be surprised. The media has been reporting recently that nearly 1,000 people are being prosecuted every week for not having a licence. If it was as easy as shutting the door it would be a hell of a lot less and every newspaper and sm would be shouting that tip out loud.

Edited

It is as easy i have had several at my door what powers exactly do you think they have?
When you say media is it BBC by chance?
They have been known to lie in the past ,with the whole Detector van nonsense .

FizzingAda · 18/07/2025 12:18

Check out Chilli John on YouTube, he does loads of videos about this very thing.
the people from capita are salesmen that work on commission, you do not have to engage with them, like any door to door salesman, just say 'no thank you' and shut the door.

LittleGreenDragons · 18/07/2025 21:52

x2boys · 18/07/2025 07:30

It is as easy i have had several at my door what powers exactly do you think they have?
When you say media is it BBC by chance?
They have been known to lie in the past ,with the whole Detector van nonsense .

Edited

I stated media instead of linking because every bloody website is the same as MN now with the "pay or accept" popups. However I'm talking about the sun, mirror, telegraph, guardian, mail, any of the usual mainstream sites, so go to the one you accept/pay for and read for yourself. The information was for this year, February I think.

Edit - sorry, that sounds rude of me. I didn't mean it to come across like that.

x2boys · 19/07/2025 06:54

LittleGreenDragons · 18/07/2025 21:52

I stated media instead of linking because every bloody website is the same as MN now with the "pay or accept" popups. However I'm talking about the sun, mirror, telegraph, guardian, mail, any of the usual mainstream sites, so go to the one you accept/pay for and read for yourself. The information was for this year, February I think.

Edit - sorry, that sounds rude of me. I didn't mean it to come across like that.

Edited

That's as maybe but they still have no powers so I assume the people thst gets caught admit it themselves .

CornucopiaTVLR · 12/08/2025 21:33

What you can't watch without a TV Licence -

  • TV broadcasts on terrestrial, satellite or cable TV.
  • The same TV broadcasts streamed concurrently over the internet.
  • BBC TV programs on iPlayer (but not S4C or radio).

What you can watch without a TV Licence -

  • Commercial broadcasters' on-demand/catch-up content.
  • On-demand content from streaming services (whether paid or free)
  • DVD/Bluray

Grey areas -

  • Streaming of foreign TV channels not otherwise available in the UK
  • What constitutes a TV channel or TV broadcast when it is not created by a licensed UK broadcaster (TV Licensing is very confused about this).
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