Are you avoiding paying your TV licence fee? TV Licensing is stepping up enforcement to catch those who haven’t paid the BBC TV licence. The BBC’s latest plan involves using data collected from BBC iPlayer accounts to identify unpaid households.
At £174.30 per year, a TV licence is required for anyone watching or recording live television or using the BBC’s on-demand services. The BBC intends to cross-check as many as 40 million iPlayer accounts against TV licence records linked to registered addresses to detect cheaters.
Creating a BBC iPlayer account requires supplying an email address, date of birth, and postcode. This information will be used by the BBC to pinpoint users who may be unlawfully accessing content, potentially costing the corporation over £550 million yearly in lost revenue.
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A TV Licensing spokesperson told The Telegraph, “We continually seek ways to improve licence fee collection,” adding, “This includes analyzing available data to better understand viewing habits and BBC service usage.”
It’s important to note that a TV licence is not needed for catch-up content on platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, ITVX, Disney+, YouTube, All 4, or My5. However, watching live broadcasts through these or other services still requires a valid TV licence, and evasion can lead to fines up to £1,000.
Some exemptions and concessions apply. Individuals aged 75 or over who receive Pension Credit qualify for a free TV licence, allowing them to watch or stream TV and BBC iPlayer content without charge.
Students living away from home may use their parents’ TV licence when watching on mobile devices like phones, tablets, or laptops. However, if they watch on a television set or a desktop computer connected to mains electricity, a separate licence is required.
Households with a registered blind or severely sight-impaired person can obtain a 50% discount on the licence fee, providing proof of eligibility.
Residents in care homes or sheltered accommodation might qualify for a concessionary licence priced at £7.50 per room, flat, or bungalow, subject to meeting eligibility criteria for both the individual and accommodation.