You’ve no doubt heard the news that the TV licence cost per month is going up by £10.50 per year from £159 per year to £169.50 from April 1st, 2024.
With us all trying to cut back on costs where we can and beat the price rises, this rise in licence cost has got many of us wondering, do I really need a TV licence? To help you answer that question, learn more about why the fee is rising plus how you cancel, we’ve put together a handy guide of everything you need to know.
Do I need a TV licence?
With so many brilliant things to watch on various streaming sites such as Disney Plus, we’re spoilt for choice of things to watch that don’t require a TV licence. That’s why many people are choosing to ditch the TV licence, with only 92.2% of households requiring a TV licence, and this figure is set to continue falling.
You only need a TV licence if you watch live television on a TV, tablet, laptop or computer, phone or any other device. You’ll also need a TV licence if you watch BBC iPlayer.
You do not need a TV licence if you’re watching TV that has already been broadcast (with the exception of BBC iPlayer). Programmes that have been downloaded or streamed after broadcast do not require a TV licence to legally watch.
For example, if you want to catch up with the Great British Bake off on Channel 4 on demand after it’s aired, you can catch up without a TV licence. However, if you want to stream it live from the Channel 4 website as it’s broadcasting, you will need a TV licence.
So, if you’re someone that rarely watches live TV and is happy to catch up the day later or even just an hour later on some catch-up sites, then a TV licence may not be a necessity for you.
Ways to pay for your TV licence
You can pay the entire fee in one go, or alternatively, spread the cost. It’s worth noting that you’re covered immediately once payment has been made.
The first option is monthly payments, this is where TV Licensing charges you a direct debit payment of around £26.50 a month for the first six months. After this period, you'll pay around £13.25 a month.
The other option is to pay in quarterly installments where four payments throughout the year are taken throughout the year from around £41 per payment. Note that each payment will include a £1.25 charge.
You can also pay using a payment card which allows you to pay weekly, fortnightly or monthly either on the TVL Pay App, over phone or text or at any pay point.
Why are TV licence prices rising?
The TV licence price is calculated by the government who have raised the cost of the licence fee in line with inflation at a rate of 6.7%.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said the increase "provides value for money for the licence fee payer while also ensuring that the BBC can continue to produce world-leading content".
Discounts and exemptions
All over-75s used to be able to get a free TV licence, but this was scrapped by the Government in 2020. Now, free TV licences are only available to over-75s who receive the Pension Credit benefit.
It’s worth checking the TV Licensing website or calling its over-75s information line free on 0800 232 1382 to see if you're eligible for a discount or free TV licence. You can also check if you’re eligible for Pension Credit by checking the Government's website.
It’s worth noting that those who are blind or have severe sight impairment are eligible for a 50% discount, meaning from April 1st, 2024, their license will cost them £84.75 per year, that’s a rise of £5.25 from the £79.50 they currently pay.
You can also pay a discounted amount if you only pay for a black and white TV license. This cost will rise by £3.50 from £53.50 to £57 per year.
How can I cancel my TV licence?
If you’ve decided you really don’t need a TV licence and there’s no chance of you watching live TV or the BBC anytime this year, then you can find all the information on cancelling your TV licence on the TV Licensing website.
You should start by filling out a TV licence cancellation request form.
The next step is to fill out the ‘no licence needed’ declaration form to confirm you don’t need a TV licence.
Once complete, you may find that you get a visit from TV licensing to check that you definitely don’t require a TV licence. According to one statistic, it’s said that these inspections find that one in five households do actually need a TV licence. If this is the case, you’ll need to pay the full fee and you may also risk prosecution plus a fine of up to £1,000.
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Lorna White is a Senior Digital Writer at Yours.co.uk. She was previously a writer at Yours Magazine writing features and news stories before joining the digital team. Lorna loves the great British countryside and likes to spend her spare time out and about in her home of Nottinghamshire walking her dog, Pippin.