You need a TV Licence to watch or record live television programmes on any channel or service in the UK, and to use BBC iPlayer, including its on-demand programmes. You generally do not need one solely to watch non-BBC programmes on demand, such as a film chosen from Netflix or Disney+, provided you do not also watch live TV. Check your household circumstances with TV Licensing.
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- 1 simultaneous screen at this price
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- Installation help for a compatible device
- Final catalogue confirmed before ordering
IPTV subscription 6 months UK
Six months for regular use, after checking the catalogue, EPG and stability.
- 1 simultaneous screen at this price
- Use on your compatible devices
- TV guide (EPG) when provided by the source
- HD, Full HD and 4K depending on the source, device and plan
- Installation help for a compatible device
- Final catalogue confirmed before ordering
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The lowest equivalent monthly price, to choose after confirming your devices and the catalogue.
- 1 simultaneous screen at this price
- Use on your compatible devices
- TV guide (EPG) when provided by the source
- HD, Full HD and 4K depending on the source, device and plan
- Installation help for a compatible device
- Final catalogue confirmed before ordering
What to know before you start
The rule follows what you watch, not the cable that carries it. A live programme can require a licence whether it arrives through an aerial, satellite, cable, a smart-TV app, a website or an internet TV box. Calling a service IPTV, streaming or catch-up does not create a separate exemption. Recording a live programme to watch later also falls within the live-TV rule.
BBC iPlayer is the important exception to the usual live-versus-on-demand distinction: a licence is required to download or watch BBC iPlayer content. Household, student, tenant, second-home and away-from-home arrangements can add detail that a general guide should not guess. This page provides a decision method, not an individual licensing determination; use the official checker if an address or living arrangement is unclear.
Three facts that shape the decision
| Check | Useful marker | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Live TV is platform-neutral | Any channel or live TV service | GOV.UK says a licence is needed to watch or record live TV on any channel or service. The rule is not limited to BBC channels and does not disappear when the programme is watched on a laptop, phone, streaming stick or internet-connected television. |
| BBC iPlayer has a broader rule | Live, on demand and downloads | TV Licensing states that BBC iPlayer use requires cover on any device. Treat iPlayer separately from another broadcaster's catch-up catalogue, and do not assume that choosing a programme after broadcast removes the requirement. |
| Non-BBC on demand differs | Usually no licence for on-demand-only viewing | GOV.UK lists services such as Netflix and Disney+ and non-BBC on-demand television as viewing that does not require a licence by itself. A live channel inside the same app changes the analysis, so classify the actual programme mode rather than the brand. |
A reproducible four-step method
List every way the household watches
Include televisions, phones, tablets, computers, sticks and boxes. For each app, note whether anyone watches channels or events while they are being shown, records live broadcasts, uses BBC iPlayer or watches only programmes selected from a non-BBC on-demand library. Do not decide from the device name alone.
Keep as evidence: Create a simple viewing list with device, service, live or on-demand mode and BBC iPlayer use.
Apply the two clear triggers
If anyone watches or records live TV on any channel or television service, the official rule says a licence is required. If anyone uses BBC iPlayer, the official rule also says a licence is required. These triggers can apply even when the viewing is occasional or on a small screen.
Keep as evidence: Record which trigger applies and link it to the current GOV.UK or TV Licensing wording checked that day.
Separate non-BBC on demand from live feeds
Opening a streaming app is not the decisive act. A film played from a non-BBC on-demand catalogue is different from choosing the app's live channel or watching a programme simultaneously with its television broadcast. When an interface labels a stream 'live', treat that as a prompt to verify before watching.
Keep as evidence: Note the title and whether it was selected from an on-demand catalogue or joined as a scheduled live transmission.
Check address and household coverage officially
One licence will often cover a household, but separate tenancy agreements, rooms, devices used away from the licensed address and other living arrangements can affect coverage. Do not rely on a landlord, reseller or forum summary. Use TV Licensing's own questions or contact route for the specific circumstances.
Keep as evidence: Keep the licence number or official checker outcome securely; do not place personal identifiers in a public troubleshooting note.
Do not declare that a household is exempt when anyone still watches live channels, live television programmes or BBC iPlayer. If the distinction between a live stream and an on-demand video is genuinely unclear, pause that viewing mode and ask TV Licensing using the actual service, programme and household facts.
What to record in your evidence journal
Use the same fields each time so that a later comparison is based on like-for-like evidence rather than memory or a sales claim.
- Services
- Every app, channel or website used for television programmes.
- Viewing mode
- Live, recorded-live, BBC iPlayer or non-BBC on demand.
- Household
- Address and tenancy arrangement requiring an official coverage check.
- Review
- Date official guidance was checked and any change in viewing habits.
Decision criteria
Timing of the programme
Ask whether the programme is being watched or recorded as it is broadcast or transmitted live. A familiar on-demand brand can also contain live channels, so the app's main purpose is not enough to decide. Classify each viewing mode that the household actually uses.
BBC iPlayer involvement
Any BBC iPlayer viewing should be treated as its own trigger, including downloads and on-demand programmes. Watching BBC content on a different service is not automatically the same as using iPlayer, so follow the official wording and the way the content is accessed.
Coverage of the people and place
Licensing generally relates to an address and the arrangements of the people living there. Shared accommodation and portable-device use can be fact-specific. Verify the real tenancy and device circumstances rather than copying a conclusion written for another household.
Deeper practical analysis
Detailed scenarios and decision notes
Use these cases to apply the method to a real household without turning a general guide into a one-size-fits-all recommendation.
Is the programme live, on demand or being watched through BBC iPlayer?
Classify the activity at the moment of viewing. A scheduled channel joined while its programme is being transmitted is live television even if it appears inside a streaming application. The same principle applies when a service presents a live news channel or sporting event through a phone, browser, stick or smart television. The device does not create a different rule. Write the service, programme and viewing mode in plain language: 'joined the live channel at 20:00' is more useful than 'watched an app'. That description can then be compared with the current official TV Licensing wording.
On-demand viewing begins when a programme is selected from a catalogue to play at a time chosen by the viewer rather than as part of a live television transmission. A catch-up tab, restart button and live-channel tile can sit beside one another, so the brand or menu name cannot settle the question. Ask what the control actually does. Restarting a programme that is still being transmitted, recording a live programme for later or choosing a completed episode from a non-BBC catalogue are different scenarios. When the interface is unclear, use the service's help page or avoid that feature until its operation is understood. Capture the label and help-page explanation, because an icon alone may not reveal whether playback joins a transmission or opens a completed catalogue item. For a borderline control, record three moments: what the screen promised before selection, what happened when playback began and whether the programme was still being transmitted. Those observations let TV Licensing address the real workflow. A forum label or another household's screenshot should not replace the current interface on the device actually used.
Treat BBC iPlayer as a separate decision gate. Official guidance says a licence is required to download or watch its programmes, not only to join a live BBC channel. Moving an iPlayer download to a tablet, watching it later or using a small screen does not turn it into another provider's on-demand catalogue. Conversely, seeing a BBC-produced programme licensed to a different service is not automatically the same as using BBC iPlayer. Record the service actually used. That prevents the word 'BBC' from being used as an imprecise substitute for the access route named in the rule.
Back to guide contentsHow should renters, students and shared households check coverage?
Start with the address and living arrangement rather than counting screens. A household licence often covers normal viewing within the licensed premises, but shared accommodation can involve separate rooms, tenancy arrangements or licences. A general article cannot determine those facts from the presence of one router or shared kitchen. List who occupies the property, which spaces are private, how the agreements are structured and where live television or BBC iPlayer is used. Put those details into the official checker or give them to TV Licensing through its published contact route instead of relying on a landlord's informal summary. Two properties with identical broadband and television equipment can therefore receive different answers because the occupation and coverage facts differ.
Students and people who divide time between addresses should avoid a one-line assumption that a family licence follows them everywhere. Note the permanent address, term-time address, device, whether it is connected to mains power while viewing and the kind of programme watched, then use the current official guidance for that exact situation. The relevant detail can be more specific than 'I live with my parents' or 'I only use a laptop'. If circumstances change during the year, repeat the check rather than treating an earlier answer as permanent. Build separate rows for term time, holidays and visits rather than forcing the year into one answer. Beside each row place address, power source, connection, programme type and app. If any fact changes, rerun the official checker. This is more reliable than assuming that ownership of the portable device determines coverage wherever it travels.
Moving home creates a practical administration task as well as a viewing question. Record the move date, confirm which address the licence covers and update the official record through the recognised route when required. Do not send licence numbers or payment details to a television reseller offering to handle the change. In a shared house, agree who keeps the confirmation and renewal notice without posting personal identifiers in a communal chat. Clear records help the household avoid duplicate assumptions in which everybody believes somebody else checked, while still protecting the account holder's private information.
Back to guide contentsWhat about live video on YouTube, social platforms or overseas services?
Do not decide from the platform name alone. Large video services can contain scheduled television channels, simulcasts, clips, creator livestreams and ordinary on-demand uploads in one interface. The official rule is framed around watching or recording live television programmes on a channel or television service, so describe the content and transmission rather than assuming every video labelled 'live' is identical. If a recognised broadcaster is showing its scheduled channel or a live event through an online platform, treat that as a clear reason to consult the live-online guidance before watching. For an unfamiliar live page, note whether it behaves like a scheduled channel, a one-off event or an individual creator broadcast. Do not decide merely because a countdown or red badge appears. Where the category remains uncertain, keep the URL and description and ask the official licensing service; this guide does not create a new classification for social-video formats.
Short clips uploaded after an event and a full live channel are not the same activity. Nor does pausing a live feed necessarily convert its underlying transmission into a non-live catalogue item. When a platform uses labels such as live, premiere, restart or watch from beginning, find its explanation and match the actual playback route to the official licensing test. This is especially useful for people who avoid aerial television but occasionally open live news or sport online. One occasional live programme can be relevant even when most viewing is non-BBC on demand. If a scheduled online premiere does not clearly fit the examples, describe it accurately to TV Licensing instead of treating the marketing label as a ruling.
A foreign channel does not create an internet exemption. If the viewer joins television programming as it is being shown on a channel or television service, the fact that the broadcaster is based elsewhere or the screen is a browser does not by itself remove the need to check. Territorial access and content rights are separate issues from the TV Licence. A VPN likewise does not answer either question. First decide whether the viewing mode triggers licensing under the official UK guidance, then separately confirm that the service permits UK access and that the source is authorised.
Back to guide contentsWhat should you record if the household watches only non-BBC on demand?
Create a short viewing inventory instead of trying to prove a negative with browser history. List the services used, whether anyone opens their live-channel areas and whether BBC iPlayer is installed or used. Note examples of the normal on-demand activity, such as choosing a completed film or episode from a non-BBC catalogue. The purpose is household clarity, not surveillance. Everyone who can use the television should understand that opening a scheduled live channel or BBC iPlayer changes the basis on which the earlier conclusion was reached. Include guests and casting in the household conversation. A visitor opening a live channel on the shared television, or a phone casting BBC iPlayer to it, may not match the normal plan even though no aerial input was selected. The useful control is an understood viewing rule, not a claim that a particular screen is incapable of licensed activity.
Make the television interface support the decision. Remove live-channel shortcuts from favourites where the platform permits, sign out of BBC iPlayer if it is not part of the household plan, and label inputs or apps clearly for less technical users. These steps are not a legal test and are not required evidence in every case; they simply reduce accidental use that contradicts the household's stated viewing pattern. Do not uninstall safety updates or replace recognised apps with an unknown player merely to create an on-demand-only setup.
Keep the date and source of the official guidance you relied on, plus the date on which the household last reviewed its habits. If TV Licensing provides an official declaration or checker route relevant to the circumstances, follow its current instructions rather than a template copied from another site. Revisit the inventory when somebody moves in, a new service is added or a live event becomes important. The answer depends on real use, so an accurate change log is more defensible and more useful than a permanent note saying 'we never watch live TV'.
Back to guide contentsHow do accessibility, care and communal viewing affect the check?
Accessibility features do not change whether a programme is live or whether BBC iPlayer is being used. Audio description, subtitles, sign-language presentation and spoken navigation affect usability, but the licensing decision still begins with the service and viewing mode. A person who relies on an accessible broadcaster app should therefore identify the exact app rather than receiving advice based only on disability or device. If a concession or special arrangement may apply, use the current official eligibility guidance for that person; do not infer it from age, health or receipt of another benefit.
Carers and family members often set up devices on somebody else's behalf. Keep account ownership, address coverage and viewing choices clear during that help. Do not reuse the helper's credentials at another address simply because the remote is difficult to operate, and never give licence payment details to an unofficial installer. A simple card beside the television can name the approved on-demand apps, the live-viewing decision and who to contact if the household wants to add BBC iPlayer. That makes the plan easier to follow without exposing sensitive information.
Communal lounges, supported accommodation and temporary stays can combine several households or organisational arrangements. A resident, manager and visitor may not be covered in the same way merely because they see the same screen. Record who provides the television, where it is used and whether programmes are live, recorded or on BBC iPlayer, then ask TV Licensing for a determination based on those facts. This guide deliberately does not invent a universal rule for care homes, hotels, workplaces or communal premises; the official service can account for details that a public checklist cannot safely resolve. If a manager receives an official answer, store it with the facts supplied and review it when occupancy, equipment or viewing changes. A conclusion based on one communal setup should not be copied to another building. Give residents a plain-language contact route so they can ask before adding a live app instead of being expected to interpret organisational arrangements themselves.
Back to guide contentsChecklist before you act
- Mark every service as live, BBC iPlayer, non-BBC on demand or mixed.
- Include live sport, news and channels watched through websites or apps.
- Include programmes recorded while they are broadcast live.
- Treat all BBC iPlayer use as requiring licence cover.
- Do not assume a paid subscription includes the TV Licence fee.
- Check separate-tenancy or student arrangements with the official service.
- Review eligibility for concessions only on GOV.UK or TV Licensing.
- Recheck the official guidance when viewing habits or household arrangements change.
Plain-English glossary
- Live TV
- Television watched or recorded as it is being shown on a channel or live television service.
- On demand
- A programme selected to start at a time chosen by the viewer rather than joined as a scheduled live transmission.
- BBC iPlayer
- The BBC service for which licence cover is required for live, on-demand and downloaded programmes.
- TV Licence
- The UK licence covering the legally defined television-reception activities at the relevant address and circumstances.
- Concession
- A free or discounted licence available only to qualifying groups under current official rules.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a TV Licence just for Netflix or Disney+?
GOV.UK says you do not need a licence solely for non-BBC on-demand viewing such as Netflix or Disney+. You do need one if you use a live TV feature or also watch or record live television elsewhere, and BBC iPlayer requires one for all viewing modes.
Do I need a TV Licence to watch live sport online?
Yes when you watch a live television broadcast of the event through a channel or streaming television service. The platform and device do not create an exemption. A short clip or an on-demand replay is a different mode, but BBC iPlayer remains covered in all modes.
Does my Sky, NOW or IPTV subscription include a TV Licence?
No ordinary service subscription should be assumed to include the separate TV Licence. The subscription pays the platform for its package; licence cover concerns the household's viewing under UK rules. Confirm both independently rather than treating one receipt as proof of the other.
Does every live video on YouTube need a TV Licence?
The relevant question is whether you are watching live television programmes on a channel or television service, not whether a page happens to use a live-video feature. Because formats vary, check TV Licensing's current examples when the stream resembles scheduled television or a live broadcast.
Limits and update policy
This guide is educational and reflects the sources available on 2 September 2026. Prices, rights, devices and provider terms can change. Confirm the official page and final basket before paying; legal disputes require advice tailored to the facts.