TV Licensing

Live TV means any programme you watch or record at the same time as it’s being shown on TV or live on an online TV service.

You need to be covered by a TV Licence if you watch live TV on any channel or device.

If you’re watching live TV, you need to be covered by a TV Licence:

if you’re watching on TV or on an online TV service
for all channels, not just the BBC
if you record a programme and watch it later
if you watch a programme on a delay
to watch or record repeats
to watch or record programmes on +1, +2 and +24 channels
to watch live programmes on Red Button services
even if you already pay for cable, satellite or other TV services
to watch satellite or online programmes shown live from outside the UK or Channel Islands.

Find out more about watching live TV.

General information about TV Licensing is available in other languages:

Cookies on the TV Licensing website