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3w ago

Court Victory Confirms No Licence Needed for On-Demand-Only Households

Sefton Magistrates’ Court ruled that households viewing exclusively non-live streaming services are not liable for the £174.50 annual TV licence fee.

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Overview

  • A TV licence, now £174.50 annually, remains mandatory for watching or recording live broadcasts or using BBC iPlayer on any device.
  • Sefton Magistrates’ Court dismissed charges against Lee Stuart after he proved he did not watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer, setting a precedent for on-demand-only viewers.
  • Users of non-live subscription services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and ITVX are exempt from the licence requirement so long as they avoid live content.
  • Over-75s on Pension Credit, students living away from home, the blind and severely sight-impaired, and residents of care homes qualify for free or reduced-cost licences.
  • TV Licensing still enforces compliance with home visits following ‘No Licence Needed’ declarations and can impose fines up to £1,000 for unauthorised live viewing.