The licence fee went up to £169.50 in April this year
The TV licence fee will rise in April next year, making it the second year in a row the cost has gone up.
The licence fee has often been a fierce source of debate. By law, if you watch any live TV, including on other channels such as ITV and Channel 4, you have to pay up.
Additionally, if you watch or stream live programming on any online TV streaming service, such as BBC iPlayer or Sky Go, you should be paying for your license.
If you don’t pay the fee, which is the main funding for the BBC, you could potentially land yourself in court and being forced to pay a £1,000 fine, on top of court costs.
In April this year, the cost of the licence fee rose to £169.50. This came after two years in which it had been frozen at £159.
And in April next year, it will rise again, to £174.50. The government said the 2.96 per cent increase of the licence fee aims to provide the BBC with a “stable financial footing.”
Meanwhile, the price of a black and white TV licence will rise by £1.50, from £57 to £58.50.
Announcing the new licence fee price, culture secretary Lisa Nandy said: “The BBC provides much-needed programming for households across the country, including children’s education, world-class entertainment and trusted news for all people in all parts of the UK. I want to see it thrive for decades to come.”
Nandy also said the licence fee model would continue until 2027, but said an “honest national conversation” would take place about its “long-term future.”
“Through the Charter Review, we will have an honest national conversation about the broadcaster’s long-term future, ensuring the BBC has a sustainable public funding model that supports its vital work but is also fair and responsive to those who pay for it,” she said.
“In the short term, we are providing the BBC with funding certainty, while supporting thousands more households facing financial hardship to spread the cost of a TV licence.”
By law, you must have a TV licence to watch or record live TV on any channel in the UK. This includes Channel 4, ITV, and Channel 5 and applies no matter what device you are watching on, whether it is a TV, PC, laptop, tablet, or phone. You also need a TV licence if you use BBC iPlayer, even if you’re not watching live broadcasts on there.
A TV licence is also required if you watching live shows or sport on streaming services such as Now, Netflix, Amazon Prime, ITVX, All 4, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, and My5.
You do not need to have a TV licence if you are only watching on-demand programmes on streaming services, excluding iPlayer.
A TV licence will cost £174.50 from April 2024. You can pay it all in one go, or:
- Pay by monthly Direct Debit
- Pay less for your licence if you’re over 75, registered blind, or live in a care home
- Pay by quarterly Direct Debit
- Pay weekly, fortnightly or monthly with a TV Licensing payment card – once the card is set up you can pay online, through the TV Licensing app, by phone, text message or at any PayPoint
You can check if you need a TV licence on the TV Licensing website here.
