Do You Need a TV Licence for IPTV in the UK?

Short answer: yes, if you watch live TV. The TV Licence rules are about what you watch, not how it reaches your screen, so switching from an aerial or dish to IPTV doesn't change anything. Here is how the rules apply to internet TV, based on the guidance published by TV Licensing.

When you need a TV Licence

• Watching or recording programmes as they are shown live on any channel, whether that's BBC One, Sky Sports or an international channel.
• Watching live on any device: TV, Firestick, laptop, phone, tablet or games console.
• Using BBC iPlayer at all, live or on demand.

Because a British IPTV subscription is mostly live TV, nearly every household that uses it needs a licence, exactly as they would with Freeview, Sky or Virgin Media.

When you don't need one

You don't need a licence if you only watch on-demand programmes on services other than BBC iPlayer (for example films and box sets from the on-demand library, or ITVX and Channel 4 catch-up), and never watch anything live or use iPlayer. In practice that is rare for IPTV users, because live channels are the main reason people subscribe.

Common situations

Catch-up on IPTV

Watching a programme after it has aired, using catch-up, isn't live TV. But iPlayer always needs a licence, and if anyone in the home watches live, you need one anyway.

Students

Students living away from home generally need their own licence for live TV in halls or a shared house, unless they only watch on a device powered by its own battery and not plugged into the mains, and their parents' home is licensed. TV Licensing's student guidance covers the details.

Second homes and holiday lets

A licence covers one address. A second home where you watch live TV usually needs its own licence, although there are exceptions for some static caravans and mobile homes.

Over-75s

Free licences for over-75s are now only available to people who receive Pension Credit.

What a British IPTV subscription covers

A subscription gives you access to the channels and the on-demand library. It doesn't include or replace your TV Licence, which you buy separately from TV Licensing. We mention it on our pricing page and in our terms because we would rather you hear it from us than from a letter.

Our IPTV UK explainer covers the other things you need at home, from broadband speed to choosing a device.