You must be covered by a TV licence if you watch or record live TV on any channel or service or use BBC iPlayer (live, catch-up or on-demand). This applies on any device (TV, laptop, phone, tablet, games console, set-top box, streaming stick, etc.).
You need a licence if you:
Watch or record live TV as it’s being shown on any TV service or streaming service (not just the BBC). This includes programmes watched on delay, +1/+2/+24 channels, repeats and Red Button services.
Use BBC iPlayer to watch or download programmes, whether live or on-demand.
Examples of services that can require a licence (when viewing live TV): ITVX, Channel 4, Now, Sky Go, EE TV, Apple TV, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, and more.
You may not need a licence if you:
Only watch on-demand/catch-up content on services other than BBC iPlayer (for example Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video or ITVX on-demand).
Watch YouTube videos on-demand (not live TV channels).
Watch S4C on-demand specifically (licence not required).
Watching away from home
If you’re watching on a battery-powered phone, tablet or laptop, your home TV licence covers you.
If you plug in your device at another property, that property must have its own TV licence (or you’ll need a separate one).
Cost and household coverage
One licence covers a single household, even if you use multiple devices. The current fee is £174.50 per year for colour (£58.50 for black and white).
Penalties
Watching or recording live TV without a licence (or using BBC iPlayer without one) is a criminal offence. You can be fined up to £1,000 (plus legal costs/compensation).