topic Re: Refuse to pay BBC licence fee. in Account & Billing

Refuse to pay BBC licence fee.

AJ114 — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 17:26:05 GMT

I intend to cancel my BBC licence fee. [Removed]. Once cancelled, why should I be denied watching live sport when I've paid to watch it? Can Sky sports bring legal proceedings against the BBC? My Sky subscription will be reduced once I've cancelled my BBC licence fee. [Removed]

Moderator notes: Removed potentially misleading info

Re: Refuse to pay BBC licence fee.

daveNOS — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 17:28:10 GMT

@AJ114 wrote:
I intend to cancel my BBC licence fee. [Removed]. Once cancelled, why should I be denied watching live sport when I've paid to watch it? Can Sky sports bring legal proceedings against the BBC? My Sky subscription will be reduced once I've cancelled my BBC licence fee. [Removed]

Moderator notes: Removed potentially misleading info

@AJ114 If you want to watch live TV then you need a TV licence, there is no way around that, and no Sky can't take any legal action against the BBC.

Re: Refuse to pay BBC licence fee.

PandJ2020 — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 17:37:45 GMT

The current legislation requires a TV licence to watch *any* live TV on *any* platform - that includes Sky or even streaming services (such as Prime/NetFlix/YouTube).

Re: Refuse to pay BBC licence fee.

MarkGoldsmith — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 17:38:59 GMT

You essentially need to see the license fee as a type of tax, rather than a license to watch BBC content. In order to watch any live TV channels you are required to have a TV license.

If the situation arose where the BBC had their funding pulled and had to become a commercial operation, something else will likely exist as a replacement to the TV license, which would either just be a proper type of tax that went straight to the government, or more likely a tax that was split between all of the public service broadcasters, rather than it just purely funding the BBC.

Re: Refuse to pay BBC licence fee.

MightyQuinn — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 17:54:48 GMT

Hi @AJ114 It is not a BBC Licence fee, it is a TV Licence fee.

Re: Refuse to pay BBC licence fee.

TimmyBGood — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 07:54:45 GMT

@AJ114 wrote:

Can Sky sports bring legal proceedings against the BBC?

No

My Sky subscription will be reduced once I've cancelled my BBC licence fee.

No

The requirement for a property to be licensed for live television viewing is a legal issue, while the funding of the BBC is ultimately a political decision: I'd suggest you consult a lawyer and lobby your MP.

Re: Refuse to pay BBC licence fee.

ajmlondon — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 14:13:27 GMT

The BBC currently pays Sky a fee so that it can be broadcast on their platform, this was something that was agreed many years ago.

Paying SKY for their services assumes that those watching any BBC content is also paying the license fee.

Re: Refuse to pay BBC licence fee.

roberth59 — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 09:35:17 GMT

So sky , you tube etc get a share of the fee.

Re: Refuse to pay BBC licence fee.

PandJ2020 — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 09:42:13 GMT

@roberth59 wrote:
So sky , you tube etc get a share of the fee.

Nope, they don't.

TV Licence money primarily goes to the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) to fund its public services, including TV channels, radio stations, BBC iPlayer, and online content, making up the bulk (around 70-90%) of its funding, with the rest covering collection costs, pensions, and a small portion for S4C in Wales. This fee supports ad-free, public-interest programming, keeping the BBC independent from commercial advertising.

The other broadcasters get their cash from subscriptions and/or advertising. However, you still need a licence to watch live broadcast from any broadcaster - IMHO that's not right... (But the law as it stands)

Re: Refuse to pay BBC licence fee.

GD1 — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:24:49 GMT

@roberth59 wrote:

So sky , you tube etc get a share of the fee.

What makes you think that? Any evidence for this info?

Re: Refuse to pay BBC licence fee.

TimmyBGood — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 11:36:27 GMT

@roberth59 wrote:

So sky , you tube etc get a share of the fee.

Like any massive business, the BBC spends huge amounts every year with commercial providers for goods and services of all kinds: how do you think they pay their electricity bill or get the coffee machine refilled? Practically (and legally) speaking that's not at all the same as 'sharing' the Licence Fee.