Do i need a tv license.

[Dannyboy157]

I have a potential good offer from sky for sky stream for 14 months. Do I need a tv license to use the service. Is it on demand streaming like nowtv?

[peter-marlow+1966]

Yes you  do as bbc and itv channels  are all on there and bbc I player and itvx

[Dannyboy157]

Thanks. Can I use sky stream as an on demand service only? And not access the live stream channels?

[MarkGoldsmith]

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@Dannyboy157 wrote:

Thanks. Can I use sky stream as an on demand service only? And not access the live stream channels?

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If you don't want to access the linear channels you don't have to, but you can't disable them.

[MarkGoldsmith]

And to answer the TV license question yes.

A TV license is required if in your address you have a device that is capable of streaming live TV channels. 

[Exiled-in-HH]

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@Dannyboy157 wrote:

I have a potential good offer from sky for sky stream for 14 months. Do I need a tv license to use the service. Is it on demand streaming like nowtv?

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Even NOWTV requires a TV license🤔

[Dannyboy157]

If that's true, that's crazy. I don't watch terrestrial tv. Only catchup/on demand. If that was true you'd need a license to have a phone/ipad/tablet.

[Dannyboy157]

I thought Now tv is on demand, so you don't need a license

[MarkGoldsmith]

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@Dannyboy157 wrote:

If that's true, that's crazy. I don't watch terrestrial tv. Only catchup/on demand. If that was true you'd need a license to have a phone/ipad/tablet.

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From the gov.uk website:

[lettice]

The below in italics taken from the TV licensing website;
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one

A TV Licence covers you to:

• Watch or record TV on any channel on any TV service (like Sky, Virgin Media and Freeview).
• Watch live on streaming services (like ITVX, All 4, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video).
• Use BBC iPlayer*

This applies to any device, including a TV, computer, laptop, phone, tablet, games console or digital box.

*A licence is not needed to watch S4C programmes on demand.

[Dannyboy157]

Ok. So, I saw this on the tv licensing site, If I have a streaming service, but I don't watch live tv as it's being broadcast, technically I would be in the clear..  It's using YouTube as an example, so the same rules should apply with any streaming service..

[peter-marlow+1966]

Now tv is not on demand  tv you have sky max  and other channels  like sky movies  and sports  you need a licence  for sky glass, or sky stream  as you will  be watching  tv live

[TimmyBGood]

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@Dannyboy157 wrote:

I thought Now tv is on demand, so you don't need a license

NowTV use requires the property to be covered by a license if any channel is being viewed live ('as broadcast').  That you've 'demanded' the stream to start playing isn't a defense if the same content is also being transmitted over mast or satellite.

[TimmyBGood]

@Dannyboy157 

It's the activity which is licenseable, not the platform.  If you don't carry out licenced viewing (and are potentially prepared to declare that in court) then your address doesn't need a television licence.

[82bit · Accepted solution]

@MarkGoldsmith  Simply not true. The BBC would love everyone to believe this is the case, but the law is quite clear on the matter: it is the act of watching or recording live television programmes or using BBC iPlayer that requires a TV Licence - it is not required for simply having receiving equipment. It is its use for the purpose of live TV viewing that does.