Your licence funds the BBC.

Every £169.50 a year keeps the nation's broadcaster independent — free from advertising, free from shareholders, answerable only to the public.

£3.7bn

Total BBC income from the licence fee (2023/24)

0 adverts

Across all BBC channels and iPlayer — no commercial interruption, ever

9 + 10 + 40

TV channels, national and local radio stations — plus BBC Sounds and BBC News online, all funded by you

02 Trusted journalism

It pays for the journalism the world trusts.

From BBC News on the ground in over 200 countries, to Panorama, to local reporting that holds power to account — the licence fee is the engine behind the BBC's newsroom. No other UK news organisation maintains a global network of this scale.

"Trust is earned one story at a time."

A relative of a victim in tears outside the Bangkok bar fire — BBC photojournalism

BBC News — Bangkok bar fire. Licence-funded reporting from the field.

03 Legal requirement

It's a legal requirement.

If you watch or record live television on any channel, or download or watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer, you need a TV Licence by law.

You need a licence if you:

Watch or record live TV on any channel
Use BBC iPlayer on any device, for any content

You don't need a licence if you:

Only watch on-demand content on other streaming services
Only use BBC Sounds for radio and podcasts

Important — Criminal Offence

Watching live TV or using BBC iPlayer without a licence is a criminal offence. You could face a fine of up to £1,000, plus legal costs.

04 Get yours today

Buy your TV Licence.

It takes two minutes online. Pay annually, monthly, or weekly. Spread the cost the way that suits you.

Annual

£169.50

One single payment

Monthly

£14.33

Per month, spread across 12 payments

Weekly

£3.26

Per week — pay as you go

Buy or renew now at tvlicensing.co.uk

A TV Licence lasts for 12 months. You can cancel or change your plan at any time.

Why You Should Buy Your TV Licence