Ditching the TV licence doesn't have to mean ditching TV altogether.
Today, for your information, we give the low down on some of the most popular alternatives to lining the gluttonous BBC's pockets.
Before we start, as we traditionally do, a brief reminder of the relevant legislation as it stands: A TV licence is required for any property where equipment is installed or used to receive TV programmes at the same time, or virtually the same time, as they are received by other members of the viewing public. Additionally, as of 1st September 2016, a TV licence is required to receive or download BBC on-demand programmes via the iPlayer.
Anyone whose circumstances fall outside the rules given above does not legally require a TV licence. People in that situation are under no obligation to communicate or co-operate with TV Licensing and we strongly discourage them from wasting their time doing so.
Now to the alternatives:
1. Video Sharing Sites (YouTube etc)
Pretty much anything you could ever want to watch is available on YouTube. No TV licence is required unless you are watching a TV channel being streamed "live" (e.g. as it goes out over the airwaves). The same rules hold true with video upload sites like Vimeo, Dailymotion etc.
2. Non-BBC On-Demand
No TV licence is required to watch on-demand programmes via ITV Hub, All 4, My5, Sky Go etc. A TV licence is required if you use any of these services to watch TV programmes being streamed "live" (e.g. as they go out over the airwaves).
3. Amazon Prime.
Over the last couple of years the Amazon Prime service has exploded in popularity. Prime allows users unlimited streaming of the latest movies and TV episodes, but they also benefit from free one-day delivery (okay, so nothing's really free!) on millions of different products purchased via the Amazon website, plus free access to thousands of ebooks, plus first dabs on some of Amazon's best deals.
Amazon Prime currently costs the princely sum of £79 per year (or £7.99 on a rolling monthly basis), which is half the cost of a TV licence.
Amazon offers a 30 day free trial of Prime, which you can sign up for here. Additional costs will be incurred unless you cancel before the end of the trial period.
4. Netflix.
A subscription to Netflix's most popular standard HD package currently costs £7.99 per month, which at the equivalent of £95.88 per year is slightly more than half the cost of a TV licence. There is a less popular basic version for £5.99 per month.
According to Netflix: "We have thousands of movies and TV show episodes available to watch instantly right on your TV via any device that streams Netflix, including PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, and your computer. There are never any commercials no matter how much you watch, and you can pause, rewind, fast forward or re-watch as often as you like. It's really that easy!"
Netflix offers a 30 day free trial, which you can sign up for here. Additional costs will be incurred unless you cancel before the end of the trial period.
5. NOW TV.
NOW TV is Sky's online streaming service. As well as allowing users to watch Sky's most popular programmes "live" (which would require a TV licence), it gives access to a multitude of on-demand content. Unlike a regular Sky subscription, there is no ongoing contract with NOW TV - the user simply dips in and out of whichever Sky content interests them.
A NOW TV Entertainment Pass, which allows on-demand access to some of Sky's most popular shows, currently costs £6.99 a month (although you can often find them cheaper on eBay). That works out at £83.88 per year, which is slightly more than half the cost of a TV licence.
NOW TV offers a 30 day free trial, which you can sign up for here. Additional costs will be incurred unless you cancel before the end of the trial period.
Of course whichever of these options you chose, you would still have full access to the BBC's radio and online content, neither of which requires a TV licence.
If you've found this article useful please consider using our Amazon link for snapping up some bargains or downloading our free ebook.
I've been LLF for just over 6 years. I've had Amazon Prime all that time and Netflix for 5 years (UHD over 4 screens £9.99 pm) I also watch YouTube on my pc and the app on my TV. Amazon Prime don't have a direct app for You Tube anymore. I watch all this on my 65inch 4k curve TV. I can wholly recommend the above services esp. if you want to be LLF. Gonna check out this Sky Now thing though, never really took much notice of before.
ReplyDeleteI have Amazon Prime and Netflix I was just going to get their streaming service but for £7 more you got unlimited next day delivery. I have had Netflix for 5 years and downgraded from their HD to the basic package as I am the only one who uses it so don't need to have it on more than 1 screen at a time. I have been LLF for most of my adult life, only 6 years have I had a License, so for over 30 years I have had no license, I still have the aerial lead connected as I might want to listen to the radio through the TV.
ReplyDeleteI've not paid the BBC a penny for well over 20 years. There's plenty of entertainment and news available without having to give money to that greedy and arrogant organisation.
ReplyDeleteI just gave up TV watching. Thought I would try it as a temporary measure and if I missed it, I would buy a Licence and start to watch again. Radio filled the gap at first but I listen to that less and less these days as there are so many other things filling my time.
ReplyDeleteI haven't missed it, except for some major sports events but increasingly these are not available to those without a satellite TV contract.
To watch TV I would now have to buy a new TV or a set-top box (decoder) as the broadcasts have since become 'digital' and the TV in the loft is an old CRT one.
Up2snuff