The Pros and Cons of Television Licensing

There are a whole new generation of people who are moving out from their parents’ house for the first time and discovering that they have to pay for a TV licence in order to watch and record live TV.

With so many young people of this generation now consuming media through YouTube and streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Instant Video, paying to watch TV can seem like an odd concept.

Although referred to as a ‘TV licence’, the money you actually pay is towards the BBC. The BBC are the only non-commercial terrestrial channel available on British TV and therefore to get access to their services, you’re obliged to pay a fee.

Whilst it’s true that it’s no longer necessary to have a TV licence in order to get access to some of the most popular programmes on television, the idea of paying for a TV licence isn’t completely obsolete. If you’re not convinced that having a TV licence is important then below are the biggest pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.

Pros

• Not profit driven – One of the big benefits of paying the BBC a licence fee is that they’re not driven by commercial revenue in the same way that channels such as ITV and Channel 4 are. This means that their programming provides a mix of education, news and entertainment.
• Educational – Because the BBC is publically funded, they’re obliged to air a good mix of programmes, including those that are educational to people of all ages. Few could argue that the BBC produces nature programmes that are any less than stellar. This helps to educate people and ensure that there is something available to the public that isn’t just based on cheap entertainment and has real value.

Cons

• Expensive – A TV licence currently costs £145.50 per year for a full colour TV and £49.00 for a black and white TV. With the vast majority of televisions in the UK being full colour, it’s certainly not cheap to obtain a TV licence and for many people who don’t watch a lot of TV, they might feel it’s an unreasonable amount of money to pay.
• Not for everybody – Just because the BBC has an obligation to broadcast a wide spectrum of programming doesn’t mean it’s going to be for everybody. In fact many people are not a fan of the BBC’s output and for these people paying for a TV licence will hardly be something they relish doing.

Do I have to get a TV licence?

The short answer is – probably yes. Even if you don’t watch much TV but just happen to have one in your home, you’re still obligated to pay for a TV licence if you watch any live television at all, not matter how little

This might seem unfair but the same rule applies to everyone. In fact, you don’t just need a TV licence if you watch live programming from your TV, but any type of device, whether it’s a laptop, smartphone or tablet. 

Author bio

Peter has a keen interest in digital television installation. His articles cover subjects such as the pros and cons of TV licensing.