TV LICENSE

1.What is the TV License?

A television licence is a payment required in many countries for the reception of television broadcasts, or the possession of a television set where some broadcasts are funded in full or in part by the licence fee paid.

2.What is the name of the Act that requires the BBC to issue TV licences and collect a licence fee?

The Charter and the Framework Agreement provide the constitutional basis for the BBC.

3.Who approves the amount each year?

The government approves the amount annually.

4.How much is the current fee?

 It costs £150.50 for a colour and £50.50 for a black and white TV Licence. In some cases, you may be entitled to a reduced fee TV Licence (see table below). You can pay for your licence all in one go or spread the cost.

5.How many households watch TV without a valid TV licence?

TV Licensing visits properties that don't respond to their attempts to make contact. Every day more than 700 people are caught – with 256,600 homes found to be watching TV without a licence last year. In 2016, 1 in 14 people didn't pay for their license. 

6.How much in licence fee revenue is lost because of evasion?

Each year, the BBC spends £100 million chasing licence fee dodgers. In 2016 they lost £250 million in revenues from people who refused to pay charge. Figures also show that the corporation spent £16 million sending threatening letters and emails to people who refused to pay.

7.How many people are imprisoned for licence fee evasion?

Its been an alarming uptick in the numbers of its inspectors sent to hospital after being attacked, the BBC reports. In 2015, the revenue collection company reported 95 physical assaults. In England and Wales there are 180,000 prosecutions a year for failing to pay the licence fee, and dozens of people are jailed each year. In contrast, 32 people were put behind bars in 2013 alone in England and Wales for refusing to pay court fines imposed for the same offence.