BBC

You can use some streaming services without a TV licence - but it is required for BBC iPlayer and in some other scenarios. Photo: Carl Court/Getty Images

7 apps you can watch without a TV licence - and 1 you can’t

The BBC licence fee is expected to rise in 2025. (Photo by Getty Images)

How much the BBC licence fee could cost in 2025

BBC shows and services are funded by money raised from the licence fee. (Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images)

Exemptions for the TV licence fee and how to avoid paying

A general view of BBC Broadcasting House, in central London. PIC: Lucy North/PA Wire

Why women are more likely to be prosecuted for licence fee evasion?

A TV licence is a legal requirement for anyone wanting to watch live TV on terrestrial channels, or online streaming. The fine for not having a licence is up to £1,000 plus any legal costs. Additional compensation may also be ordered.

The eye-opening number of TV licence prosecutions every week

Ahead of April's price hike, a legal expert from The University of Law has shared their advice on whether you really do need to pay the license fee (and what happens if you don't).

Government makes major TV licence fee decision - what will change?

Cook smart with Nadiya Hussain (photo: Getty Images)

Going Green: Be smart with your food and cut the waste

Great British Bake Off returns to our screens this coming week

How to watch every series of Great British Bake Off

Annette Bening and Sam Neil lead the stellar cast in the latest Liane Moriarty TV adaption, "Apples Never Fall," now streaming on BBC iPlayer.

Explainer Apples Never Fall: what is the new BBC series about and is it good?

Who is Huw Edwards' wife Vicky Flind and are they still married?

Who is Huw Edwards' wife Vicky Flind and are they still married?

Contestants from Dance Floor Heroes, and inset: Ian Waite and Vincent Simone hosting the charity event at Blackpool Winter Gardens.

64 year old Strictly superfan lives her dancefloor dream on TV

Impressionist John Culshaw brings his sell out Edinburgh Fringe show "Imposter Syndrome" to venues across the United Kingdom in early 2025.

Impressionist John Culshaw announces tour of Fringe show for 2025

Romesh Ranganathan live in 2019. Picture: Mike Wade.

BBC fans slam Romesh Ranganathan’s documentary series

Use of BBC iPlayer is included in TV licence fees (Getty)

BBC iPlayer has just added an iconic show for UK viewers to watch

Artem Chigvintsev after winning Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 with Kara Tointon

Ex-Strictly Come Dancing professional arrested over domestic violence

Hartlepool RNLI all weather lifeboat 'Betty Huntbatch' is pictured here heading out to sea.

RNLI musical comes to County Durham

A new musical focusing on the efforts and struggles of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is coming to the Hartlepool area this autumn.

Madeleine Raine

The 13 best-rated restaurants from Masterchef UK contestants - according to DesignMyNight (Photo: Google)

13 best-rated restaurants with Masterchef's stamp of approval

Channel 5’s Rich Holiday, Poor Holiday is set to see a family of three head to Hartlepool to stay on a sailing boat.

Hartlepool features in Channel 5 reality TV show

Netflix and other streaming services prices compared.

How Netflix's prices compare to other streaming services

Charlie Eve, 26, has been placed on the BBC’s History Extra 30 Under 30 List, putting him among the top 30 historians in the UK for people aged 18 to 30.

Former Hartlepool dancer becomes recognised historian

BBC show Bring the Drama hosted by Bill Bailey axed after just one season

BBC show Bring the Drama axed after just one season

Celebrity Race Across The World will return for its second series soon.

Celebrity Race Across The World line-up confirmed

The BBC has been forced to change-up its schedule due to the Olympic Games (Photo by Getty Images)

BBC Breakfast presenter goes missing

The BBC has been forced to change-up its schedule due to the Olympic Games (Photo by Getty Images)

BBC stuns viewers as two more programmes axed

The popular BBC show has been running for two decades - but has now been taken off air.

Presenters bid fond farewell as BBC show is axed

Olympic torch. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)

How to watch the Olympics on Discovery Plus - and cost

Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw celebrate after England beat the Netherlands during the UEFA EURO 2024 semi-final match.

Euro 24 final Spain vs England channels and timings

Watch as members of the public discuss their reasons for watching Spain vs England on either ITV or BBC, including their favourite commentators.

Jessica Martin

BBC viewers are heartbroken by the presenter’s departure. (Photo: Getty Images)

Presenter "in tears" as he quits after 20 years

(Photos: Getty Images/Alex Nelson)

How I replicate Glastonbury Festival at home for less than a tenner

Forces sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn

Watch a five-star entertainer - Vera Lynn at the BBC

Will it be sunglasses weather or not this Spring Bank Holiday?

BBC and Met Office weather predictions for this May bank holiday

Complete guide to Euro 2024 including groups and fixtures

Saskia Reeves, left and Bernard Hill played Anne and John Darwin in BBC drama Canoe Man in 2010.

Tributes to actor who first played canoe conman on screen

Fulwell 73 produced Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special for the BBC featuring business partner James Corden (No. n/a) - Picture Shows: Jason (ROB WILFORT), Stacey (JOANNA PAGE), Gavin (MATTHEW HORNE), Smithy (JAMES CORDEN), Nessa (RUTH JONES), Pam (ALISON STEADMAN), Gwen (MELANIE WALTERS), Bryn (ROB BRYDON), Mick (LARRY LAMB) - (C) GS TV Productions Ltd - Photographer: Tom Jackson.

Gavin and Stacey to return for final time

Angry villagers kick off over rowdy football club

Watch: Angry villagers kick off over rowdy footballers swearing

Mike Bubbins as Tony Mammoth in the new BBC sitcom

REVIE: New sitcom Mammoth celebrates everything good - and unPC - of 1970s

Spneb, Europe's oldest penguin, celebrates her 36th birthday with a fish themed cake at Paradise Park, Cornwall.

Watch: Europe's oldest penguin celebrates 36th birthday

Nick Oldridge

Going Green: Countryfile presenter Tom Heap on saving the planet

Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage. Picture: Habibur Rahman

BBC accused of ‘setting torch to delicate ecosystem of local news’

Volunteers carved a giant 100ft tribute to the Sycamore Gap Tree as it reaches six months since the iconic tree was chopped down by vandals.

Stunning beach art pays tribute to felled Sycamore Gap tree

'Blue Peter' presenter and champion trampolinist Michael Sundin (1961 - 1989), circa 1985.

Michael Sundin documentary: The story of ex-Blue Peter star

The Northern Film & TV Studios in Lynn Street, Hartlepool, will host an event to help people from underrepresented areas of the country enter the screen industry.

Town studios to hold event for screen worker wannabes

Unseen images of Sarah Everard have been released ahead of the BBC documentary

Unseen Sarah Everard images released ahead of BBC documentary

Shut The Door single cover.

Hartlepool singer releases new single

Concerns have been raised over cuts to BBC local radio services

Moving BBC Concert Orchestra out of London 'didn't make sense'

Aled Jones is coming to Billingham Forum in April.

Aled Jones heading to Billingham Form

The Baftas 2024 will be broadcast on BBC One two hours after the ceremony begins in London

Is the Baftas live? What you need to know

Ralf Little returns in BBC's long-running crime drama

Jake Oates, volunteer at the Hartlepool RNLI, with his son Jacob Oates.

Youngster raises £250 for Hartlepool RNLI

Si King and Dave Myers: The Hairy Bikers Go West

Hairy Bikers return with emotional new TV series

Hartlepool comedian Stephanie Aird.

Comedian celebrates 10 years of laughs

An outside look of the former Woolworths in Mansfield.

Woolworths to make possible return to British high streets

Masterchef: The Professionals are encouraging chefs to apply for upcoming series.

Masterchef: The Professionals searching for talented chefs to compete

The BBC has been ordered to work closely with publishers amid concerns over threat to local news.

BBC ordered to work closely with publishers

The Lyell Centre return to solve more mysteries in the new series of BBC crime-drama "Silent Witness" (Credit: BBC Studios)

Silent Witness: when does season 27 start and who is returning?