The BBC is working on ways to use iPlayer to identify households that are not paying for a TV licence.
The proposal would see online BBC accounts linked with home addresses, potentially giving TV Licensing a new dataset to target enforcement activity. A TV licence is required for any household that watches or records live TV on any channel, or uses BBC iPlayer. The annual fee is £174.50 (€201).
At present when you use BBC iPlayer you are asked whether or not you have a TV Licence, this is a simple Yes or No, with no apparent link to the BBC account required to view content.
A spokesperson for TV Licensing said it is exploring improved collection methods, including greater use of available data: “We always look at ways to improve how we collect the licence fee. This includes using the data available to us to get a better understanding of viewing habits and use of BBC services.”
The BBC has a statutory duty to collect the licence fee and currently uses targeted letters and emails to households it believes may be evading payment. Non-payment can lead to prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000 (€1,152).
The BBC collected £3.8bn (€4.38bn) from sales of more than 23 million TV licences in 2024–25, while around £550m (€633m) is estimated to have been lost through evasion.
There are concessions for some groups, including over-75s receiving Pension Credit, blind people, eligible residential care residents and certain businesses providing overnight accommodation.
