Can TV Licence find out if you watch iPlayer?

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Can TV Licence find out if you watch iPlayer?

We contact customers who have declared that they do not need a licence but at the same time are shown from the information that we hold to be watching or downloading BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer on several occasions. This will include information on which programmes have been viewed and when.

How can they tell if you are watching TV without a licence?

The agents carry out checks on people they believe do not have a licence but they are NOT allowed inside your home without permission. In a bid to catch evaders, high-tech handheld detectors and vans can also be used to detect whether someone is watching TV without a licence.

Is it illegal to watch BBC iPlayer without a TV Licence?

Yes. You must be covered by a TV Licence (including a free over 75 licence) to download or watch any BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand. This applies to any device and provider you use. You don’t need a licence to watch S4C TV on demand on BBC iPlayer.

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Does BBC iPlayer track your IP?

We collect some information automatically. Things like your IP address, which browser and device you’re using, or your device ID. And we can tell what webpage directed you to the BBC by looking at information from your browser.

Can I use iPlayer away from home?

Your home TV Licence will usually cover you to watch live TV on any channel and BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer on any device away from home.

Do TV Licence inspectors actually visit?

Can TV licence inspectors visit your house? Inspectors can visit your house, although you’re likely to receive a letter before this point. You can refuse to let an inspector in, but this might lead to them getting a court order – which means they would be allowed to enter by law without your permission.

What channels can you watch without a TV Licence?

Without a licence, you can legally watch:

  • Netflix.
  • YouTube.
  • Amazon Prime.
  • DVDs/Blurays.
  • Non-BBC catch-up including ITV Player, Channel 4 on-demand, as long as it’s NOT live.

How does the BBC know Im using a VPN?

How does BBC iPlayer know I’m using a VPN? Streaming services like BBC iPlayer have got much smarter at detecting VPNs. When you connect to a VPN server, you’re assigned an IP address. This IP address is visible to BBC iPlayer.

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Is watching iPlayer illegal?

Yes. A valid TV licence is required to watch or download any programmes on BBC iPlayer, as well as watching or recording live TV on any channel. Doing so without a TV licence is a criminal offence and you could be prosecuted and fined up to £1000 (or £2000 in Guernsey).

How does iPlayer detect VPN?

BBC iPlayer can detect VPNs for a variety of reasons and most of them have to do with your true location, including: Your VPN’s servers have been blacklisted by BBC iPlayer. This is more common if your VPN has a small server network. It’s much harder for BBC iPlayer to block VPNs with a large server network.

Can you access BBC iPlayer from outside the UK?

If you download a programme on BBC iPlayer when you’re in the UK, you can watch it anywhere in the world. You can download programmes on your computer, or on your mobile or tablet using the BBC iPlayer app. There are still BBC services you can use outside of the UK, including: BBC Sounds.

What happens if you watch BBC iPlayer without a TV licence?

Viewers caught watching BBC iPlayer or live TV without a licence could be prosecuted and fined up to £1,000, plus legal costs. But, at this stage, the BBC has said it won’t be enforcing the new law. Instead, it plans to write to unlicensed households in the UK to tell them about the changes.

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How to watch BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the UK?

Instead of going direct to the BBC iPlayer site, your request is routed through a UK VPN server. You don’t see anything different apart from the site will work perfectly because it thinks you are in the United Kingdom. All web sites will only see the address of the VPN and as long as you keep choosing a UK one then all British TV sites will work.

Can the BBC tell if you are watching live TV?

The story was based on a report published by the National Audit Office last month, which said the BBC had demonstrated its ability to detect people watching live programming (the Telegraph decided not to mention the reference to live viewing only) on a “range of non-TV devices”.

Do TV licence collectors know if you are on iPlayer?

The collectors of the TV licence fee (Capita) know whether an address has a licence. Yes but they have no way of telling if you are on IPlayer. They don’t at the moment. Whether someone logs in or not all devices on the internet can be traced instantly.