TV Licensing: 953 unlicensed 18-25 year olds caught in NI

More than 26,000 young people between the ages of 18 and 25 were caught watching live TV without a TV Licence in the past year, according to new figures released today by TV Licensing. This includes 953 young adults in Northern Ireland.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Oct 2015, 15:43 GMT
Students - don't forget your TV licenceStudents - don't forget your TV licence
Students - don't forget your TV licence

With 75 per cent of first year undergraduates aged 25 and under*, TV Licensing is reminding freshers that they could face prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000 if they are caught watching live TV, on any device, without a TV Licence.

Recent research** by TV Licensing shows 29 per cent think TV Licensing can’t catch people watching live TV on a computer, laptop or mobile device and just over half of students believe that people in general are unlikely to be caught if they watch live TV without a TV Licence.

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Over the summer, a 21-year-old woman from Co. Down was found guilty of watching live TV without a licence, and ordered to pay a £25 fine and £16 court costs.

Karen Grimason, spokesperson for TV Licensing Northern Ireland, said:

“Every year myths circulate around campus about when you do and don’t need a licence. We want to make sure students know that one is needed by law to watch or record live TV, on any device including a laptop, tablet, mobile phone or games console. A TV Licence costs on average £12.13 a month which goes towards services like Radio 1’s Big Weekend, BBC iPlayer, Newsbeat and BBC One Match of the Day.

“To avoid the risk of prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000, we encourage students to check if they need a licence on our website – www.tvlicensing.co.uk/studentinfo – or by calling 0300 790 6113.”

When asked, two in three students had a positive opinion of the BBC and 67 per cent thought the TV Licence offered value for money**.

Related topics:TV licenceNorthern Ireland