Anyone watching BBC programmes on iPlayer through mobile phones or tablets will have to pay the BBC licence fee, it has emerged.
- A new law will mean anyone watching catch up shows will pay the fee (Only on iplayer)
- The £145.50 television licence fee will be needed to watch programmes
- Government and BBC wants to close a ‘loophole’ (BBC PR word) it created which costs £150million, a figure they made!
New legislation will mean anyone watching shows such as Sherlock, Luther or Match of the Day on iPlayer catch up will have to pay the fee even if they do so whilst on the move.
Currently anyone with a device to access live television has to by law pay the annual £145.50 BBC license fee unless they only use the screen for catch-up programmes.
The Government and the BBC wants to close a loophole which lets ‘freeloaders’ (BBC PR department buzz word) watch as many BBC shows on its iPlayer catch-up service as they like without playing. BBC bosses say the loophole costs them £150million a year (A figure they made up with no evidence).
One option being considered is to make users sign in with a password linked in with a BBC television licence before they can watch live or catch-up programmes.
BBC bosses are concerned with balancing getting people to pay for using the iPlayer but not to go too close a subscription service which may replace the licence fee.
Netflix, SkyGo and music streaming service, Spotify all use a password-linked system
Culture secretary, John Whittingdale, backs fast-tracking the legislation to make the change as soon as possible.
A BBC spokesman told The Sunday Times: ‘You will need a BBC TV licence for all devices including mobiles and tablets’, adding: ‘We are yet to work through the details of how we will enforce the proposed changes to iPlayer access. There are a number of complex factors to consider.’
James Heath, BBC director of policy, has spoken about requiring viewers to enter a password.