A television licence is required to view or save live broadcasts on any screen or to access BBC iPlayer content.
The annual fee for a television licence now stands at £180, which works out as £15 each month for those choosing to spread the cost.
Watching live television without proper licensing may result in a visit from an enforcement officer and penalties reaching £1,000 upon conviction.
There are two circumstances under which reduced-rate licences are available, so it is advisable to determine eligibility.
Sight-registered individuals or those sharing a home with someone who is registered blind can obtain a licence at half the standard rate.
According to official government guidance, the document must be issued in the name of the blind person, and if it currently is not, a fresh application can be submitted to have it transferred. The existing licence number must be provided when making the request.
Those eligible should visit the official TV licensing portal to submit their application.
Residents of care facilities or sheltered housing schemes may also qualify for a reduced-cost licence.
All occupants of such accommodation must either be retired and aged over 60 or have a disability. The annual charge in these circumstances is just £7.50.
Eligibility can be verified and applications submitted by the housing provider on behalf of residents.
Those wishing to avoid the licence fee still have options for viewing content. While BBC iPlayer requires a licence, on-demand platforms including All 4 and Amazon Prime Video do not. Subscription services such as Netflix and Disney Plus, video-sharing sites like YouTube, and physical DVDs are all accessible without one.