BBC services on TV, radio and online

You need a TV licence to use any television receiving equipment such as a TV set, set-top box, video or DVD recorder, computer or mobile phone to watch or record TV programmes as they are being shown on TV.

• How to pay and how much it costs
• What your licence fee provides

How to pay and how much it costs

You can pay for a TV licence in a number of ways: by Direct Debit, by debit or credit card, in cash or by cheque. Depending on which way you choose, you can pay online, at a PayPoint outlet or by post.

You can get help and information through the TV Licensing website, or call 0844 800 5870 (textphone 0844 800 6778).

The annual cost of a colour TV licence (set by the Government) is currently £142.50. That works out at less than £12 per month - about 39p per day for each household.

A black and white TV licence is £48.

The licence (whether colour or black and white) is free if you are 75 or over, and half-price if you are registered blind, although you still need to apply.

What your licence fee provides

The BBC is paid for directly through each household TV licence. This allows it to run a wide range of popular public services for everyone, free of adverts and independent of advertisers, shareholders or political interests.

The BBC provides 8 interactive TV channels, 10 radio networks, more than 50 local TV and radio services, the BBC's website, and the on-demand TV and radio service, BBC iPlayer.

BBC World Service is funded by government grant and not the TV licence fee. Profits from separate BBC commercial services help to keep the licence fee low.