Why do I need a TV licence to watch non BBC services?
<p>Today I learned that the TV licence in the UK is required to:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, on any
channel</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one?&amp;&amp;WT.mc_id=mec_Search_Brand&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwlvT8BRDeARIsAACRFiUnMBxfrZeVMCp-gRvLec4xnADngSvgAfBE5fjNimNR_DBgvvgfdqUaAlGaEALw_wcB" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Source</a></p>
<p>This means that if I watch, for example, Sky Sports, even on my phone, I require a TV Licence, even though I’ve already paid Sky, and Sky are the ones providing the service.</p>
<p>Given that the TV licence funds the BBC, and that Sky is a paid for service that has nothing to do with the BBC, I’m struggling to see why this is required.</p>
<p>If there were no such thing as a TV licence, and the government tried to bring this rule in now, what possible legal justification could they make for it?</p>

<h2>Because Parliament passed a law saying you have to</h2>
<p>In the UK, Parliament is supreme - if they pass a law requiring everyone to dress in green on the second Tuesday of each month then that is a legitimate and enforceable law.</p>
<p>Why such a law is a bad idea is a political question, not a legal one.</p>

licensing