MoneyTV LicensingYou may even need it to watch Netflix, YouTube or Amazon Prime11:07, 21 Jul 2026The rules around a TV Licence can be confusing. Many people could be breaking them without realising, simply by watching their everyday shows.‌Officials at TV Licensing confirm that people may need to pay if they watch channels such as ITV, Channel 5, Sky, YouTube, and Amazon Prime. It explains: "You can watch on-demand programmes on all catch-up services, excluding BBC iPlayer, like ITVX and All 4, without a TV Licence. You need a TV Licence to watch or stream live TV on any streaming platform, channel or device."‌What can I watch without a TV Licence?If you don't have a TV Licence, you can legally watch:‌Catch up programmes on services other than BBC iPlayer, such as ITVX, All4 and My5On-demand films or TV shows that you watch, rent or buy online from providers like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Sky, EE TV, Sky, Apple TV+, Disney+ or NowS4C programmes on demandDVDs or Blu-raysYouTube streamers' videos or clips live or recordedIf you do have a TV Licence, you can watch all of the above, as well as:Live TV on all free channels, including BBC One, ITV2 and Sky NewsLive TV on any channels included in a package you pay for, like Virgin, EE TV or SkyEverything on BBC iPlayer, including award-winning British TV dramas and thousands of other boxsets exclusive to BBC iPlayerLive sporting events, like the Rugby World Cup, UEFA Euros and the OlympicsOther memorable live events, like the King's speech, Royal weddings, Glastonbury and the Eurovision Song ContestLive streams of programmes, news or sport on services like ITVX, Sky, YouTube or Netflix‌It adds: "With a TV Licence, you can watch all of the above on any device."Can I watch ITV without a TV Licence?You need a TV Licence to watch any live TV channel, including ITV. However, you can watch on-demand programmes on ITVX without one.‌Is YouTube Premium worth it if I'm already paying for a TV Licence?The TV Licence experts state: "Paying for YouTube Premium on top of a TV Licence grants you access to a range of perks through the YouTube platform. These include ad-free videos and music, background play and a number of apps compatible with various devices."Having a TV Licence also enables you to legally watch live programmes on YouTube, letting you enjoy all the benefits of your Premium subscription."Do I need a TV Licence to watch Netflix, Disney or Amazon Prime?Article continues belowTV Licensing confirms that you need a TV Licence to watch live programmes on Netflix. You do not need a TV Licence to watch Netflix on-demand content.It also states that you need a TV Licence to watch live programmes on Amazon Prime. You do not need a TV Licence to watch Amazon Prime on-demand content.Discussing Disney+, they confirm: "You don’t need a TV Licence to watch on demand programmes on Disney Plus."Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Save moneyTV LicensingTV Licensing AuthorityITVChannel 5Sky 1