University students urged to make sure they have correct TV licenses

TV Licensing is urging young people going to universities across North Wales to make sure they are correctly licensed. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

With the COVID-19 pandemic currently ongoing and set to continue into the next year, the lifestyle of students is looking likely to change. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Many will be swapping their ‘nights out’ on the town for ‘nights in’ watching the TV. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The law states people need to be covered by a TV licence to watch or record programmes as they are being shown, even be it online or live such as YouTube or Apple TV. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A licence is also needed to download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer and applies to any device. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Third year University of South Wales student, Harry Pettigrew, said: “Being in my final year, I didn’t see myself going out as much anyway, but with clubs being closed for the foreseeable future I think most students will be staying in. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Luckily, I live with a close group of friends, so we’ll be revisiting old films and TV programmes like ‘Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps’ and ‘Doctor Who’. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Even though a lot of things have opened up after lockdown, my mates and I feel most comfortable at home. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I think the licence fee is great value for money and is essential for the course I study. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I also split the TV Licence cost between all my flatmates, so I get loads of content for just over £30 a year”. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Ellen Leach-Hutchings, a spokesperson for TV Licensing, said: “While the fresher week experience will be very different this year, we know that young people love the shared experience of television and that it’s a great way to bond with new friends.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“With thousands of hours of quality drama, reality TV, live sport and music available, we don’t want students to miss out, nor do we want them to risk prosecution and a fine. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Whether they are living in halls or a house-share, students can visit the TV Licensing website for more information.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The law still applies to students living away from home in halls or shared accommodation, regardless of the device they use, and a TV Licence is required to watch programmes as they are being shown on TV live or when watching on BBC iPlayer. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

For more information on how to buy a TV licence, go to www.tvlicensing.co.uk. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

—– ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

By Jordan Adams ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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