Dad wins landmark TV Licence battle after cancelling to stream from games console
A dad has won a landmark battle with TV Licensing after cancelling his licence in favour of streaming services on his gaming console. The current price for a TV licence is £174.50, granting lawful access to BBC programmes and live viewing across networks such as ITV and Channel 4, whether through aerial or online.
But it seems not everyone must cough up for the fee, as Lee Stuart from Kirkby demonstrated in court. Last year, Mr Stuart had a run-in with a TV Licensing official and stated his case.
Lee Stuart told the officer: "I told him I just watch Netflix and Amazon Prime through the PlayStation, and he asked me if I used BBC iPlayer and I said, 'no'."
READ MORE - Princess Diana's nickname for Harry and why she thought 'he'd be a better king'
READ MORE - World's 'friendliest country' to make tourists pay more than locals in restaurants
After he signed a declaration confirming his statements, as reported by the Express, he thought that would be the last of the situation. But a Single Justice Procedure Notice soon dropped into his letterbox, indicating a potential legal skirmish.
Resolved to fight his corner, Mr Stuart stood his ground in the dock, contesting the assertion from TV Licensing that he was watching the news and rebuffed an entry request from their agent. Sefton Magistrates Court dismissed the charge due to insufficient proof, reports Derbyshire Live.
A spokesperson for TV Licensing clarified: "This was reviewed by TV Licensing following the court hearing in April 2025 as is standard practice, and no failings were highlighted."
However, it has since come to light that Mr Stuart's claims were indeed accurate, according to TV Licensing's own rules.
TV Licensing's guidelines stipulate that a TV Licence is essential for anyone who:.
- Watches or records live TV across any channel using services like Sky, Virgin, Freeview, or Freesat.
- Streams live content on platforms such as ITVX, Channel 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now, or Sky Go.
- Utilises BBC iPlayer in any capacity.
However, there are exemptions where a TV Licence isn't necessary:.
- Viewing on-demand content on Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, or Apple TV, provided it's not live. For instance, you can legally watch series like Drive To Survive, Stranger Things, Ted Lasso, or Clarkson's Farm without a TV Licence.
But watching live sports, such as a Premier League match on Amazon Prime, would require a Licence.
TV Licensing emphasises: "You need to be covered by a TV Licence to watch programmes live on any online TV service - such as ITVX, Channel 4, Amazon Prime Video, Now or Sky Go. You don't need a TV Licence if you only ever watch on-demand programmes on any TV service apart from BBC iPlayer."
LIVE doesn't just refer to a live match, but also if you're watching Coronation Street as it's being broadcast 'live', you'll need a TV Licence. However, if you catch up on an ITV or Channel 4 show later, you won't require a licence for that.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Wheeler Dealers' Mike Brewer names three used cars that 'sell almost immediately'
Mike Brewer, who has recently opened up a new used car dealership, says three SUVs fly off his forecourt Wheeler Dealers star Mike Brewer has revealed three used cars that sell "almost immediately". The revelation comes as the 60-year-old has taken the "biggest gamble of his life" by launching a fresh dealership venture. While fans will know Mike from programmes like Driven on Channel 4 and Discovery's Wheeler Dealers, he's recently launched One Automotive in Leamington Spa. The businessfocuses on motors and commercial vehicles. And Mike reveals there are three particular used cars that disappear from the lot the moment they arrive. He describes the trio of vehicles as both sought-after and "imminently reliable". Speaking to The Mirror, he explained: "We have a lot of Transit vans and utility vehicles but some of the biggest selling vehicles are the five-door SUV soccer mum cars where you can drop the kids off and then do the shopping. "The Hyundai Kona and the Ford Kuga sell almost immediately. They are really good cars and the Nissan Qashqai goes really quickly. They are all imminently reliable." Hyundai represents a marque that Mike maintains should feature near the summit of any shopping list when searching for a fresh motor. He spotlighted the manufacturer's 10-year warranty. He continued: "The Korean cars are really reliable and you can get amazing 10-year warranties. You can get a relatively new or new car at a really low cost." The Kona, Kuga and Qashqai all regularly score favourably on reviews, with the Nissan and Hyundais both ranked four out of five by What Car? Magazine. The 2025 Ford Kuga scored a three out of five. Car expert Mike meanwhile is set to give fans a peak behind-the-scenes at his dealership in his new TV show, Mike Brewer: Born Dealer. Fans will watch on as Mike takes the "biggest gamble he's ever taken in his life" by investing his pension pot into a new car dealership, One Automotive. Mike explained: "It is a chance to look into the bonnet and see the real Mike Brewer. On this show I would wake up and there was a camera crew following you. I thought 'I'm not going to hold back' and it shows both the highs and lows." Beyond providing a more personal insight into Mike's world, the programme will showcase some of his favourite motors that have graced his forecourt. These include a carbon black BMW M3 that Mike is excited for fans to see. Mike continued: "You get to see a Mk2 Volkswagen Golf, with a VR6 engine that's really cool. We've got a BMW E46 M3, in carbon black... that's an amazing car, and we're really looking forward to showing you that. "There's a lovely story with Richard Hammond's mother's Mazda MX5, which we restore and sell for charity, which is absolutely lovely and a really nice story. "Plus you're going to see lots of the custom vans that we do - buying vans, customising them, selling them - and we also diversify into pickup trucks. So yeah, there's a really broad variety of cars, from your classics, to your modern classics, to up-to-date modern cars, but every car has something happen to it."
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Douglas derelict building owners warned rate relief to end
Owners of buildings that are not fit to live in have been told they will no longer be spared from paying rates. Douglas Council has ended the allowance it had previously provided for uninhabitable properties. The council said it had now issued rate demands for 60 properties in a bid to tackle vacant and neglected buildings in the Lead Devon Watson said the policy aimed to "alter incentives" when it came to vacant and neglected buildings, and to be fairer to everyone who paid rates in the city. Watons said there were "plenty of buildings" that could be homes, businesses or community facilities but were "left to decay because no one's had to pay rates on them".Under the new approach, the council would "create an incentive to either renovate the property or sell it to someone who will bring it into use".Anyone who buys a currently uninhabitable building will receive a two-year exemption to give them time to renovate. He said the council should be "encouraging people to invest in their properties.""The goal is to establish a practice to get these properties redeveloped", Watson said, adding the alternative to bringing buildings back in to use was to build on green field sites or high-density areas. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Amazon rolls out new shopping service to rival Temu and Shein and it's 70% off everything today
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AMAZON has officially rolled out its new shopping service that's meant to rival Shein and Temu - and everything is 70% off today. The online marketplace has introduced its Haul section to offer shoppers thousands of products for £20 or less. 1 Amazon Haul has launched more widely now and it's got 70% off everything today Credit: Getty It was initially introduced as a trial for a select number of customers but it's now been launched more widely. The platform has also got a huge sale on today only with a massive 70% off everything. One happy shopper shared on the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group that they had got £36 worth of items reduced to £9 in the sale. Another person said they'd managed to get £107.99 worth of items for £21.60. Read more on Amazon LAST APP-EARANCE Amazon issues final refund warning as huge app CLOSES down forever in DAYS A third shopper wrote: "I've just got £64 worth of stuff for £12!!!" And another said: "Ordered the other day. 24 items for around £20!" A different person said they had bought two power banks reduced from £129 each to £16. The majority of items on the marketplace are under £10 - and with the sale on today, they'll come to even less at checkout. The service is offering free delivery on orders over £15 and you can get an extra 5% off if you spend £30. It's worth noting Amazon says orders through Haul will arrive in "two weeks or less" so you may face longer shipping times that you'd normally expect through Amazon. August Prime Gaming: 12 Free Games Worth £112 for Amazon Prime Members Some of the deals on offer currently include a Small Crossbody Bag for Women for £2.70, which still has a further 70% off at checkout. You can also get cotton pillowcases for £6.23, or a pack of microfibre face cloths for £1.80. It's worth remembering that something is only a bargain if you would have bought it anyway. Plus you should still shop around to make sure you're getting the best deal. How to use Haul Haul is only available on mobile currently but if you go on the website on your computer or laptop you'll be able to scan a QR code to access it. If you're on the app, you should be able to see Haul in the sections along the top. Otherwise you can search Haul in the search bar and hit Enter to be redirected. The launch comes as Amazon battles the rapid growth of Chinese-linked rivals such as Temu and Shein which have seen sales soar in recent years. Shein has rapidly become one of the biggest online marketplaces but has come under intense scrutiny over welfare standards.
