TV licence rule warning over 'most common trap' for ITV, Sky and Amazon viewers

LifestyleMoneyMoney worriesPeople are being warned of a costly mistakeNicholas Dawson05:15, 25 Jul 2026TV viewers may want to double check the TV licence rules as you could be risking court action or a criminal conviction. People who watch popular channels such as Sky, Amazon or ITV may want to take note.‌Consumer advocates have issued a warning to anyone assuming they can safely bypass paying the £180 annual fee. Thomas Gibbons, a free money and debt advice expert at Money Wellness, clarified the rules. He said: "The most common trap is thinking the licence is just about the BBC. It isn't. You need one to watch anything live, everything from the football on Sky or Amazon, ITV, to live streaming on YouTube."‌He went on to warn that even people who only watch the BBC could fall foul of the