TV Licensing updates guidance for organisations screening events

TV Licensing has published a new guide for clubs and community groups explaining the requirement to hold a TV licence.

Background

Generally an organisation will require a TV licence if anyone on its premises watches or records any live television programmes on a television provided by your business.  This includes any programme watched, or recorded as it is being shown, on television or live on an online television service, and applies to directors, officers, employees, volunteers and guests of the organisation.

Furthermore, from 1 September 2016 a TV licence will be required to download or watch BBC programmes on demand, including catch-up TV, on BBC iPlayer.

Screening events

If your club plans to screen one-off TV events such as the Olympics, sports tournaments or other events, you should make sure the club is correctly covered by a TV Licence, even if it is just for a short period of time.

Usually it will only be necessary to hold one TV licence to cover a club or community group e.g. where a clubhouse is used by different organisations during the week and the same TV can be used by all.

However, in some cases it may be necessary to obtain separate TV licences e.g. if part of a clubhouse is solely occupied by one group and a different TV is used by other groups in other areas of the clubhouse.

Review

We recommend that clubs review their television usage to ensure they are complying with the law and the changes taking effect on 1 September 2016.  Non-compliance is a criminal offence liable to a fine of up to £1,000 plus legal costs and/or compensation.

If you have any queries on what the changes will mean in practice for your club, please call our dedicated County FA Helpline on 08448 240 432 or email [email protected]