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• TV
• Now TV

The fine is a hefty one - and one that can easily be avoided

A TV Licence costs £180 and gives you legal access to a range of channels and live broadcasts, but it isn’t only the BBC that requires one. Now (previously Now TV) is a Sky-owned, subscription TV service that offers contract-free access to Sky’s premium sports, movies and entertainment, as explained by Which?

NOW confirms: "You’ll need a TV licence if you watch any of the live channels with your NOW Membership, on any device." It adds: "You’ll also need a TV licence if you use your NOW Box or Smart Stick to watch BBC iPlayer (live programmes, on demand or catch up)."

How much is a TV Licence fine?

A standard TV Licence costs £180 and a black and white licence costs £60.50. TV Licensing confirms: "You could be prosecuted if we find that you have been watching, recording or downloading programmes illegally.

"The maximum penalty is a £1,000 fine plus any legal costs and/or compensation you may be ordered to pay. The maximum fine is £2,000 in Guernsey."

This means if you don't have a TV Licence but watch live channels with your NOW Membership, for example, you could be handed a £1,000 fine.

How much is NOW?

A NOW membership lets you watch what you want, when it suits you. You can sign up to Entertainment, Cinema or Sports, and get access to live TV channels as well as on-demand content. Prices vary with offers available for some.

Prices as of August 3, 2026, include:

• Entertainment Membership – £7.99 a month for shows including Sky Originals, Sky Exclusives and returning HBO Max series.
• Entertainment & HBO Max Membership – £9.99 a month for everything you get with Entertainment Membership, plus every series from HBO Max.
• Cinema Membership - £9.99 a month - Access to the full Sky Cinema movie range including some of the latest blockbusters and hundreds of movies for every mood and moment.
• Sports Month Membership – £34.99 a month, all Sky Sports channels
• Sports Day Membership – £14.99 for 24 hours, all Sky Sports channels.

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