Reader’s Digest UK – August 2019

AUGUST 2019 • 105

READER’S DIGEST

buy a smart stick to plug into a spare
HDMI socket on your TV. You’ll even
get an extra remote to move through
the menus and pause when you need
a cuppa.
Here are the leading options and
the key apps you can watch on them:

Amazon Fire TV Stick: Amazon
Prime, iPlayer, Netflix, All4, My5 and
ITV Hub

NOW TV Stick: NOW TV, iPlayer,
Netflix, All4, My5 and ITV Hub
ROKU stick: Amazon Prime, NOW
TV, iPlayer, Netflix, All4, My5 and the
ITV Hub

Google Chromecast: NOW TV,
iPlayer, Netflix, All4, My5 and the
ITV Hub

Do you need a TV licence?
With so many more options available
for watching TV, it’s no surprise that
less viewing takes place on the main
five channels. And if you’re only
watching content on the likes of
Netflix and Amazon there’s a good
chance you might never watch the

good old BBC. In which case, you

might actually be able to ditch your

TV Licence.

A licence is only required if you are

a) watching or recording any live TV

on any channel, including via

streaming platforms or b) watching

BBC content on demand using

iPlayer. So even if you only watch the

Sky News channel, or just tune in for

big sporting events like Wimbledon

then you must have a licence.

But it does mean if you can go

without all BBC TV content and if

you’re happy to only watch other

programmes via the internet after

they’ve been broadcast, you are able

to tell TV Licencing and apply for

an exemption.

Personally I think there’s enough

quality programming that it’s money

well spent. And I’d argue we should

be supporting the BBC, not just for TV

programmes, but all the other

services which are funded by the

Licence Fee. But if money’s tight, or

you rarely watch any TV, this could be

a way to save some money. And don’t

forget that—for now at least—over-75s

don’t have to pay. n

MEDIEVAL BANGERS

The 16th-century English folk song “Greensleeves” is often said to refer to a

promiscuous woman or prostitute whose clothing was stained green from

having sex in the grass, however, it is more likely associated with green being

considered the colour of romance in that time period.

SOURCE: ROLL ME IN YOUR ARMS: VOLUME I BY VANCE RANDOLPH