Yes, you do. It is an offence to watch or record programmes as they’re shown live on TV or online without a TV licence, and it is an offence to watch or download catch up TV or on demand services on TV or online without a TV licence.

Yes in all cases. However, BT and TalkTalk’s most basic packages come with the basic YouView box, which doesn’t offer recording. So you’ll have to get the next package up in both cases.

No. You can access a lot of Sky’s content through Now TV if you have access to the internet and a device such as a smart TV or games console onto which to download the app and play the content. Now TV is cheap and quite an effective means to access Sky content if you… Continue reading Can I get Sky, Virgin TV, BT TV or TalkTalk TV without a subscription?

Not necessarily. With Sky and Virgin you can get ‘TV-only’ packages (without broadband or home phone). However, you won’t get the full benefit without a broadband connection since on-demand programming tends to rely on it. With TalkTalk TV and BT TV, you do need an internet connection, though not because the boxes themselves require it,… Continue reading Do I need a broadband connection to watch digital TV?

Only Sky requires a satellite dish. Services from BT TV, TalkTalk TV and Virgin TV require only the set-top box supplied when you sign up and an internet connection to deliver up everything they have to offer.

Absolutely. If it has an app, it’ll be available on Windows or Apple operating systems. For which apps do what with what provider, check out the question and answer directly above this one.

  Sky offers both Sky Go and Sky Go Extra apps, the former free, the latter for a small additional charge. With Sky Go you can’t download content in advance and watch it later (useful to save on mobile data), with Sky Go Extra you can. Sky Go Extra is also free if you subscribe… Continue reading Can I watch my subscription TV service on my mobile or tablet?

You can watch Netflix on all subscription TV set-top boxes. Netflix is available in the ‘On Demand’ menu on YouView and YouView+ (BT TV or TalkTalk TV) and on channel 204 on Virgin’s V6 box. You will need a Netflix subscription to watch it in all cases.