Don’t get caught in the TV licence net, firms warned
THE TV Licensing Authority has warned it will blitz Middlesbrough bosses if they see they a repeat of last year’s illegal sports viewing on firms’ time.
With number 12 seed Andy Murray about to bid for British glory as Wimbledon opens on Monday, the authority has warned that firms risk a £1,000 penalty if staff are caught watching live sport online and the business is unlicensed.
TV Licensing netted more than 720 individuals and businesses in Middlesbrough last year during the summer sports season, and enquiry officers will be out in force again this summer.
It acknowledged that some businesses may be unwittingly breaking the law.
While not all have a TV set, most will have computers with broadband connections, capable of receiving live programmes, meaning that more businesses now need to cover themselves with a TV licence.
The number of TV stations broadcasting online is steadily increasing. Last week, the BBC announced that it will start online broadcasts of BBC One within the next year.
TV Licensing’s advice is backed by the Federation of Small Businesses, who urge small businesses to note a rise in people watching sports online at work. Businesses can be held liable if someone is caught watching TV on unlicensed premises, even if they are unaware that their employee is doing so.
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