A TV license fee is a payment required to legally own a television set in certain countries. The revenue is used to fund public service broadcasting. The fee is typically paid annually, and the cost varies depending on the country.
In the United Kingdom, a TV license is required to watch or record television programs as they are being broadcast, or to use BBC iPlayer. The cost of a TV license in the UK is 159 per year. If you are caught watching TV without a license, you could be fined up to 1,000. The BBC has been funded by a television license fee since its inception in 1922.