This is just plain wrong. You can own a TV (e.g. for a console) but not pay for a TV licence if you say you don't watch broadcasts. You can even have the software installed on your computer and not pay, as long as you don't actually watch iPlayer with it.
This is different from e.g. Germany where every household must pay for a licence regardless of whether you watch it or not.
If you have iPlayer "installed" but never use it, and you do not watch live tv as it's broadcast, you do not need a licence.
And even that isn't quite correct is it, you can watch iPlayer on your laptop if you're in someone else's home and they have a licence.
> All viewers who use the iPlayer to watch any BBC programmes must now be covered by a TV licence after new rules came into force on Thursday.
> Previously, iPlayer users only needed a licence if they were using the service to watch live broadcasts.
> That meant it was legal to watch programmes after broadcast on catch-up without paying the annual £145.50 fee.
> But the TV licence requirements have now been extended to include catch-up, online premieres and online-only shows.
It only covers BBC iPlayer tv. It doesn't cover eg Channel 4's catch up service.
To quote from the TV licensing website:
””” Do I need a TV Licence for all on demand programmes?
No. You don’t need a licence if you only ever watch on demand or catch up programmes on services other than BBC iPlayer* (and you also never watch live TV programmes on any channel, including on iPlayer).
You don’t need to be covered by a licence to watch any films or TV shows that you buy online.
*You don’t need a licence to watch S4C TV on demand or listen to radio on iPlayer. You also don’t need one to watch films or TV shows on iPlayer that you’ve bought on the BBC Store.”””
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/b...
You need a licence if you use the tv iPlayer. You don't need a licence if you use the radio iPlayer.