Do I Need a TV Licence for ITVX?
It depends. ITVX on-demand and catch-up are licence-free. Watching ITV live, including the live channels inside the ITVX app, needs a licence. ITVX is not treated like BBC iPlayer.
ITVX on demand only
£0
no licence needed
Watching ITV live
£180
licence required
Versus BBC iPlayer
Always
iPlayer needs a licence
The short answer
Watching on-demand programmes on ITVX, the catch-up shows and box sets, does not require a TV licence. ITVX is treated the same as Channel 4 and My5 catch-up: licence-free unless you watch something live. This is the crucial difference from BBC iPlayer, which always needs a licence even for catch-up.
A licence becomes necessary the moment you watch ITV live. That includes watching ITV1 or any ITV channel as it is broadcast, however you receive it, and it includes the live channel streams built into the ITVX app. TV Licensing's own guidance names ITVX among the streaming services where watching live requires a licence. As with every other service, the rule is about what you watch, not which app you open.
ITVX licence rules at a glance
| What you are doing | Licence needed? |
|---|---|
| ITVX catch-up and box sets (on demand) | No, licence-free |
| ITVX live channel streams (ITV1, ITV2 live) | Yes, licence required |
| Watching ITV live through an aerial or Freeview | Yes, licence required |
| Recording a live ITV programme to watch later | Yes, licence required |
| ITVX Premium on-demand content only | No, licence-free |
ITVX vs BBC iPlayer: the key difference
This is the point most people get wrong. BBC iPlayer is the only on-demand service in the UK that requires a licence for catch-up viewing. ITVX is not in that category. With ITVX, only live viewing triggers the requirement, so its entire on-demand library is licence-free.
ITVX (and Channel 4, My5)
On-demand catch-up is licence-free. You only need a licence to watch the live channel streams or any other live broadcast.
BBC iPlayer
Always needs a licence, live or on-demand. Opening iPlayer at all triggers the requirement. This is the single exception in UK law.
Where the live line is drawn
You need a licence when
- • You watch the live ITV1, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4 or ITVBe streams inside ITVX
- • You watch any ITV channel live through an aerial, Freeview, Sky, or Virgin
- • You stream a programme live as it is broadcast (for example a soap at transmission time)
- • You record a live ITV programme to watch later
You do not need a licence to watch the same programmes on demand afterwards, as long as you never use BBC iPlayer and never watch anything else live.
ITV Player, ITV Hub, ITVX: same service, same rules
ITV's streaming service has changed name several times. It was ITV Player, became ITV Hub in 2015, and was relaunched as ITVX on 8 December 2022. If you search for "ITV Hub" or "ITV Player" today, you arrive at ITVX. The TV licence position has not changed with the names: on-demand viewing is licence-free, and live viewing needs a licence.
ITVX has a free, advertising-supported tier and a paid ITVX Premium tier. Neither changes the licence rules. Premium is a separate commercial subscription that removes ads and unlocks extra box sets; it does not licence you for live TV, and using only its on-demand content does not require a TV licence.
Declaring no licence needed
If your household only ever watches ITVX (and other non-iPlayer services) on demand, never watches anything live, and never uses BBC iPlayer, you do not need a licence. You can confirm this with a "no licence needed" declaration via tvlicensing.co.uk/no-licence-needed, by phone on 0300 790 6165, or by post. The declaration is renewed every two years.
See our no licence declaration guide for the full process, and what counts as live TV for the exact legal definition of live viewing.
Not legal advice
For your specific situation, check TV Licensing FAQ33 (watching or streaming online) or seek free advice from Citizens Advice.