RNIB's reminder about blind concession TV licence

TV Licensing has been working with Director of RNIB Northern Ireland to make sure anyone who is eligible to receive the concession is aware and takes advantage of the reduced TV Licence fee.

There are 35 blind licences in force in Coleraine. Nationally, the number of blind concessionary licences has risen by 4% this year, with 41,392 blind concessionary licences issued in the UK 1 , up from 39,700, the previous year.

Increasing numbers of BBC shows are provided with Audio Description (AD), with over 20% of BBC output now audio-described – above the target of 10% set for broadcasters by Ofcom. The service on digital TV, which allows you to hear a verbal description of what is happening on screen in between the dialogue, makes programmes more accessible to people with sight loss.

Audio-described programmes are available across a range of genres. The Vikings Uncovered was the most watched audio-described show of the last three months 2 , with over 19,000 audio-described downloads of this history documentary. Louis Theroux’s Drinking to Oblivion was the second most watched show, with over 18,000 downloads.

The Great British Sewing Bee also proved to be a hit with AD viewers, with 16,640 downloads.

As well as those who are blind (severely sight impaired), live-in carers or family members could also benefit from the concession and enjoy AD programming themselves.

A blind concession TV Licence costs £72.75 for colour and £24.50 for a black and white TV Licence.

Jonathan King, spokesperson for TV Licensing said: “If you live with someone who is blind, they are entitled to a concessionary TV Licence, which is half the price of a full fee licence. This will cover you, as well as anyone else living in your household. There is a range of ways to pay - online with a debit or card, monthly or quarterly direct debit, over-the- counter and by phone or post.”

David Galloway, Director of RNIB Northern Ireland said: "TV continues to be a popularform of entertainment for many blind and partially sighted people, thanks in part to new technologies such as audio description and the increasing range of assistive software for tablets and laptops making it easier than ever to enjoy programmes at the touch of a button. We would encourage those who are severely sight impaired to take advantage of the 50 per cent reduction in the cost of their TV Licence if they haven’t already done so.”

If you live with someone who is eligible and already have a full fee TV Licence in your name, you can transfer the licence to the name of the person who registered as severely sight impaired and halve the cost. To do this, simply fill in the form available at tvlicensing.co.uk/blind or contact TV Licensing on 0300 790 0366.

Those who use a digital box used to produce sound only, do not require a TV Licence provided it cannot display TV programmes. Anyone who does not watch or record live TV on any device can let TV Licensing know by completing an online declaration at tvlicensing.co.uk/nln.

Anyone affected by sight loss can get TV Licensing information by email or in Braille, large print or audio by calling 0300 555 0300. An audio podcast about the concession is available online at audioboo.com/tvlicensing.