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TV licence: Can inspectors visit your house and what are their rights?

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The TV licence fee has been increased for 2021, meaning it now costs £159 a year to watch television in your home.

The fee pays for the BBC – so even if you just watch iPlayer or online shows via BBC Three , you’re not exempt from the fee.

While old-fashioned fears about mysterious figures in vans searching for errant households are a figment of the imagination, TV licence inspectors are a very real thing.

Find out what to expect if a visiting officer comes to your door.

Can TV licence inspectors visit your house?

Inspectors can visit your house, although you’re likely to receive a letter before this point.

You can refuse to let an inspector in, but this might lead to them getting a court order – which means they would be allowed to enter by law without your permission.

According to the TV Licensing service, letters are sent to all homes that don’t have a TV Licence , and may get ‘progressively stronger’ if no reply is received.

The service takes into account the possibility that people may have forgotten to pay, or simply don’t watch television .

However, if the letters are ignored, inspectors may come to investigate the situation.

What happens when a TV licence inspector visits your house?

If an inspector visits your home, expect them to look for evidence of a television set up – and ask you about whether you use catch-up services like iPlayer.

They will check for TV-receiving equipment, and ask for a signature from you, confirming their notes.

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Visiting officers may interview an individual they suspect to have committed an offence under the Communications Act 2003, but only after they have cautioned that person.

The visit is likely to be quick, and they should ‘avoid threatening or intimidating behaviour’.

What are the rights of a TV Licence inspector?

TV Licence inspectors can’t visit your house when you’re not present unless they have a warrant from a magistrate (or a sheriff in Scotland).

In these cases, the visiting officers will be accompanied by the police.

In most cases however, the inspectors will show you two forms of ID on your doorstep, and enter the property only when given permission.

They have to ‘respect people’s rights to privacy and confidentiality ’, but they may wear a body camera during the process.

MORE : How much is the TV licence fee in 2021 and what happens if you don’t pay?

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What To Do When The TV License Inspector Calls

The rules around TV licensing are old-fashioned and more complicated than you might imagine; in some cases, you need a license even if you don't have a tv, and in other cases, you can have a TV and not need a license. The key to deciding which camp you fall into is whether or not you watch terrestrial content as it is broadcast. If you do, the chances are you need a license. But in this age of catch-up, on-demand and Netflix, it's more likely than ever before that you can stay in touch with civilisation without needing a tv license at all. The TV License, currently set at £145.50 for colour and £49 for black and white (we said it was quite an old-fashioned system), is there to fund the BBC.

The beeb outsources the collection of the fee to third-party companies, including Capita. This, combined with the fact that one historically doesn't have a choice about whether to pay for the BBC, is why a lot of people object to paying the license fee. To be fair to the BBC, that £145.50 does include all live, online and radio content, so all told, it's not a bad deal, especially if you attend any of the free events, such as performances by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

However, you can consume all of that lovely, lovely content without necessarily requiring a license. If you have a television set but it cannot receive live broadcasts, you don't need a license. So, if your TV isn't connected to an aerial, digital or cable service, you don't need a license. You may wish to pay for one anyway since you are still using BBC content, but you don't need one. Similarly, if you don't own a TV but do use iPlayer, radio and online content, you don't need a license, provided you don't watch live broadcasts from any terrestrial broadcaster, not just the BBC.

You don't need to buy a TV License if...

• * You don't own a TV set and don't watch live terrestrial TV broadcasts.
• * Your TV is used solely for watching catch-up and on-demand content.
• * You are over 75. You still need a license, but it's free.

You do need to buy a TV License if...

• * You watch live broadcasts of any type on any device.
• * You record live broadcasts of any type on any device.
• * You pay to watch TV as it is broadcast, for example, pay-per-view boxing.

What to do if TV Licensing comes to your home

So you've double-checked and are sure you don't require a license, but you still get letters from TV Licensing. Some of the letters may threaten you with a visit from enforcement officers. You can safely ignore these letters if you are sure you don't require a license, or you can respond and advise TV Licensing that you don't require a license (there's a section on the enclosed form for that).

However, you may find that TV Licensing wishes to conduct an inspection. They make a big play out of their spy gadgets that let them check in on who is watching live tv. That's fine; they can do that all day long, but what they can't do is enter your home. Under no circumstances (even if you are illegally watching TV, not that we'd ever condone that) do you have to let inspectors into your home. A number of people have taken to recording enforcement office visits and posting the footage online to instruct others on how to handle similar situations.

The easiest way to get rid of a TV Licensing inspector is to tell them that you revoked their implied right of access. The implied right of access is there so that people with legitimate reasons to enter your property, such as delivery men or milkmen, can do so without fear of prosecution. Withdrawing this implied right confirms that you are not prepared to allow them into your home or to call at your door and that you've done your homework on your rights as an occupier.

They know that if they continue to visit your property after you've revoked their implied right of access, you will be well placed to sue for trespass and/or harassment. You can also do this by writing a letter to TVL, but to do so, you'll need to confirm your own name and address, which is not something everyone is comfortable with.

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How can I legally avoid paying a TV licence fee?

Steve doesn’t watch TV and wants to stop paying the UK licence fee, but now it applies to smartphones, consoles and the BBC iPlayer app on all devices

I have a TV set for streaming videos from my NAS, but I have given up on the BBC, and I never watch ITV, Channel 4 and certainly not 5. What exactly do I need to do to stop paying a TV Licence fee? Is unplugging my aerial enough? Steve

In the old world of analogue broadcasting, this was an easy question. “Watching TV” just meant feeding a broadcast signal to a box containing a TV tuner and a cathode ray tube. If you did that in the UK then you needed a TV licence. In today’s digital world, however, you may need a TV licence if your only device is a smartphone.

TVs and aerials are still common, but internet streaming means they are no longer required for watching television. The new licensing rules therefore cover not just TVs but PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones, games consoles such as the Xbox and PlayStation, streaming devices from Roku, Amazon and others, set-top boxes and personal video recorders (PVRs).

All of this is explained on TV Licensing’s multilingual website .

The basic rule is that you must have a TV licence if you watch, record or otherwise consume live television. It doesn’t matter which television stations you watch, or how you watch them. You still have to buy a licence if you only watch live streams from Mongolia’s Eagle TV channel.

The definition of “live” is flexible because there can be delays in transmission, and many set-top boxes and PVRs let you pause or save TV programmes. Indeed, recording, capturing and storing live TV also counts as watching live television. You can’t get out of paying for a licence by recording programmes and watching them later.

Briefly, if you start streaming a TV programme just before it ends, you need a licence. If you start streaming it just after it has ended, you don’t need a licence.

As mentioned above, it doesn’t matter what kind of device you use to watch live television, or how you collect and process the signal. You’re still watching live TV if you get the feed from an aerial, a cable network, a satellite dish, a wifi hotspot or any other internet server. This includes watching live fights on Sky Sports Box Office , NHL ice hockey games from Canada, ATP tennis on Amazon Prime and so on, even though you will be paying separately to watch them. Logically, it must also include any live television feeds on Facebook or Twitter.

You’re still watching live TV if you view the feed on a TV set, a computer monitor, on a smartphone, tablet or laptop, on a VR headset or projected on to a wall. It doesn’t matter.

I hope this alerts anyone who thought they were within the law because they watched TV programmes on their smartphones or via a Roku stick in the back of a monitor.

Stored programmes

Conversely, with one exception, you don’t need a TV licence if you only watch stored programmes, which are played “on demand” rather than streamed or broadcast live.

For example, you don’t need a TV licence to watch movies and TV programmes on DVD or Blu-ray, or streamed from Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Now TV, YouTube and similar services … unless they stream live TV.

You don’t need a TV licence to watch programmes on catch-up TV services, with the exception of the BBC’s iPlayer. You can watch anything stored on services such as ITV Hub, All 4 and My5, as long as you don’t watch live TV. These services are, after all, paid for by advertising.

However, you do need a TV licence to use the BBC’s advert-free iPlayer catch-up service. In this case, you’re paying the BBC because you are consuming BBC content.

This exception was only introduced in September 2016, and not everyone knows about it.

Mains matters

The concept of the TV licence was based on households, and has been extended to shops, offices and other business premises. Once you had a TV licence registered to your home address, it covered numerous people watching live TV on numerous TV sets. You didn’t need another licence for a second or third TV set in a kitchen or bedroom.

Things got a little more complicated once you could watch live TV on a mobile device, which meant you could watch it outside your licensed home.

The solution to this conundrum is battery power. Your home TV licence covers your mobile use outside the home, as long as you watch TV on battery power.

However, if you plug your device into a mains socket outside your home, that site needs its own TV licence. In other words, if you take your laptop to a friend’s house and plug it into the mains to watch live television, then it’s not covered by the TV licence from your house. Your friend’s house needs a licence as well.

Technically, this should also apply if you plug in your device to watch TV or BBC iPlayer in a coffee shop or on a train, and so on, though that would be somewhat hard to control. However, companies that don’t have TV licences should know that they may be breaking the law if any of their staff view or record live television or use BBC iPlayer while in the office. It’s only legal if they use a device that’s not plugged into the mains and they are covered by their home licence.

Make a declaration

If you really don’t consume any live television, or use BBC iPlayer, then you can make a declaration to that effect on the tvlicensing.co.uk website. This has separate sections for home, student and business addresses.

You are not legally obliged to make an NLN (No Licence Needed) declaration, but it is better to do so. First, you can get a refund on fees you have already paid. Second, it will avoid the problems that will arise if you simply stop paying.

From the BBC’s NLNP (No Licence Needed Policy) , you can expect your claim to lapse after two years. The NLNP says: “It is the BBC’s view that two years is a reasonable length of time for residential guards, given that residential circumstances frequently change. For example, occupiers may move house or change their viewing habits such that a licence is required.”

Enforcement

The NLNP’s enforcement procedures have been redacted “because they contain information which could be useful to people attempting to evade the licence fee”. However, an unknown number of people will be visited by “the TV Licensing field operations team”. (The collection system is contracted out to Capita .) You can refuse them entry, but they may come back with a search warrant.

The BBC says, when contacted, about a sixth of NLN claimants are found to need a licence.

You can be prosecuted for watching TV without a licence, and fined up to £1,000 (up to £2,000 in Guernsey). Hundreds of thousands of people have been prosecuted – some of them living in poverty – and some have been jailed for not paying fines.

Things to do…

So, if you are going licence free, it is a good idea to disconnect your aerial. You should also delete BBC iPlayer apps from all your devices and clear any BBC cookies and caches.

Next, remove any FreeView receivers and set-top boxes that are no longer required and are removable. Reset any products that can receive live TV back to factory condition, and don’t install any live TV services. If you can’t stop them from scanning for channels, make sure they aren’t attached to an aerial, though devices may nag you about “completing the set-up” later.

Finally, you could add a block list to your router or to your computer’s Hosts file to prevent access to content from selected BBC internet addresses. It published a list in June 2018. However, you don’t need a TV licence to use BBC websites, or listen to BBC radio.

You can easily claim that you don’t watch TV, but remember, you may have to convince a licensing officer with a search warrant.

Have you got a question? Email it to [email protected]

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Solar eclipse live: Watch live coverage from path of totality

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On Monday, millions of people across the United States will get to see a rare total solar eclipse , the first in the U.S. since 2017 and the last until 2044.

And millions of others who aren't in the path of totality will see a partial solar eclipse .

Depending on where you are will determine how much of the sun will be covered by the moon. Those along the path of totality — which stretches from northern Mexico into Texas, the Midwest and East Coast and, finally, southeast Canada before moving out to sea, according to  NASA — will see a total solar eclipse, in which the moon appears the same size as the sun and blocks the entire disk, leading to a period of darkness lasting several minutes.

In Jacksonville and across Northeast Florida, about 62% of the sun will be obscured.

What time does the eclipse start in Jacksonville?

In Jacksonville, the eclipse will begin at 1:47 p.m. and continue to 4:19 p.m. At its peak at 3:05 p.m., about 64% of the sun will be obscured by the moon. ( Search eclipse times by ZIP code .)    

Solar eclipse live: Watch a livestream from the path of totality

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TV Licences Explained: Everything You Need to Know

• What is a TV License?
• Why do I need a TV License?
• What does it cost?
• Is it worth it?
• What happens if you don't have a TV License?

What is a TV License? 

TV licences exist to fund public broadcasting services and are a legal requirement to watch any linear broadcast live. In other words, if you want to watch the footie live, you’ll need a TV licence.  

The revenue generated from TV licences is used to support the production of high-quality programmes, maintain broadcasting infrastructure, and promote cultural diversity. This makes sure viewers like you can enjoy a wide range of content, including educational programmes, news, and entertainment. In other words, TV licences keep the telly you love on your screens.  

For more information, check out the official TV Licensing website.

What can't you watch without a TV Licence? 

Without a valid TV licence, you may face restrictions on watching or recording live television broadcasts. Here are the key things you need to know: 

Live TV Broadcasts: You need a TV licence to watch any live telly. Any programme that's simultaneously aired on a television channel, be it news, sports, or entertainment, falls under this category.  

BBC iPlayer: If you're in the UK, having a TV licence is typically required to access its online streaming services, such as the BBC iPlayer. This applies to both live broadcasts and catch-up content.  

Recording: Without a licence, you also can’t record live broadcasts to watch later.  

It's worth noting that a TV licence is not required in the UK for non-live streaming services like ITVX, Channel 4, Netflix, Prime Video, or other subscription-based platforms. BBC iPlayer is the only streaming service you need a TV licence for – however, you can’t watch anything live on other On Demand apps .  

How much does a TV Licence cost?

In the UK, the current cost of a standard colour TV licence is £159 per year for households watching or recording live television broadcasts. This fee helps finance the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and its channels, radio stations, and online platforms. That’s why you don’t see any commercial ads on the BBC.  

You can spread this cost out by paying monthly or quarterly by Direct Debit. If you choose to pay monthly, you’ll pay around £26.50 a month for the first 6 months, and then just £13.25 a month after that.* 

There are a few other payment options depending on your circumstances, such as if you only need a black and white license which is cheaper at just £53.50 a year. You may also qualify for a free TV license if you're aged  75 years or older , or a 50% concession if you're severely sight impaired . 

Find out more about getting set up and how to pay for your TV licence .  

* Price and regulations accurate at time of writing (03.07.2023)  

Is having a TV Licence worth it? 

Now that we've covered the basics, let's look at why having a TV licence is worth it: 

Supports Public Broadcasting: TV licences help sustain public broadcasting services on the BBC, which aim to serve the public interest. These services give us unbiased news coverage, educational programmes, and culturally significant content. Check out what’s new on BBC this month.  

Ad-Free Viewing: Public broadcasters like the BBC also operate without commercial advertising. This means you can enjoy uninterrupted viewing without frequent interruptions for advertisements, allowing you to immerse yourself in the content without distractions. 

Promotes Local Content: TV licence fees contribute to the creation of local content and support local talent. 

What happens if you don’t have a TV licence? 

You don’t need a TV licence to watch telly if you’re only watching catch-up on platforms such as ITVX, Channel 4, Netflix or Prime Video.

However, to watch anything on BBC iPlayer or any live broadcasts (even if you’re watching live via an On Demand app), you’ll need a TV licence.

You also can’t record live broadcasts to watch later.  

If you’re found to be watching live broadcasts or iPlayer without a licence, you’ll risk going to court and a potential £1,000 fine . 

To sum up, getting a TV licence comes with some great perks! You get access to top programming, support public broadcasting, enjoy ad-free viewing, promote local content, and contribute to meaningful public service initiatives. It also means you can enjoy all the telly you love, both live and on BBC iPlayer. Just remember to stay in the loop about the specific rules and costs in your area so you can keep enjoying your favourite shows hassle-free. 

Find out the latest information on TV Licences on the official website www.tvlicensing.co.uk .  

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The best TV streaming services in 2024

What is the best TV streaming service? A few years ago, that question would have been relatively simple — but the proliferation of on-demand platforms has quickly seen TV streaming turn into a very crowded market. Streamers, big studios and content providers are all looking to get in on the action, leveraging both beloved franchises and original shows to ensure their own market share. 

The tight competition has meant that streaming platforms are resorting to once-inconceivable measures, like introducing ads or outlawing password sharing. At the same time, there’s a huge array of streaming services to choose from, each with fantastic shows that cater to different interests. It’s harder than ever to crown a single service, with each platform offering its own strengths, weaknesses and distinct content libraries.

In this guide, we bring together our pick of the best TV streaming services, speaking to relevant experts and analysts to determine which service is right for you.

SKIP AHEAD   The best TV streaming services | How to choose the best TV streaming services

Selected. Our top picks

select Streaming sticks can be faster than the same apps built into your TV.

How we picked the best tv streaming services.

• Pricing . TV streaming services usually have various pricing plans, from basic ad-supported tiers to premium 4K options with a host of high-end features. In choosing services for this guide, we looked for those that catered to a variety of budgets or were likely to offer promotional bundles and discounts.
• Content library . Content is king, as the saying goes, and you’re only going to subscribe to a specific streaming service if you want to watch the films and TV show programming that it offers. We looked at the platforms’ content libraries, covering their support of original programming, licensing of older shows and in some cases the third-party channels you can add to a subscription.
• User interface . We considered the ease of use for each platform, the quality of its search function and how intuitive the interface is.  

The best TV streaming services

What we like about Netflix: Huge range of content, affordable ads tier and even Netflix games

Netflix is the original streaming service and it still has bucketloads of original programming, and caters to a huge number of viewers, whether you’re looking for reality TV, sci-fi, anime, cartoons, action or more. With a huge fleet of standup specials, it’s also become a streaming hub for comedy, too.

Netflix truly shook up the industry when it pivoted to on-demand video, expanding on its DVD rental roots, and its cultural significance is hard to underestimate. It also has some great functionality, like offline downloads, which makes it a joy to use across various devices. They have also made a big push into games, which has given subscribers even more ways to squeeze value out of their subscriptions.

Tom Power, Senior Entertainment Reporter for TechRadar, says “It’s hard to argue against subscribing to Netflix. It’s cheap, has thousands of shows and movies in its back catalog and offers various perks, such as the ability to download content.”

Pricing: $6.99 (ads), $15.49, $22.99 per month | HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision | Audio: Dolby Atmos, Netflix Spatial Audio | Offline downloads: Android, iOS, Windows 11, Amazon Fire tablet, Google Chromebook 

What we like about Disney+: Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar and Disney under one roof

Disney+ has so many big-name franchises at its disposal that it’s almost impossible to fathom. Between hosting the entirety of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars movies and shows, and Disney-Pixar animated films, this streaming service truly is the place for kids, families and superhero fans alike.

When it first launched, there wasn’t much else alongside these tentpole IP, but Disney’s reach is extensive. You can now enjoy more varied content from Disney-owned studios such as FX and 20th Century Studios — including shows like “The Simpsons” and “The Bear”. It’s no surprise that Disney+ has even managed to outpace Netflix’s subscriber count at times.

If you bundle it with Hulu and ESPN+ as well, you’re often getting quite a good deal overall, though as of 2024 all three services are cracking down on password sharing in a similar manner to Netflix. 

Pricing: $7.99 (ads), $13.99 per month | HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision | Audio: Dolby Atmos | Offline downloads: Android, iOS 

What we like about Apple TV+: A sleek Apple interface with an increasingly respectable content library

Apple TV+ isn’t usually the first option you think of when counting the best TV streaming services — but since its launch back in 2019, the platform has added hits like “Ted Lasso” and the Oscar-winning film “CODA”. It’s also become a brilliant place for modern sci-fi, in my opinion, with excellent shows like “Severance,” “Silo,” “Foundation” and more. As Power tells us, “If you want prestige TV at a reduced cost compared to Max, Apple TV Plus is absolutely worth investing in.”

As you’d expect from Apple, the interface is a brilliantly sleek affair and offers a streamlined experience for navigating your favorite shows. Similar to Amazon Prime, the Apple TV app offers plenty of licensed programming for purchase, even if it’s not covered by your subscription.

One big perk is Apple TV+’s integration with the broader Apple ecosystem. New Apple device purchases generally throw in a three-month subscription for you to test the streaming service out. If you’re a big Apple fan, you can opt for a $19.95 per month Apple One subscription that includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade and 50GB of iCloud storage — truly a fantastic deal, in my opinion.

Pricing: $9.99 per month | HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ | Audio: Dolby Atmos | Offline downloads: iPhone, iPad, Macbook

Prime Video

What we like about Prime Video: Offline downloads, original programming and the Prime ecosystem

Amazon Prime Video is one of the largest streaming services out there, whether you’re counting its massive library — with three times the number of movies as Netflix, at the time of writing — or its 200 million subscribers. 

Prime Video’s biggest benefit is the Prime ecosystem: when you subscribe, you don’t just get access to TV streaming, but also free delivery and exclusive discounts on the Amazon retail site, over 100 million songs through Amazon Music Prime, grocery delivery through Amazon Fresh, a Twitch Prime subscription and unlimited photo storage. 

But Prime Video alone seems worth the subscription cost, thanks to a huge content library with 15,000 films and almost 2,000 TV shows as of 2024 . By comparison, Netflix has half the number of movies, even if it does better on TV series. it’s an excellent choice for many genres especially if you’re partial to an evening film, in my opinion.

Pricing: Video only subscription is $8.99 per month (Amazon Prime membership is $14.99 per month) | HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ | Audio: Dolby Atmos | Offline downloads: Android, iOS, MacOS, Windows, Fire tablet |  

What we like about Paramount+: The home of Star Trek, Halo and more

Paramount+ has carved out a niche for itself with some notable flagship shows — “Halo,” “Yellowjackets,” etc — and it’s the home of the past 60 years of Star Trek shows.

Originally CBS All Access, the platform was rebranded in 2021 as Paramount+, amid a broader push into original programming that has managed to increase the platform’s profile. Paramount’s massive content library certainly helps, across CBS, MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon. It’s also a great place for live sports, with coverage of the NFL, PGA golf, The Masters, basketball and more. 

Pricing: $5.99 (ads), $11.99 (No ads, with Showtime) per month | HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision | Audio: Dolby Atmos | Offline downloads: Android, iOS 

What we like about Hulu: A great mix of on demand streaming and live TV

Hulu may not be long for this world, given chatter around folding the service into the Disney+ platform, but for now it offers a distinct lineup of great TV shows — with the possibility of almost 100 live TV channels for its most expensive subscription tier.

There’s also a huge range of comedy, whether you’re interested in “Malcolm in the Middle,” “Futurama” or “Abbot Elementary.” There’s also plenty of drama like “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “X-Files” to tide you over too. 

The basic ad-supported plan is $8.99 per month. An ad-free experience will cost $17.99/m, while a Live TV subscription ramps up the price to $76.99 per month. If you want a good streaming experience alongside plenty of live TV channels, all in the same interface, then Hulu can be a great choice.

Pricing: $8.99 (ads), $17.99 (no ads), $76.99 (Live TV) per month | HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision | Audio: N/A | Offline downloads: Android, iOS 

What we like about Max: HBO original program series are hard to beat

Max brings together a huge amount of original programming, thanks to the merger that mashed together HBO Max (famed for its excellent scripted TV series) and Discovery+ (reality TV and docuseries).

HBO is still a byword for high-quality TV, with hits that include “Succession,” “The Last Of Us,” “The Sopranos” and “Game of Thrones” — a legacy that few other streaming services are able to emulate, in my opinion. Max is also home to DC TV shows and films with a huge range of comic book-based animated series and live action flicks.

The addition of Discovery content certainly increases the offering. Max is still one of the best TV streaming services available today — particularly for fans of prestige TV, in my opinion.

Pricing: $9.99 (ads), $15.99 (no ads), $20 per month (ad free, 4K streaming) | HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision | Audio: Dolby Atmos | Offline downloads: Android, iOS, Fire tablet 

What we like about Peacock: Good price, good shows and live sports

NBC’s TV streaming service launched in 2020, and now has over 30 million subscribers in the US.Thanks to NBC’s many studios and networks, you’ll get a wide variety of programming including live sports like football, soccer and Wrestlemania, as well as some landmark sitcoms like “The Office,” “Modern Family,” “Community” and “Parks & Recreation”. But Peacock also offers ambitious original programming, like the sci-fi series “Brave New World” to the Natasha Lyonne-starring “Poker Face” and the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reboot “Bel-Air.”

The basic tier (Premium) only costs $5.99 per month, but you’ll need to pay $11.99 for an ad-free experience with Premium Plus and to be able to download titles for offline viewing. 

Pricing: $5.99 (ads), $11.99 (no ads) per month | HDR: HDR10, Dolby Vision | Audio: N/A | Offline downloads: (Premium Plus plan only) Android, iOS, Fire tablet 

select Thinking about buying a new TV? Here’s how to choose between the top brands

How to choose the best tv streaming services.

There are many TV streaming services available these days. We’re a long way from the days when Netflix was the only major player. Services by Disney, Apple and Amazon have become serious challengers to the once-dominant platform. 

We spoke to a number of leading experts in the world of home entertainment, from market analysts to entertainment reporters, to tell you the answers to the most common questions you might have — and to help you decide which TV streaming services are right for you.

Frequently asked questions

Prices vary between TV streaming services, each with their own plans, packages and tiers. It’s usually sensible to look out for promotional offers or bundles to get the best bang for your buck. You should look out for streaming service deals or sales. Black Friday deals often offer bundles or full year subscriptions at a discount.

Power tells us that, aside from using free trial periods, “the best way to get a great subscription deal is by ‘subscription hopping’. Essentially, in the final week of any given month, look at each streamer’s upcoming slate for the month ahead. Max Signorelli, Consumer Research Lead (Media & Entertainment) for consultancy firm Omdia says “Online video markets are set for increasing levels of churn, as video service users have to make choices about which services they keep and for how long.” If you like the look of one platform's forthcoming line-up of movies and TV shows, subscribe to it and cancel your subscription to the other streaming platform. That way, you’ll ‘hop’ between streamers, save money on multiple subscriptions and watch the content you enjoy the most.

There are plenty of free TV streaming services, often baked directly into a smart TV or available for download from a TV’s app store such as Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus, Roku Channel and more. These services can contain thousands of titles, from TV shows and documentaries to feature-length films, though they will usually be ad-supported

You do need a smart TV platform in order to access apps like Netflix or Hulu. You may also consider buying a TV streaming player – which plugs into the back of the television and offers an alternative smart platform – to get a better interface with the particular app support you need.

A big appeal of on demand TV streaming platforms like Netflix was the lack of ads, though a crowded market has seen many streamers turn to ad-supported tiers in an attempt to attract more subscribers – you’ll find them on everything from Netflix and Amazon to Hulu to Paramount+. Some services like Apple TV+ only show ads for other Apple TV content and stick to ‘pre-roll’ ads, meaning they don’t interrupt episodes halfway.

Powers explains that “the introduction of ad-supported tiers makes things more affordable for those on a budget. Even then, signing up to Netflix’s ad-based subscription means you have to sit through a certain number of ad breaks every hour, which doesn’t appeal to many.”

It’s well worth looking at feature functionality between streaming services – such as 4K / Ultra HD resolution, support for Dolby Atmos or Spatial Audio (for those with compatible speakers) or the ability to add multiple users to your account. Support for HDR (High Dynamic Range), which expands the contrast and color accuracy of the images onscreen, is also common across streaming services, though premium HDR formats are often locked behind certain plans – do check what your TV supports and try to pick a TV streaming service that caters to its specific formats.

Meet our experts

At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Tom Power , Senior Entertainment Reporter at consumer publication TechRadar.
• Max Signorelli , Consumer Research Lead (Media & Entertainment) for consultancy firm Omdia.

Why trust NBC Select?

Henry St Leger is a freelance entertainment and technology reporter with extensive experience covering streaming services, reviewing TVs and testing user interfaces for a host of consumer gadgets. They previously worked as the Home Cinema Editor at TechRadar and now freelance for NBC Select, Insider and The Independent.

Disclosure: Peacock is the streaming service of NBC News parent company NBCUniversal; NBCU is owned by Comcast, which is a co-owner of Hulu.

Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance , tech and tools , wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.

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This scarily convincing TV License scam just isn’t going away

Members of the public are being targeted by cybercriminals sending out fake but convincing-looking TV License renewal messages.

People are being targeted via email and text and, over recent weeks, Action Fraud has issued multiple warnings about the scam. The official TV Licensing website, meanwhile, is assuring concerned visitors that an investigation is underway.

Read more: Best smartphone

“Some customers are receiving scam email messages saying they are due a refund or need to keep up their payments. A link directs customers to a fake version of the official TV Licensing website which asks them to enter personal information and bank details,” a warning message on the site reads.

“If you receive a similar email message, please delete it. If you have already clicked the link, do not enter or submit any information.”

A separate warning on the TV Licensing site reads: “A small number of our customers have received text messages which says there’s a problem with their Direct Debit.

“It asks them to set up a new payment plan or risk facing a £200 fine. The link in the text directs customers to a fake version of the official TV Licensing website which asks them to enter personal information and bank details.”

Anyone who thinks they’ve been duped by a fake message is being encouraged to report it to the Action Fraud Helpline or by calling 0300 123 2040.

However, if you think you’ve submitted any of your card details to a malicious version of the TV Licensing site, you should get in touch with your bank as soon as possible.

⚠️ Alert: Fake @tvlicensing emails are still doing the rounds! ? We've had over 1,785 #phishing reports in November alone. #PhishyFridays pic.twitter.com/9S65nZ6LSu — Action Fraud (@actionfrauduk) December 7, 2018

According to Action Fraud, it received more than 1785 reports about fake TV Licensing messages in November alone. It received 2685 reports about the same issue in September and October.

“Although all the emails are different in style, they all lead to the same website which is being hosted on different domains. The emails claim that TV Licencing has been trying to contact customers regarding the payment of a bill or a change to their personal information,” Action Fraud warned back in October.

“The fraudulent website will prompt victims to add their payment details, including the Card Verification Value (CVV) code on the back of their card, account number and sort code. With this information, fraudsters could drain bank accounts and commit identity fraud.

Read more: Best VPN

“It may also ask for the victim’s name, date of birth, address, phone number, email and even mother’s maiden name which suggests fraudsters will try to access other online accounts.”

TV Licensing, meanwhile, has published the following tips that should help you spot a scam email:

Never answer an unsolicited email from TV Licensing − the organisation will never email you, unprompted, to tell you that you’re entitled to a refund or ask for bank details/personal information. Check the email contains your name – TV licensing will always include your name in any emails they send you. Check the email subject line − anything along the lines of “Action required”, “Security Alert”, “System Upgrade”, “There is a secure message waiting for you”, and so on, should be treated as suspect. Check the email address − does the email address look like one that TV Licensing use? For example [email protected]. Look closely as often the address may be similar. Check for a change in style − often the scammers will take the real emails and amend them. Look out for changes in the wording used, especially if it seems too casual or familiar. Check for spelling and grammar − are there any spelling mistakes, missing full stops or other grammatical errors? Check the links go to the TV Licensing website − hover over the links in the email to see their destination and check the web address carefully. If you are not sure, go directly to the TV Licensing website.

Have you been targeted by a similar scam? How did you protect yourself? 

Aatif made his long-rumoured return to Trusted Reviews in 2018, having spent a wonderful 10 months writing all sorts for the site in 2015. During his self-imposed exile, he visited many faraway lands …

Why trust our journalism?

Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.

Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.

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How to watch the 2024 solar eclipse live online and on TV

Here's where to stream the full solar eclipse today

• Livestreams online

A total solar eclipse will cross through North America today (Monday, April 8, 2024). Don't worry if you're not in the path of totality, it's easy to watch the 2024 solar eclipse live on TV and online. 

New York City: 3:35 pm ET Chicago: 2:07 CT Los Angeles: 11:12 am PT

The last solar eclipse was in 2017 and the next one visible in the United States isn't set to arrive until 2044, so this is a celestial event not to miss. It will start in the South Pacific Ocean and pass first through Mexico before heading northeast across states including Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and New York before ending in Maine. 

Many cities and towns in the path of totality are planning eclipse celebrations. You can hold your own by buying solar eclipse glasses . But if you're unable to view in person, we've put together a guide on watching the solar eclipse on TV and online. For more info see Space.com's solar eclipse live blog for all the latest news and images. 

2024 solar eclipse live streams

Beginning at 1 p.m. ET, NASA will have two livestreams of the solar eclipse for free on  YouTube  and its streaming platform  NASA+ . The latter will have a live feed of the eclipse through NASA's telescope. 

NOVA  is hosting an eclipse live stream on YouTube that will feature NASA scientists at the Kerrville Eclipse Festival in Texas.

Disney Plus and Hulu

Disney Plus and Hulu will stream their sibling network ABC's "Eclipse Across America," starting at 2 p.m. ET. 

2024 solar eclipse on TV

Abc, cbs and nbc.

The three broadcast channels are all airing eclipse specials starting at 2 p.m. ET. 

ABC's "Eclipse Across America" will also air on the National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Disney Plus and Hulu as well as network social media platforms.

On CBS , "Total Eclipse of the Heartland" will feature appearances from Bill Nye, astronomer Lucianne Walkowicz, CBS News space consultant Bill Harwood and William Shatner. 

"NBC News Special: Solar Eclipse 2024" will be hosted by Lester Holt from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the world’s largest viewing site of the 2024 eclipse. Holt will be joined by the Today Show's Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin, Carson Daly, Sheinelle Jones, Dylan Dreyer and Jenna Bush Hager from the Museum of Natural History in New York City, along with Al Roker live from Dallas, Texas.

Broadcast networks can accessed for free with one of the best TV antennas or through a cable TV package.

CNN will have live coverage of the eclipse starting at 1 p.m. ET. CNN cameras and drones will be positioned across the path of totality, and reporters will on hand in Mexico and throughout the United States, as well on board a Delta Air Lines “Path of Totality” flight. 

If you've cut the cord, you can access CNN with our top pick among live TV streaming services , Sling.

<a href="https://sling-tv.pxf.io/c/221109/1132376/14334?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sling.com%2F" data-link-merchant="sling.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Sling TV is one of the most affordable cable TV alternatives on the market. Both the Orange and Blue plans come with CNN. 

More from Tom's Guide

• NASA says you shouldn't point your camera directly at the eclipse today — here's why
• This retailer is offering free solar eclipse glasses — how to get yours
• How to photograph the April 2024 solar eclipse with your phone

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Kelly is the streaming channel editor for Tom’s Guide, so basically, she watches TV for a living. Previously, she was a freelance entertainment writer for Yahoo, Vulture, TV Guide and other outlets. When she’s not watching TV and movies for work, she’s watching them for fun, seeing live music, writing songs, knitting and gardening.

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Watch CBS News

Solar eclipse maps show 2024 totality path, peak times and how much of the eclipse people could see across the U.S.

By Aliza Chasan

Updated on: April 9, 2024 / 5:00 AM EDT / CBS News

A total solar eclipse  crossed North America Monday with parts of 15 U.S. states within the path of totality. Maps show  where and when astronomy fans could see the big event  as skies darkened in the middle of the day Monday, April 8.

The total eclipse first appeared along Mexico's Pacific Coast at around 11:07 a.m. PDT, then traveled across a swath of the U.S., from Texas to Maine, and into Canada.

About 31.6 million people live in the path of totality , the area where the moon fully blocked out the sun , according to NASA. The path ranged between 108 and 122 miles wide. An additional 150 million people live within 200 miles of the path of totality.

Solar eclipse path of totality map for 2024

The total solar eclipse started over the Pacific Ocean, and the first location in continental North America that experienced totality was Mexico's Pacific Coast, around 11:07 a.m. PDT, according to NASA. From there, the path continued into Texas, crossing more than a dozen states before the eclipse enters Canada in southern Ontario. The eclipse exited continental North America at around 5:16 p.m. NDT from Newfoundland, Canada.

The path of totality included portions of the following states:

• Pennsylvania
• New Hampshire

Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan also experienced the total solar eclipse.

Several major cities across the U.S. were included in the eclipse's path of totality, while many others saw a partial eclipse. These were some of the best major cities for eclipse viewing — though the weather was a factor :

• San Antonio, Texas (partially under the path)
• Austin, Texas
• Waco, Texas
• Dallas, Texas
• Little Rock, Arkansas
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Dayton, Ohio
• Cleveland, Ohio
• Buffalo, New York
• Rochester, New York
• Syracuse, New York
• Burlington, Vermont

Map of when the solar eclipse reached totality across its path

The eclipse began in the U.S. as a partial eclipse beginning at 12:06 p.m. CDT near Eagle Pass, Texas, before progressing to totality by about 1:27 p.m. CDT and then moving along its path to the northeast over the following few hours.

NASA shared times for several cities in the path of totality across the U.S. People could have also  checked their ZIP code on NASA's map  to see when the eclipse was to reach them if they were on, or near, the path of totality — or if they saw a partial eclipse instead.

How much of the eclipse did people see if they live outside the totality path?

While the April 8 eclipse covered a wide swath of the U.S., outside the path of totality observers may have spotted a partial eclipse, where the moon covers some, but not all, of the sun, according to NASA. The closer they were to the path of totality, the larger the portion of the sun that was hidden.

NASA allowed viewers to input a ZIP code and see how much of the sun was to be covered in their locations.

Could there be cloud cover be during the solar eclipse?

Some areas along the path of totality had a higher likelihood of cloud cover that could interfere with viewing the eclipse. Here is a map showing the historical trends in cloud cover this time of year. 

You could have checked the latest forecast for your location with our partners at The Weather Channel .

Where did the solar eclipse reach totality for the longest?

Eclipse viewers near Torreón, Mexico, got to experience totality for the longest. Totality there lasted 4 minutes, 28 seconds, according to NASA. 

Most places along the centerline of the path of totality saw a totality duration of between 3.5 and 4 minutes, according to NASA. Some places in the U.S. came close to the maximum; Kerrville, Texas, had a totality duration of 4 minutes, 24 seconds.

What is the path of totality for the 2044 solar eclipse?

The next total solar eclipse that will be visible from the contiguous U.S. will be on Aug. 23, 2044.

Astronomy fans in the U.S. will have far fewer opportunities to see the 2044 eclipse they had on April 8. NASA has not yet made maps available for the 2044 eclipse but, according to The Planetary Society , the path of totality will only touch three states.

The 2024 eclipse will start in Greenland, pass over Canada and end as the sun sets in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, according to the Planetary Society.

Aliza Chasan is a digital producer at 60 Minutes and CBSNews.com. She has previously written for outlets including PIX11 News, The New York Daily News, Inside Edition and DNAinfo. Aliza covers trending news, often focusing on crime and politics.

More from CBS News

See the list of notable total solar eclipses in the U.S. since 1778

How often do total solar eclipses happen?

When is the next total solar eclipse in the U.S.?

Is it safe to take pictures of the solar eclipse with your phone?

Little Big Town and Sugarland Collaboration on CMT Awards Wasn’t a One-Off: LBT Members Talk Covering Phil Collins for Joint Single, Plus Fall Tour

By Chris Willman

Chris Willman

Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

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• Jelly Roll Sweeps Three Categories at CMT Music Awards, Including Video of the Year 1 day ago

For the group’s 25th anniversary, Little Big Town is pouring some sugar on it. Some Sugarland , actually, as the two country groups will be spending some quality time together later this year, in the wake of their joint performance Sunday night on the CMT Music Awards , where they hooked up to sing their newly arranged cover of Phil Collins ‘ 1985 smash “Take Me Home.”

The tour is produced by Live Nation and Sandbox Entertainment, and is billed as Little Big Town with special guest Sugarland, and support from the Castellows. Pre-sales for the Take Me Home Tour will take place throughout this week on the way to a general on-sale Friday at 10 a.m.

There’s a throwback element to the new single and tour, as well as Sunday’s CMTs appearance: The two groups toured together in the late 2000s, and they sang a cover of the Dream Academy’s “Life in a Northern Town” (then joined by Jake Owen as well) on the 2008 show that at the time went under the name of the CMT Flameworthy Awards.

Backstage at Austin’s Moody Center during CMT Awards rehearsals, the four members of Little Big Town sat down to discuss with Variety their feelings about reuniting with their old vocal-harmony pals.

The tour plan preceded choosing which song to do together, says Karen Fairchild. “When we were on the road together years ago, we would really learn songs in the afternoon and then sing ’em,” she recalls. “Like, if we were in Memphis, we’d do ‘Walking in Memphis.’ So it was just something fun that we did on the road. So when this tour was gonna be announced and we were gonna get to do a song, then it was like, what do we do? And this song was Kristian Bush’s (of Sugarland) idea. and then we decided that we should get in the studio, because it sounded so good, and make it our own.”

There’s a more personal, if slightly indirect, connection as well. “We should tell you: Akil Thompson that plays in the band — he’s on keys, but he plays everything — his dad is Chester Thompson. Well, Chester, created the drum part on this. There are so many followers of drummers of just his part on that, on YouTube. So that’s why there’s so many drums out there on the CMTs stage — because Hubert (Payne, the group’s drummer) is channeling his inner Chester Thompson… with Akil sitting next to him. Akil showed us a picture of himself standing side-stage at a Phil Collins concert, watching his dad play on this song, so it’s kind of a full-circle moment for him.”

There is plenty of full circling happening now with the Little Big Town/Sugarland reconnection, which couldn’t have happened that many times in other recent years, since the latter duo’s Jennifer Nettles and Bush have been pursuing solo activities more than band work for the most part.

Says Fairchild, “We used to hang out with them because we went to see them open up for Brooks and Dunn, and we played cards one night, and then we just became fast friends.” Although LBT has been in existence as a unit slightly longer, Sugarland broke big in country first, so she tells a story of Nettles and Bush being helpful as they struggled.

“We ran into them again at a festival, back in the day when we were broke and we didn’t have any gear. The guys were locked down on wired packs and we really wanted to invest in some wireless packs — ad this seems really silly now, but back then that was an important thing; we didn’t have any freedom to move around the stage. Sugarland had just had their first big No. 1 or something. And they bought us wireless packs — gave ’em to us and said, ‘Just pay the kindness forward.'”

Says Westbook, “They were so sweet, and I know they felt like they were investing in in our future and helping us out, because they know what that means.”

“And then they bought us wardrobe cases!” adds Fairchild. “And then we gifted those wardrobe cases to Old Dominion, but they kept our names on there, so the guys had Kimberly, Karen, Phillip and Jimi on their wardrobe cases. They just gave those cases away — I don’t know who they gave the old ones to — but we’re trying to just keep the tradition going.”

As for their collaborating now… four-part harmony is hard enough. Isn’t six-part harmony going to be tougher?

They laugh. There isn’t quite so much of that, in actuality, as usually someone is singing a lead vocal that doesn’t have to fit in with the background parts. “The great thing about that is, there’s so many like ad libs in this song,” Schlapman says. “The rest of us keep the harmonies going while the ad libs also go along, so that’s where the six voices come in really handy.” But, as CMT Awards viewers say, all six members of the two groups got in at least a little lead-vocal time as the song went on.

The concluding night of the tour at Nashville’s big arena will mark the first time Little Big Town has headlined in Music City since a multi-night residency at the Ryman in 2017.

“With COVID, we didn’t plan on staying away that long,” says Fairchild. “But touring in the last few years, we did play there with George Strait, but yeah, we have not headlined anything until this Bridgestone show coming up. And that’s gonna be the last night of the tour. So it’s gonna be a party.” Chimes in Schlapman: “Katy-bar the door.”

After the CMTs, Fairchild was trying to figure out how to stick around Austin long enough to get in some vintage clothes-shopping, as is her habit when visiting the city. “This is one of my favorite places to shop, and I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to do that because they have us pretty busy. The vintage shopping here is phenomenal. I could stay and watch the eclipse, I guess, and shop.”

It’s suggested that she could shop in the dark, during the blackout. “She brought a headlamp,” quips Westbrook.

“Spelunking?” says Fairchild. “No, shopping.”

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How to watch the solar eclipse on TV: What to know about live coverage and broadcast info

The much-anticipated total solar eclipse is here, and whether you're in the path of totality or following along from afar, you'll have plenty of ways to watch the rare event .

The eclipse's U.S. path will begin in Texas at 1:27 p.m. CDT and end in Maine at 3:36 p.m. EDT, but the exact time of the eclipse varies by where you are in its path. You can search by zip code to find the exact time for your location.

Millions of people are expected to travel to see the eclipse, which will also attract scientists from across the country to study its effects on the Earth and its atmosphere.

If you are unable to see it from where you are, you can track the eclipse on your mobile device or follow along on television, as multiple networks will have shows focused on eclipse coverage.

Here's what to know about how you can follow the eclipse on television and streaming platforms.

Solar eclipse livestream

If you're looking for a livestream of the eclipse you can watch on your phone or computer, USA TODAY is providing a stream here .

ABC, National Geographic eclipse coverage

ABC News and National Geographic announced they would air "Eclipse Across America," live on Monday beginning at 2 p.m. EDT on ABC, ABC News Live, National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Disney+ and Hulu, as well as network social media platforms.

The special will be anchored by "World News Tonight" anchor David Muir and "ABC News Live Prime" anchor Linsey Davis, who will be reporting live from Burlington, Vermont, according to a news release from the network.

Watch solar eclipse coverage on Hulu: Subscribe

Spanning 10 cities across North America, "Eclipse Across America" will broadcast from the following locations in the path of totality: Mazatlán, Mexico; Del Rio, Texas; Dallas; Russellville, Arkansas; Carbondale, Illinois; Indianapolis; Cleveland; Niagara Falls, New York; Burlington, Vermont and Houlton, Maine.

Viewers will be able to watch the program from anywhere – TV, mobile, computers, and more – and will also be simulcast on social on ABC News' Facebook, YouTube channel and TikTok, and on Nat Geo's Facebook, according to the network.

CNN eclipse coverage

CNN will also have special live coverage of the eclipse, with featured programming on its television, streaming and digital platforms, according to a news release.

CNN's live presentation will be featured from 1-4 p.m. EDT on "CNN News Central" with Brianna Keilar and Boris Sanchez and CNN International and CNN Max with Richard Quest and Rahel Solomon. CNN Digital will feature a special multi-hour livestream and coverage of the event across the United States at CNN.com/Eclipse .

CNN en Español anchor Rey Rodriguez will be reporting live from Mazatlán, Mexico starting Sunday, hosting "Mirador Mundial" live on location at 6 p.m. EDT, and live reporting throughout the day on Monday.

NBC eclipse coverage

NBC's Lester Holt will host a special broadcast starting at 2 p.m. ET Monday from Indianapolis Motor Speedway that will air on NBC, NBC News Now, NBCNews.com and Peacock , according to the network.

MSNBC eclipse coverage

Katy Tur will anchor special coverage of the total eclipse beginning at 2 p.m. on MSNBC, the network told USA TODAY.

Throughout the coverage, MSNBC will use "innovate in-studio virtual technology" to demonstrate the path of the solar eclipse across North America.

CBS eclipse coverage

Norah O’Donnell and Tony Dokoupil are hosting CBS' coverage, also from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The broadcast will feature contributions from several journalists based around the nation, including Dallas, Cleveland and Russellville, Arkansas.

The broadcast is set for 2 p.m. ET to 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS' TV channel.

Fox Weather

Fox Weather's coverage of the solar eclipse will be anchored by meteorologists Stephen Morgan and Kendall Smith from Dallas and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, respectively, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET.

The network says Fox Weather will also provide coverage for Fox News and Fox Business channels.

NewsNation eclipse coverage

NewsNation will present special live coverage throughout the day of the 2024 total solar eclipse, the network told USA TODAY.

Senior national correspondent Brian Entin will co-anchor a special broadcast from the network's headquarters in Chicago from 1-4:30 p.m. ET, alongside "NewsNation Now" anchors Nichole Berlie and Connell McShane.

Correspondents will be dispatched throughout the country in the areas of totality, according to the network, including Indianapolis, Dallas and Niagara Falls.

Solar eclipse path of totality

A  new map  is projecting that the path of totality for  Monday's solar eclipse  may be narrower than experts previously believed. But if you're right on the edge of the path, don't go changing your plans just yet.

New amateur calculations suggest that  widely-accepted path  could be off by as much as just a few hundred yards. The potential shift in the eclipse's path is so miniscule, in fact, that a NASA spokesperson  told the Detroit Free Press  the U.S. space agency won't be making any alterations to its own calculations.

So, even if the new calculation is more accurate, it’s unlikely to matter much for most of the  millions of skygazers  who hope to witness the  first total solar eclipse in North America in seven years .

The new eclipse calculations come courtesy of John Irwin, a member of the team of amateur astronomers analyzing the celestial event for the  Besselian Elements .

But don't fret too much: Not only is the new analysis not yet peer-reviewed, but NASA told the Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, that its predictions have not changed.

However, NASA spokesman Tiernan Doyle acknowledged "a tiny but real uncertainty about the size of the sun" could lead to a narrower eclipse path.

Contributing: Doyle Rice & Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X  @GabeHauari  or email him at [email protected].

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Money blog: How to check your tax code after a warning millions of Britons are paying too much

Millions of Britons could be paying too much tax due to tax code issues, new data from Canada Life shows. Read this and the rest of today's consumer and personal finance news in the Money blog, and comment on any of the stories we're covering in the box below.

Tuesday 9 April 2024 13:04, UK

• Basically... Tax codes
• Spain to scrap 'golden visa' scheme for non-EU citizens in blow to British emigrants
• Tories have stolen key Labour pledge - so how will they pay for promises now?
• Ted Baker to close 15 stores across UK - here's where
• Shell, the biggest company on the London Stock Exchange, looking at leaving for New York
• Money Problem : The monthly charge on my leasehold flat has gone up by more than £60 a month - what are my rights?
• The price of getting divorced

Ask a question or make a comment

Basically, a tax code is a series of numbers and letters used by employers or pension providers to work out how much tax should be deducted from your pay or pension at source.

Anyone in employment or with a private pension will have one.

Making sense of the letters and numbers

The number shows the amount you can earn tax-free - although you need to add a zero to get the actual figure. 

For example - the number 1257 means you can earn £12,570 a year tax-free.

The letters (which follow your tax code number) relate to your situation and how it alters your personal allowance.

For example,  L  means you are entitled to the tax-free personal allowance we outlined above. Therefore a tax code of 1257L (the most common tax code) means you are entitled to a personal allowance of £12,570 before any income tax is paid.

Here are what the other letters mean: 

• T  is similar to  L  in that if it follows numbers, you are entitled to that tax-free personal allowance. However, it also means HMRC will be taking a closer look at your tax affairs - usually the case if they are complicated;
• BR  means you aren't entitled to any personal allowance (usually because it's a second job etc) and will pay a flat rate of 20% tax. This is the same for  D0   but the rate is 40%, and  D1  where the rate is 45%.  SD2  is similar but only applicable in Scotland, where the top rate is 46%;
• K  means your personal allowance has been eroded down to less than nothing, meaning the number after the K is actually a negative personal allowance;
• 0T  means no personal allowance but you'll fall under the tax bands;
• NT  simply means "no tax";
• M  means your spouse or civil partner has transferred some of their personal allowance to you;
• N  means you've transferred it to your spouse/civil partner;
• If you have an  S  or a  C  ahead of any of the other letters, that just means you're living in Scotland or Wales. 

What happens when they're wrong?

Millions of Britons could be paying too much tax due to tax code issues, new data from Canada Life shows. 

A survey by the financial services provider found that 31% of adults have been on the wrong tax code at some point - with the average overpayment worth £689.

Over two thirds of those surveyed didn't know how to claim back overpaid tax.

The survey also found one in six UK adults did not know if they were on the right tax code and 39% were not aware what any of the letters or numbers on their tax code mean.

However, an HMRC spokesperson said: "We don't recognise these figures. 

"Tax codes are based on information provided by employers or pension providers. 

"People can check their code quickly and easily online and update any details that may be affecting it."

Why would my tax code be wrong?

There are any number of reasons HMRC could have the wrong tax code for you, including:

• A change in job 
• Having more than one source of income
• Retirement or having more than one pension
• Receiving employee benefits
• Starting your first job

How do I check my tax code?

You can check your tax code on your personal tax account online, or by looking at any payslip or via the HMRC app.

If you think it's wrong, you need to contact HMRC to tell them.

You can either phone 0300 200 3300, use their chat function or send them a letter. 

Emergency codes

W1 ,  M1  or  X are usually found after a regular tax code (eg 12570L W1).

This usually only happens if there's a delay in HMRC receiving details about a change in your circumstances, for example if you've just started a new job. 

SportsDirect.com, owned by Mike Ashley, is bringing a claim today against Newcastle United - the club Mr Ashley used to own.

It concerns a deal Newcastle has with JD Sports to offer exclusive kit sale rights.

The Competition and Appeals Tribunal will hear the case today - though it's not clear when a decision will come. 

Reports suggest Mr Ashley is seeking £1.5m in damages.

His company claims the club is abusing its dominant market position by refusing to supply its replica kit for the 2024-25 season.

Businesses are allowed to strike exclusivity deals unless they are in a dominant market position - for example, companies like Amazon or Google clearly have that status.

This case could rest on whether the tribunal deems Newcastle to hold such a position in the market.

By  Sarah Taaffe-Maguire , business reporter

As we mentioned below, there's possible bad news ahead for the London Stock Exchange (LSE) with talk of the biggest company in the FTSE 100, Shell, moving to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

There's been a run of bad news for the LSE over the past year or so. The world's largest building products manufacturer, CRH, moved to New York, while travel company Tui moved to Frankfurt. And despite the lobbying of numerous prime ministers, UK-based chip company Arm chose the NYSE.

It's been a good morning for Shell's fellow FTSE 100 constituent, the oil giant BP. It announced production higher in oil and slightly higher in gas and low carbon energy on Monday, which brought the share price to a five-month high.

Both companies are going to be boosted by the oil price, which is sticking around $90 as a barrel of the benchmark Brent crude is selling for $90.48.

On the currency market, one pound equals $1.2652 and €1.1652.

Shell is weighing up quitting the London Stock Exchange (LSE) for a move to New York over concerns its listing is currently "undervalued".

Chief executive Wael Sawan told Bloomberg that he was mulling "all options".

The British oil and gas giant is currently the largest company in the FTSE 100 index, and its departure from the LSE would be a significant blow to the UK stock market that is fighting to stay relevant.

Explaining the gap between Shell and its New York rivals Exxon Mobil Corp and and Chevron Corp, Mr Sawan told Bloomberg: "I have a location that clearly seems to be undervalued."

The oil boss said he was currently in the middle of a "sprint" of 10 quarters to cut costs.

He continued: "If we work through the sprint, and we are doing what we are doing, and we still don't see that the gap is closing, we have to look at all options."

The chancellor announced a scrapping of the non-dom status in his March budget, saying the decision would raise £2.7bn for a 2p cut in national insurance.

Labour have been committed to abolishing non-dom status for years - upon gaining power they planned to use the money to fund breakfast clubs for primary school children and additional appointments in the NHS.

The government has also adopted Labour's plans to extend the windfall tax on oil and gas companies

Facing questions about where funding would now come from for key policies, the party has today offered details for the first time.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to announce the party's plans to raise £5bn a year by the end of the next parliament...

• Labour has said it will raise £2.6bn by closing "loopholes" in the government's non-doms plan - after certain exemptions were kept in place by Jeremy Hunt;
• Labour said the "tax gap" - the difference between the amount of money HMRC is owed and the amount it receives - had widened to £36bn in 2021-22 - £5bn more than it had been the previous year;
• To close the gap, Labour said it would invest up to £555m a year in boosting the number of compliance officers at HMRC, increasing productivity and improving the organisation's "dire" customer service;
• It will also consider requiring more tax schemes to be registered with HMRC to ensure they are legitimate, and renew the focus on offshore tax compliance.

It is understood that only £2bn of the £5bn raised per year will fund breakfast clubs and NHS appointments, with the rest of the money being kept back for other uses.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to say: "I have been clear that everything in our manifesto will be fully costed and fully funded. There will be no exceptions."

The government has responded by saying: "The Conservatives have introduced over 200 measures to clamp down on tax non-compliance and we are sticking to the plan to strengthen the economy so we can cut taxes, putting £900 in the pockets of the average worker and helping families to build a brighter future."

Ted Baker is to shut 15 of its stores across the UK within weeks, the retailer's administrators have announced.

Around 245 staff will be made redundant.

It comes after  Sky News revealed  that hundreds of jobs were at risk after the company behind the brand's UK shops, No Ordinary Designer Label Limited (NODL), collapsed last month.

In a statement, the administrators confirmed 11 UK stores will close by 19 April, resulting in the loss of about 120 roles.

A further four stores will also shut "in the coming weeks", resulting in 100 additional redundancies.

These shops had already been earmarked for closure prior to the firm's collapse, it has been revealed.

Around 25 head office jobs will also be axed as part of cost-cutting plans, administrators Teneo Financial Advisory said.

The 11 branches which will close as part of the administration process include:

• Birmingham Bullring • Bristol • Bromley • Cambridge • Exeter • Leeds • Liverpool One • London Bridge • Milton Keynes • Nottingham • Oxford

Administrators said the shops were "all currently loss-making" and had "no prospect of being returned to profitability, even with material rent reductions".

They added: "As such, their closure is believed to be a constructive and necessary step in ensuring the business can deliver a profitable trading performance in the future."

Barclays has launched a legal challenge over a ruling that it unfairly paid commission to a car finance broker, underlining growing anxiety among Britain's biggest lenders about the potential scale of an industry-wide compensation bill.

Sky News has learnt that Barclays is mounting a judicial review against the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) over a decision last June that the bank "failed to act fairly and reasonably" in the case of a customer - known only as Miss L - who was not made aware that a loan agreement she entered into included a commission payment worth nearly £1,600.

City sources said on Monday that  Barclays  had recently decided to launch a legal fight but insisted that its challenge was isolated to the specific case of Miss L because of what it believed were a number of misinterpretations of the law.

According to the FOS, Miss L's case involved a commission paid by Barclays Partner Finance to a credit broker when she took out a loan to buy a car in 2018.

The case was one of two highlighted by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in January when it announced that it was responding to a large number of complaints by reviewing historical motor finance commission arrangements and sales "across several firms".

Read City editor Mark Kleinman's full story here ...

Retail sales were up in March - and are expected to grow further in the coming months as warm weather and events such as Taylor Swift's UK tour boost consumer spending, according to industry analysts.

Sports tournaments such as the  Paris Olympics , along with factors such as falling energy bills, are also predicted to boost takings as shops recover from the impact of recent poor weather and  high inflation  on household budgets.

The forecasts come after year-on-year retail sales increased by 3.5% in March - which is above the average of 2.9% for the past 12 months, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG.

Read the full story here ...

The former head of Tesco has been announced as the new chairman of the John Lewis Partnership , one of the biggest and most high-pressure jobs in retail.

Jason Tarry was at Tesco for 33 years and served as UK and Ireland chief executive for his final six years at the supermarket.

He is to take the reins of the company behind Waitrose and the John Lewis department stores in September, when Dame Sharon White steps down.

The government should ban 25 pesticides which contain so-called "forever chemicals", campaigners have said, as the potentially harmful toxins were found in more than half of the tested food and drinks available to Britons.

PFA chemicals, toxins which take centuries to break down in the environment, were found in more than 3,300 samples tested by the UK government in 2022.

As PFAs can accumulate in living organisms and have been linked to serious healthconditions, campaign group Pan UK has called for the 25 PFA pesticides being used in the UK to be banned, including six classified as "highly hazardous".

Out of all the items tested, strawberries were found to be the worst affected as 95% of the 120 tested samples contained PFAs.

Peaches, cucumbers, apricots and beans all saw at least 15% of samples containing PFAs, the analysis showed.

Spain is planning to scrap a "golden visa" scheme that grants residency rights to foreigners who make large investments in real estate.

Ending the scheme would help make access to affordable housing "a right instead of a speculative business", Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said.

The programme awards non-EU citizens investing at least €500,000 (around £429,000) in Spanish real estate - without taking out a mortgage - a special permit, allowing them to live and work in the country for three years.

 "Today, 94 out of every 100 such visas are linked to real estate investment... in major cities that are facing a highly stressed market and where it's almost impossible to find decent housing for those who already live, work and pay their taxes there," Mr Sanchez said.

From the start of the golden visa scheme in 2013 to November 2022, Spain issued almost 5,000 permits, government figures show. 

Chinese investors top the list followed by Russians who invested more than €3.4bn (around £2.91bn), according to a 2023 Transparency International report.

But Spain is also one of the most popular destinations for British emigrants in Europe.

The UN estimated in 2020 that 303,000 British nationals lived in Spain.

The scheme allowed British people with holiday homes in Spain to circumvent rules limiting non-EU citizens to a 90-day stay in EU countries without needing a visa.

The measure is unlikely to affect the property market since less than 0.1% of 4.5 million homes sold during that period were purchased under the scheme, according to property website Idealista. 

Portugal has recently revamped its own "golden visa" scheme and excluded real estate investment to tackle its housing crisis.

The European Commission has long called for an end to such programmes, citing security risks. 

More products were available to mortgage borrowers at the start of the month than at any point in the last 16 years, new figures show.

Moneyfacts said 6,307 mortgage options were on offer for house buyers, including fixed and variable deals. It was the highest number recorded since February 2008, when 6,760 products were available.

Some 335 of the deals were 5% mortgages - the biggest choice in nearly two years.

Meanwhile, the number of options for people with 10% deposits rose to the highest level since March 2020.

Santander UK , Britain's fifth-biggest high street bank, is cancelling its membership of a key lending standards body because of the duplication of regulatory standards to which the industry is required to adhere.

Sky News has learnt that the Spanish-owned bank served notice last week of its intention to quit the Lending Standards Board, citing the establishment of the City watchdog's Consumer Duty and the imminent implementation of new fraud reimbursement rules overseen by the Payment Systems Regulator.

Read City editor Mark Kleinman's story here ...

Some people eager to maximise their 2024-25 ISA allowance were moving money around just minutes into the new tax year, according to Bestinvest.

The investment platform said the latest ISA subscription went through at 11.55pm on 5 April - while the first came in at three minutes past midnight on 6 April.

Bestinvest said it was just 52 minutes past midnight when the first client maximised their £20,000 ISA allowance.

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