Fans warned they face huge fine for illegally streaming Olympic Games as detector vans sent out onto streets
People illegally streaming the Olympics could be hit with huge fines as 'detector vans' have been sent out onto the streets.
The 2024 Olympics is in full swing as millions are expected to tune in to support Team GB during the games in Paris.
The BBC and Discovery Plus are bringing wall-to-wall coverage of this summer's Olympics and if you're planning to catch any of the live action, then make sure your TV License is up to date.
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Otherwise, you could be facing a whopping fine of up to £1,520.
Viewers are being warned that they must pay for a £169.50 TV License as well as the £3.99 Discovery app subscription fee.
And the TV Licence company, backed by the BBC, has warned it has deployed 'detector vans' ready to issue £1,000 fines to any household caught watching the Olympics without a TV Licence, according to the Express.
The TV Licence warned: "We have a database of approximately 31 million licensed and unlicensed addresses. This tells us if your address has a TV Licence.
"All our visiting officers have access to this database. This means they can check if you have a licence or not.
"If you tell us that you do not need a TV Licence, our officers may still visit you to confirm this. We also have a fleet of detector vans that can detect the use of TV receiving equipment at specifically targeted addresses within minutes."
The TV Licensing can then refer the case to court.
"If the courts find you guilty, the magistrates will decide the level of fine. You may have to pay:
- A maximum fine of up to £1,000
- A victim surcharge of 40% of the fine
- If you live in England or Wales In Scotland, Channel Isles or Isle of Man there is no equivalent, but a court can award compensation
- In Northern Ireland, the surcharge is called the offender levy and is £15 and the court often awards compensation
- Prosecution costs of around £120 if you live in England, Wales or Isle of Man.
- In Scotland and the Channel Isles there are no costs, and in Northern Ireland we request loss of revenue costs."
That means the maximum fine and costs could reach a massive £1,520.
Topics: Olympics
Nasir Jabbar