Today I learned that the TV licence in the UK is required to:



> 
> watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, on any
> channel
> 
> 
> 


[Source](https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one?&&WT.mc_id=mec_Search_Brand&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlvT8BRDeARIsAACRFiUnMBxfrZeVMCp-gRvLec4xnADngSvgAfBE5fjNimNR_DBgvvgfdqUaAlGaEALw_wcB)


This means that if I watch, for example, Sky Sports, even on my phone, I require a TV Licence, even though I’ve already paid Sky, and Sky are the ones providing the service.


Given that the TV licence funds the BBC, and that Sky is a paid for service that has nothing to do with the BBC, I’m struggling to see why this is required.


If there were no such thing as a TV licence, and the government tried to bring this rule in now, what possible legal justification could they make for it?



Why do I need a TV licence to watch non BBC services?