Black & white TV license

A question about : Black & white TV license

I pay a standard TV license but have just seen on the website that you can get a black and white TV license for Ј49 per year. This may be a stupid question but if I were to change the display settings on my TV to black and white would I be able to pay a black & white TV license? Uns ure of whether the license is to receive programs in black and white or just view them in black and white. And could anyone prove or disprove that I'm watching tv without colour?

TIA

Best answers:

• I think that if the equipment can be used to view in colour, then you need a colour licence. Turning the colour settings down does not entitle you to have a B&W licence.
  If your digibox has the ability to record, then you need a colour licence, even if you only have a B&W TV connected. This is because you are receiving the signal in colour.
  Given that digital TV receivers receive and output a colour signal, it seems that allowing the B&W licence to continue to be used is looking increasingly tenuous. But, for now, it's allowed if you have a B&W-only TV, and the digibox doesn't have a recording facility: https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ111