In the UK, unless you are 75 you must pay £139.50 a year for a TV licence.  This enables you to watch the five basic channels - BBC1 and 2, ITV3 and Channels 4 and 5.  In the (unlikely) event that you own a black and white TV a licence only costs £47, and (even more unlikely) if you only use the TV to watch DVDs you do not require one at all.

For other concessions check out the TV Licensing site.

As soon as you move into a new home you should contact TV licensing who will update their records sort out the payment.  If you are moving from a previous address in the UK you can simply transfer the old licence to the new address, so there is no need to worry about being out of pocket.

A TV licence can be bought online, by phone or text or in the post office.  It is cheapest to make a one off payment, although you can pay in quarterly, monthly or weekly instalments.  For methods of payment - including direct debit, card payment and cash payment plans - see Ways to Pay.

By 2012, the whole of the UK will switch from analogue to digital.  After the switchover you will therefore need either a digital box or TV to watch television.

In the UK there are various ways to receive digital television such as:

• Freeview Box - this can be bought for a one off payment and allows you to watch all the free channels including the basic channels and the likes of E4 (good for American sitcoms like Friends).
• Satellite - Sky provide a number of packages of varying costs. A basic package gets you all the free channels, with more expensive packages including sports and film channels. The great thing about Sky is the digi box which allows you to record programs and pause live TV - great if someone phones half way through your favourite programme.

For more information check out Digital UK.

If you intend to get a home phone line, internet and digital television it is often cheapest to purchase them all from the same provider.  For price comparisons try some of the great price comparison websites.

For more details check out the TV licensing website, but don't forget there are some cool quirky cinemas in London - why don't you check them out on our cinemas page.