What is a BBC card?

BBC end cards are designed to be consistent across BBC programming and to demonstrate how our content reflects and represents audiences in all parts of the UK.

What was the BBC test card for?

Test Card F was a picture created by the BBC in the 1960s to support the development of television technology and help deliver a quality screen image on receiving equipment, and to support the calibration of TV sets by manufacturers, owners and installation engineers.

What is a BBC account used for?

BBC account is the sign-in system for the BBC website. Having a BBC account lets you watch and listen to programmes on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds, comment on articles, add favourites, play games, write reviews, save recipes and lots more!

What is a BBC licence fee?

The TV licence fee is currently £174.50 a year, up from £169.50 in 2024. It costs £58.50 for black and white TV sets. Money raised from the licence fee pays for BBC shows and services, including: eight TV channels.

What was the point of the test card?

Used since the earliest TV broadcasts, test cards were originally physical cards at which a television camera was pointed, allowing for simple adjustments of picture quality. Such cards are still often used for calibration, alignment, and matching of cameras and camcorders.

BBC Test card History

Who was the girl on the BBC test card?

Carole Hersee. Carol attended Farnham Comprehensive School and achieved fame when she was eight years old as the girl on the television Test Card. She was suggested by her father George Hersee. It was decided to have a child because she would appear more natural and her clothes were less likely to date.

What are test cards used for?

Test cards act as fake credit cards, and allow you to simulate the following scenarios: Successful payments by card brand or country. Card errors due to declines, fraud, or invalid data. Disputes and refunds.

Can you refuse to pay a BBC licence?

Not paying for a TV Licence could lead to a £1,000* fine if we find that you have been watching, recording or downloading programmes illegally. Your TV Licence lets you enjoy a huge range of TV. It covers you for: All TV channels, like BBC, ITV, Channel 4, U&Dave and international channels.

How many people have cancelled their TV Licence in 2025?

900,000 people have cancelled the BBC licence fee in a year. There was no evidence for this claim when it was first made, and according to the latest figures, the total number of TV licences (including those paid for by the BBC) actually fell by around 300,000 between March 2024 and March 2025.

Who gets a free BBC licence?

How do you qualify for a free TV Licence? You can get a free TV Licence if you, as the licence holder, are 75 years or older and you, or your partner living at the same address, receive Pension Credit. You can apply when you turn 74 and we'll adjust your payments automatically.

Why do I suddenly need a BBC account?

You'll need to sign in to your BBC account to use parts of the BBC online, including BBC iPlayer, BBC Sounds and BBC Sport. Signing in unlocks a BBC that's personalised to you. And as a public service, it allows us to check we're making something for everyone.

Why do I have to pay for the BBC?

It is an offence under section 363 of the Communications Act 2003 to watch TV channels on any TV service, watch live TV on streaming services, or use BBC iPlayer, on any device, without a valid TV Licence. Section 365 of that Act requires a person to whom a TV Licence is issued to pay a fee to the BBC.

Why do people use BBC?

The BBC is the world's leading public service broadcaster

We're impartial and independent, and every day we create distinctive, world-class programmes and content which inform, educate and entertain millions of people in the UK and around the world.

When did the BBC test card end?

BBC HD closed in March 2013; therefore Test Card X is no longer regularly broadcast.

What does the BBC aim to do?

The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) is a British public service broadcaster. Its main responsibility is to provide impartial public service broadcasting in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

What did the test card look like?

It features a young girl (Carole Hersee) sitting by a chalkboard playing Noughts and Crosses (In the USA Noughts and Crosses is called Tic-Tac-Toe) with a doll named Bubbles the Clown (which Carole still has). The Test Card is still very popular and has had many spoofs and parodies.

Are test cards legal?

Rulings. Playtest cards aren't legal for play in any tournament format other than Mystery Booster Limited formats. Playtest cards use a modified version of game symbols, such as {T} and {W}. These modified symbols should be treated as the standard symbols during play.

What does mm yy mean?

The expiration date of a bank card is indicated in the format MM/YY, where: MM represents the month (numerical order). YY refers to the last two digits of the year.

What are task cards typically used for?

A task card is a small card or piece of paper that presents students with a specific learning task or activity to complete. Perfect for adding to your learning stations or centers, the cards typically contain a question, problem or activity that requires them to apply their knowledge and skills to solve or respond.

What was the purpose of the test card?

The signals broadcast by the transmission tower were beamed into the home via an antenna. The main purpose of the test card was to calibrate and align the receiving equipment. Through analysis of the patterns on the screen, the quality of reception could be ascertained and malfunctions or defects identified.

How old is the Test Card Girl now?

Watch below as the now-64-year-old explains how the infamous photo came about: Born in Surrey, Carole was the centrepiece of the television Test Card F (and later J, W, and X) and was paid £100 for the shoot.

Who was the first female presenter on the BBC match of the day?

Eighteen years have passed since Jacqui Oatley became the first woman to commentate on Match of the Day, the BBC's flagship football highlights programme. Enough time, she points out, for someone not even born back then to have learned to drive.

At what age do you stop paying TV licences?

Anyone aged over 75 and receiving Pension Credit is eligible for a free TV Licence, paid for by the BBC. If you're over 75 and not in receipt of Pension Credit you have to pay for a TV licence.

How do TV licences catch you?

We also have a fleet of detector vans that can detect the use of TV receiving equipment at specifically targeted addresses within minutes. Find out more about visits, prosecutions and fines. Find out more about what happens if you don't pay for a TV Licence (or have a free one)

How to avoid paying BBC licence?

You don't need a TV Licence if you never watch live on any channel, pay TV service or streaming service, or use BBC iPlayer*. This includes recording and downloading. On any device. Or let us know you don't need a TV Licence.