The TV license dodge is a student tradition, like pot noodle and baked beans for breakfast. After all, it’s much better to save the money for the mobile phone bill. Now students may have to save for the dreaded licence anyway, if the government gets it’s way.

The UK licensing authority announced that it is planning to follow Germany’s lead in charging owners of phones that can receive live TV broadcasts. The German government will be extending their license fee from April to cover mobiles and PC’s with built in TV cards. Both licenses are aimed at young people who own no TV set but who do own mobile phones and broadband capable PC’s.

O2 and NTL are set to trial TV transmissions to mobiles in the UK this year and it is predicted that the markets will really hot up if they prove a success. Internet TV is booming, with more and more programs and channels available online. Including the ‘Millennium gig’ in aid of the victims of the recent Tsunami, due to be broadcast live across the web on the BBC.