The Public Video Screening Licence (PVSL) is Filmbankmedia's annual film licence that allows your care home to legally show films on your premises. It covers ad hoc or background/ambient screenings, such as playing films for residents as general entertainment.

Yes, you do.

Films are protected by copyright law as intellectual property. This means that, just like books or music, the creators and rights holders are legally entitled to control how their work is used and shown.

Showing a film outside a private, domestic setting—such as in a care home—requires permission from the copyright owner, usually in the form of a licence such as the Public Video Screening Licence (PVSL), even if you are not charging admission ( GOV.UK – Showing films and TV shows in public).

This licensing ensures that the creators and talents behind the films we enjoy are fairly remunerated for their work. If you do not obtain the correct licence, you risk copyright infringement, which may result in legal action, as well as fines or damages being issued against your organisation.

A PVSL provides a simple and legal way to screen films in your care home, supporting both your residents’ wellbeing and the film industry that produces the content.

Learn more about applying for a PVSL

The PVSL for care homes starts from £141.67 excl. VAT. You can view the full tariffs here.

The cost of a PVSL is based on your group size.

A group size tariff applies when you have a known audience within your premises, such as your number of residents and staff.

You can view the full tariffs here.

Please get in touch at pvsl@filmbankmedia.com or call 0203 866 6500.

The PVSL for care homes runs from 1st May until 30th April the following year.

The PVSL is a great value licence that gives you access to a wide variety of content for a low fee. There are no pro-rata licence fees available. The licence period is from 1st May to 30th April.

You can pay by credit or debit card or BACs, or we can email an invoice if you'd prefer to pay by cheque.

The PVSL does not cover planned or advertised film screenings, and you cannot charge an admission fee under this licence. For special events or advertised film nights, you would need a Single Title Screening Licence (STSL) instead.

You can apply for a PVSL by opening a PVSL account and completing the booking form here.

The PVSL covers the titles distributed by our participant studios, including Hollywood majors and independent studios, which you can view here.

The PVSL does not cover streaming platforms.

Please get in touch at pvsl@filmbankmedia.com or call 0203 866 6500.