I guess free as in, the signals are floating around free for anyone to pick up and listen to - there is no subscription technically needed. You don't need a TV

I guess free as in, the signals are floating around free for anyone to pick up and listen to - there is no subscription technically needed. You don't need a TV Licence to view or listen to anything, you are just supposed to. Nothing stops you from firing up iplayer or BBC sounds over a VPN or something (unless something has changed outside the UK)