TV without tuner

[mac_shinobi]

We have a TV licence in my partner's name, although I'm listed on the direct debit details (joint account, alphabetical order). Last year I bought a new TV and got the routine letters which were quite threatening in tone because their checks didn't show a licence in my name at this address.

 

I was quite cross, since it seemed quite a quite opportunistic and bullying way to operate. In principle I did nothing - I refused to call them on the 0870 number they kindly provided, since it would have cost me money. Eventually the letters stopped coming and I forgot about it.

 

Whilst I watch mostly BBC, I still object to the licence fee as a tax on tv, especially when you consider how many channels you get from Sky etc for not much more. And don't get me started about the money they waste on high salaries, web sites etc, or how they launch more channels and claim they need more money to keep them going. Share out the licence fee in the interim and abolish it for something fairer.

 

@ Sky not being much more I was looking at that the other day and I only had the variety package, kids package and movies package selected and they wanted £70 a month, Just for TV ?

 

where as virgin media I could pay £57 a month and get xxl packages across the board ie tv, phone and broadband.

 

So not sure how sky is not much more because that seemed a hell of a lot more just for tv and movies, thats excluding sports or anything else

 

I agree on the tv license bit - in the USA you dont pay a tv license you just buy a tv and to get tv you have to pay for sky or cable tv and they make there cash that way

[Mandy]

@ Sky not being much more I was looking at that the other day and I only had the variety package, kids package and movies package selected and they wanted £70 a month, Just for TV ?

 

What?? I have every channel with Sky, including Sports + Movies, phone line + broadband for £49 a month?! That was with a free install + box + £50 M&S Vouchers!!

 

I don't understand why we can't opt out of having BBC, like you can opt out of having Sky Sports for instance? I don't even watch BBC but still have to pay for the licence. Annoys me...

[riskyburden]

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[mb2k01]

As far as I'm aware (and i've previously done a bit of research as I considered going down this avenue myself!), any equipment capable of showing a UK television program (BBC, ITV or other) means that you need a TV license.

 

BBC IPlayer via a standard TFT is also included within this definition (or at least was when I explored it?)

 

The reason I didn't go down that avenue, as another poster has said, is that while I might resent paying it, it is almost insignificant enough not to worry about over the course of a year. When I also add on the fact that I want Sky Sports it's a no-brainer really.

 

If you want to start a decent protest then concentrate on arguing not to pay council tax!

[RabbieBurns]

You only need a licence if you watch live broadcast on the iplayer. Watching it on demand after it's aired doesn't require a license.

 

I watch the iplayer via my proxy back home while I'm over here. I tried to ask them if I was allowed to do it, 3 times, and just got some bog standard generic response that I wouldnt be able to watch blah blah, so I dont care if Im allowed to or not. They couldnt quite comprehend that I am and do watch it here.

[localzuk]

As far as I'm aware (and i've previously done a bit of research as I considered going down this avenue myself!), any equipment capable of showing a UK television program (BBC, ITV or other) means that you need a TV license.

 

BBC IPlayer via a standard TFT is also included within this definition (or at least was when I explored it?)

 

The reason I didn't go down that avenue, as another poster has said, is that while I might resent paying it, it is almost insignificant enough not to worry about over the course of a year. When I also add on the fact that I want Sky Sports it's a no-brainer really.

 

If you want to start a decent protest then concentrate on arguing not to pay council tax!

 

The rule is regarding being able to watch something at the time of original broadcast. So, if you are watching the latest Dr Who on iPlayer at the same time as it is being broadcast live for the first time, then you need a license. If you just go back and watch it a few weeks later, you don't need a license.

 

Again, this was explained to me by someone at TVL, after a long time arguing with them.

[Jamoire]

The rule is regarding being able to watch something at the time of original broadcast. So, if you are watching the latest Dr Who on iPlayer at the same time as it is being broadcast live for the first time, then you need a license. If you just go back and watch it a few weeks later, you don't need a license.

 

Again, this was explained to me by someone at TVL, after a long time arguing with them.

 

Thats correct as far as I am aware as well. Although apparently one of the reasons the BBC are adding the live TV streaming to the iPlayer (available in Beta elsewhere on the site) is to get around this.

[Midget]

The Licence Fee is NOT just for the BBC, but the running of the network that ITV, Ch4 and Ch5 run across and for developing and maintaining the FreeView network

[riskyburden]

If you intend on watching TV/Sky leave it until they come round, as they threaten to fine you etc in those nasty letters but as long as you plead ignorant ie oh I've just purchased a tv or moved into this house then you'll pay the same.

 

If you are going to use it for playing games and watching films then buy a monitor as that doesn't need to be registered. P.s. the hitachi plasma we have has at least two of every connection you'll ever need ie scart rgb dv

[RabbieBurns]

Thats correct as far as I am aware as well. Although apparently one of the reasons the BBC are adding the live TV streaming to the iPlayer (available in Beta elsewhere on the site) is to get around this.

 

Live streaming has been available for ages on the main player has it not?

[RabbieBurns]

Live streaming has been available for ages on the main player has it not?

 

http://www.peninsulafm.com/bbciplayer.png

[Jamoire]

Live streaming has been available for ages on the main player has it not?

 

Looks like it is if your screenshot is anything to go by. I cant seen to see how to get to when I just looked though.

 

TBF I cant remember the last time I used the online version, allways use the iPlayer via Virgin TV.

[RabbieBurns]

Looks like it is if your screenshot is anything to go by. I cant seen to see how to get to when I just looked though.

 

TBF I cant remember the last time I used the online version, allways use the iPlayer via Virgin TV.

 

Go to Iplayer, click on Channels, click on BBC1, click on Watch Now..

 

Something along those lines...

[somabc]

As a network as a whole, absolutely. 5 or 6 Radio channels, however many TV channels, its pretty damn good. Most of the shows on ABC over here are BBC shows bought in.

 

However the US individual channels put on better individual shows, HBO for example with the wire, true blood, etc

 

Yeah but the point is we also get all the best US shows whether from HBO, NBC, CBS, FOX or whatever and we get the BBC & Channel 4 so the best of both worlds. Most American TV is either adverts or rubbish TV programmes.

[mac_shinobi]

Yeah but the point is we also get all the best US shows whether from HBO, NBC, CBS, FOX or whatever and we get the BBC & Channel 4 so the best of both worlds. Most American TV is either adverts or rubbish TV programmes.

 

Who do you have to be with in England to get the US tv channels ?

 

I remember watching venom ER and a few other programs that we dont get out here and would be good to have them.

[mac_shinobi]

If you are going to use it for playing games and watching films then buy a monitor as that doesn't need to be registered. P.s. the hitachi plasma we have has at least two of every connection you'll ever need ie scart rgb dv

 

so if you get a TFT or in the above mentioned instance a hitachi plasma or the likes that does not have a tuner and in say x amount of months you get or subscribe to sky or virgin media tv services do you still have to pay the tv license then or how would that side of it work ?

[riskyburden]

Well it obvious TV signal and a like = TV licence. No TV no licence simples..... (Sky counts as TV, as its TV)

[SteveBentley]

The Licence Fee is NOT just for the BBC, but the running of the network that ITV, Ch4 and Ch5 run across and for developing and maintaining the FreeView network

 

ITV, Ch4 and Ch5's have always paid their own way (from advertising) in terms of distribution networks and transmitters, although since the introduction of UHF the transmitters have been co-sited with the BBC (the BBC and the IBA owned roughly half each), for both economy reasons at the transmitting end and so that most people would only require a single aerial, as opposed to the previous 405 line system where BBC(1) was from one transmitter and ITV from a different site entirely, requiring a seperate aerial.

 

The Freeview network is actually several seperate networks, and the license fee only pays for the BBC's bit AFAIK.

[mac_shinobi]

Well it obvious TV signal and a like = TV licence. No TV no licence simples..... (Sky counts as TV, as its TV)

 

I understand that but you pay for that service and thats not apart of the tv license fee unless I am missing something - obviously my HD TV has an inbuilt free view box so do get sky 3 and dave and a few other bits n pieces

[riskyburden]

I don't know the in's and out's of it, but I think because you get terrestrial channels on sky you still have to pay for the licence. Anyway just to reiterate if you watch tv pay the fee or wait the attention of the licence people and pay when they pop round for a brew. If you don't watch TV then don't worry consider it as TV licence banter.

[Haptic]

There is a lot of rubbish and conjecture on this thread.

 

On this page it clearly states:

 

Do I need a TV licence?

 

You need a TV licence to use any television receiving equipment - such as a TV set, set-top box, video or DVD recorder, computer or mobile phone - to watch or record TV programmes as they are being shown on TV.

 

So if you are watching or recording a TV programme, then you need a licence.

 

You don't need one just because you own a TV.

 

It's like the old CB licence. You can buy a CB radio and aerial, but so long as you don't join the two together and transmit or receive you didn't need a licence.

 

And remember when you do buy TV equipment - it's a legal obligation to supply a name and address. But it's not a legal obligation to provide yours or a real one!

 

If you purchase equipment capable of receiving then you need a liceince trust me Ive been to court for this,

[localzuk]

If you purchase equipment capable of receiving then you need a liceince trust me Ive been to court for this,

 

This, as has been explained multiple times, is not the case. A court case would have to prove that you were using it to watch TV.

 

TV Licensing - TV Licence Information - This is the definitive site for this, as they're the ones who collect the fee and enforce the law.

[riskyburden]

This, as has been explained multiple times

Not at all patronising!

[localzuk]

Not at all patronising!

 

No, I was just being blunt. I am blunt often on here... Are you intending to follow me around the forum and make glib comments then?

[mb2k01]

Not at all patronising!

 

But correct

Interestingly, the TV Licensing site information must be reasonably new. It certainly wasn't like that a year or two ago when I had conversations with them.

It certainly does appear there are now easy ways to go without a license (if you don't watch broadcast TV and just reply on iPlayer etc - definately wasn't the case when I looked previously)