Tv Licence..new Legislation ?????

annie_cardiff

WAS FLICKING THRU MY LOCAL ECHO AND SPOTTED THIS IN THE POSTBAG SECTION. APPARENTLY SOMEONE WHO DID NOT OWN A TV WAS BEING PESTERED BY BIG BRO TV LICENCING DEPT. WHEN HE EXPLAINED HE DID NOT OWN A TV THEY SENT HIM A LETTER STATING "ON THE GROUNDS THAT YOU MAY OWN A MOBILE PHONE WHICH MAY BE ABLE TO RECEIVE TV HE WOULD NEED TO BUY A TV LICENCE !!!! THEY ARE THREATENENG HIM WITH PROSECUTION !!!!SERIOUSLY .HE HAS TOLD THEM TO GO FORTH .....!NOT LONG AFTER HE WAS LISTENING TO BBC RADIO 4 AND A SPOKESMAN STSTED THAT A LICENCE IS ONLY NEEDED IF YOU WATCH LIVE TV STREAMED BROADCASTS, YOU DID NOT NEED ONE FOR WATCHING RECORDED OF LIVE BROADCASTS SAY A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER. THIS IS NEW LEGISLATION APPARENTLY...SO SURELY THE ONUS IS ON THEM TO PROVE THAT YOU WATCH LIVE BBC BROADCASTS...IS THERE A LOOPHOLE LOOMING ?????:p

moonrakerz

Please don't shout ! Turn the Caps Lock off.

This is what the actual licence says:-

"What do you need a TV Licence for?
You need a TV Licence to use any television receiving equipment such as a TV set, set-top boxes, video or DVD recorders, computers or mobile phones to watch TV programmes as they are being shown on TV.
What does your licence also allow?

• Use of a television receiver anywhere by you and anyone living with you at the licensed address, providing it is powered only by internal batteries."

I suppose what they are trying to say is that you need a TV licence to receive live TV on a mobile if no one in your household has a TV licence.

I think the near instantaneous streaming thing is a grey area. The important thing is that they have to PROVE that you are watching live TV without a licence. Owning a piece of equipment that can do this does not require a licence.