Do I need a TV licence?

earthcaroleanne

Thankfully the region I live in will be the last to have digital switchover. I cannot afford to pay for Sky or equivalent, in fact at present I couldn't even afford to buy a freeview box - I'm spending more than I earn (but working on it). I believe the freeview signal here is rubbish anyway. So I'm thinking about not bothering with TV and only keeping it to watch pre-recorded DVDs. Would I still need a TV licence if I can't receive a signal? Don't have internet so can't be accused of watching TV online either. I hoping I can save myself a little more money by not paying for a licence.

Thanks.

Caroleanne

Fifer

My understanding is that is you don not connect to an aerial and only use the system for viewing prerecorded material, no licence is required.

EDIT: Just realised that, if you are talking about an analogue TV, then after switchover, it will not be capable of recieving broadcasts without a digital reciever, so almost certainly no licence required.

ts_aly2000

Hi OP,

No, you don't need a licence. You only need a licence if you are watching live broadcast television, be it through a regular aerial or Sky.

Be warned though that TVLA will hound you to absolute death and will send some of the most threatening letters imaginable. We haven't had a licence now since last May when a fresh block of flats went up not far away. We live in a big dip in town and none of us can receive TV through an aerial. Only those who have a Sky dish can receive anything.

No Sky here, and seeing as we can't even receive analogue or Freeview = No licence required. Yet they send us letters about every 4-weeks, and have hammered down the front door twice so far.

I just find it bizarre that you're expected to watch the Propaganda Idiot Box, and if you don't then you're considered strange. It's fantastic without television isn't it?

PinkPig

If you don't use any equipment to watch any television as it is broadcast live then you don't need a license.

You can watch any DVDs or videos without a license - you can even use services like BBC iPlayer to watch episodes of television programs, but not any method that lets you view television live.

There is no obligation to tell anyone - you can just stop paying your license. However, if you want to avoid being sent lots of threatening letters, you can write to TV Licensing explaining that you no longer require a license because you will no longer be watching television.

BruceyBonus

Expect to receive the threatening letters, as shown on this site: http://www.bbctvlicence.com/
But, as you see there, this person has been receiving the letters for almost 3 years and TVL haven't done anything except send more letters.

mmoore

'If you don't use any equipment to watch any television as it is broadcast live then you don't need a license.'

I believe you need a licence even to watch recorded TV - i.e. Video or DVD etc of broadcast programmes.

PinkPig

mmoore wrote: »

'If you don't use any equipment to watch any television as it is broadcast live then you don't need a license.'

I believe you need a licence even to watch recorded TV - i.e. Video or DVD etc of broadcast programmes.

Yes and no. The wording given by TV licensing is "You must be covered by a valid TV Licence if you watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV". I should have been more precise in writing "to watch or record" television as it is broadcast live. Setting up a video recorder to record television as it is broadcast is treated as exactly the same as watching it as it is broadcast. If you record then watch television later, then it is the act of recording that needs the license, not the watching later.

Having said that, copying a tape that someone else has recorded would be breaking copyright law.

You absolutely do not need a license to watch any DVD or video that is purchased or otherwise legally acquired. You do need a license to record or watch broadcast television.

Buzby

Nope - the licence ONLY covers the requirement of watching TV channels 'as live'. Delayed (more than 5 minutes), via the web, DVD, or off a hard disk are all exempt. It is all explained in the Communications Act.

When the digital dwitchover is complete, those with non-digital tuners will be able to sleep easy - but you can be sure the TVLRO won't care, and presecution will continue regardless!

Taffybiker

It is worth remembering you still need a license to listen to radio. A radio license is included in the TV license. AFAIK, a blind eye (or a deaf ear) is generally turned towards unlicensed radio listeners in the same way as in unlicensed dog owners, but if they wanted to be difficult these "forgotten" rules can still be enforced.

KimYeovil

Taffybiker wrote: »

It is worth remembering you still need a license to listen to radio. A radio license is included in the TV license. AFAIK, a blind eye (or a deaf ear) is generally turned towards unlicensed radio listeners in the same way as in unlicensed dog owners, but if they wanted to be difficult these "forgotten" rules can still be enforced.

No you don't. Nor do you need one if your freeview box is only connected to a hi-fi - you can listen to tv programmes for free, if you like.

KimYeovil

PinkPig wrote: »

There is no obligation to tell anyone - you can just stop paying your license. However, if you want to avoid being sent lots of threatening letters, you can write to TV Licensing explaining that you no longer require a license because you will no longer be watching television.

Well, that's the theory. Don't think it ever works in practice, though.