Is anyone else telly-free?

Tish_P

I almost wish iplayer had some kind of pay-per-view function, as I think the BBC is a splendid institution and I would happily pay for what I do watch there. (At a pound per programme that would be £4 this year so far: three for that Sherlock Holmes with the dishy men in, and one for the Attenborough programme about bears.)

LondonDreamer

dogstarheaven wrote: »

today, after reading all your posts and ppl's experiences and reasons. i too, would be cancelling my tv license. altho' i did read my last installment update bill, and on the back of it, it stated that you would have to have a license if you were watching tv thru' your pc/games console etc., with this in mind, i really didn't want the hassle of the the tv licensing bods at my door, calling at all hours and forcibly demanding to see a tv in each room. i couldn't bear the intrusion as i thought they'd turn up without notice, and start harrassing us loads..

This is only true if you are watching or recording a programme as it is being broadcast (i.e. live). If you only use a catchup facility on any of those, it doesn't require a licence. Here's a snippet from the TV Licensing website:

Watching TV on the internet
You need to be covered by a licence if you watch TV online at the same time as it's being broadcast on conventional TV in the UK or the Channel Islands.

I agree with the earlier poster that I would happily pay for a licence if I used our television for current shows. As it is, apart from the odd new cooking show, it's mostly used for watching our favourite 90s comedies. All of which we purchased on DVD, so no licence required and I don't feel bad about that. :beer:

nobodyspecial

I think the point one or two are making here is that without the ones who buy a TV licence, there would be no BBC radio stations, or TV programs to go onto i-player. There are people who pay the compulsory licence fee who never watch any BBC programs or even listen to BBC radio. They might eventually decide they don't want to subsidise others and withdraw to the same place. Then who will fund the BBC ??? I really think i-player should be free to licence payers, and non licence payers should pay a per view cost. £1 per view would seem about right. If you regularly watch or listen to more than 3 things a week, you'd find the licence to be a bargain.

And for Ceridwen, the licence fee is actually just under £2.80 a week, not £4

Sueinbirmingham

I gave up television and the licence money I save pays for my broadband connection.

I don't think that most BBC live television is worth paying for, but if they charged pay per view for iplayer, it would be worth it because there's so little I watch.

By contrast, I think BBC radio is great and I think it would be good if they brought in a radio licence.

GetRealBabe

Justamum wrote: »

Does the B stand for B*st*rds? :rotfl:

There is no implied right of access - they cannot enter your premises without a warrant. Which they definitely won't have with them if they come round, and are unlikely to be able to get. The letter about the 'enforcement bods' is just a tactic to frighten you into buying a licence. Which of course you don't need.

If they come round and ask to check if you have a tv, tell them you have already informed them you have no tv, and kindly go away! :rotfl:

Hi

Just had a visit. When I mentioned the warrant he umed and ahhed and went on about more letters. He then decided to go.:j:)

Justamum

GetRealBabe wrote: »

Hi

Just had a visit. When I mentioned the warrant he umed and ahhed and went on about more letters. He then decided to go.:j:)

Good. :j They just rely on people being scared by their intimidating attitude. Once people know the facts they shrivel up and disappear.

Rummer

We chose not to have a telly for a couple of years and received loads of letters from the TV licensing people to the point that it really upset me! I phoned them for the umpteenth time to explain that we did not use it and to please stop writing and I was told that someone may come to verify. When I asked if they had the legal right to come into my home the person on the phone could not answer.

Our quality of life was better without one as we read/chatted/did more however when I had my daughter it was winter and I couldn't get out much so we got a new license and sadly since then have fallen back into the trap of endless rubbish telly watching!

Justamum

Rummer wrote: »

When I asked if they had the legal right to come into my home the person on the phone could not answer.

They could answer - they just chose not to as they knew you had them sussed! :rotfl:

FrugalLina

My budget is very, very tight and I may be losing my low-paid job very soon. I have health issues and am over 50, so don't expect to walk into a job straight away (if ever).

One of the things I am considering getting rid of is my TV licence as that is less important to me than my broadband (which I have just reduced).

I live alone and do have the TV on, mostly for company and there are some programmes that I enjoy watching, like good BBC dramas and the odd ITV police drama. These I can get online. I also buy and watch (on my laptop in bed) comedy DVDs which I then sell on as complete sets on Ebay, often getting the whole cost back. I also have an audible book habit which, of course, are available free at the library.

So, my dilemma is - do I sell the TV and buy a DAB radio? What do you guys think and has anyone else done this?

daska

You can get a lot of radio channels on-line as well, and with the BBC you can listen to programs later via i-player. Do you need a DAB radio?