tv license required if u watch tv using broadband!

pksaraf

Wasnt sure where to post, here it goes. the following article is interesting:

Seems like we are now required to buy a tv license if we watch live broadcasts on pc using broadband. License is also required if we are using tv tuner cards on the computer.

http://www.out-law.com/page-6993

Comments welcome!

nej

Logically, this is actually sound. If you require a TV Licence to watch TV in this country, then surely it doesn't matter whether you are using a TV set or a computer monitor, or whether you are watching it over the air, or via an internet connection.

Realistically of course, the BBC should start to show adverts like the other channels and scrap the fee. £10 per month for 2 main channels and a few cable-only ones (that you pay for regardless of whether you can actually watch them or not) is very steep, considering I pay £20-odd to Telewest for a hundred or so channels.

seven-day-weekend

AFAIK you pay to receive the channels, so whatever you watch them on is irrelevant.

micoli

Do what I do ... dump the TV and save the fee. I've not had a TV for about 10 years. There was rubbish on when I stopped being a TV owner, (I had a set in most rooms - an addict you might say), and the situation hasn't changed much. I don't miss it at all and I'm never bored, (except if I am forced to watch TV).

The radio is free to listen to and you can always visit a 'friend' if there is something you really want to watch ... much more sociable. I've just recently discovered the huge variety of music on internet radio as well.

gbmacqueen

why should we pay a licence fee to the bbc for the rest of the world to watch bbc programs for free?

Bambywamby

I agree with Nej they would make more money by advertising.

Still think BBC does top quality TV...worth the charge.

rog2

Assuming you already have a TV licence for your normal TV, then you will not need to purchase a separate licence if you also watch on your computer. The problem comes when people are watching TV, via Broadband, at place of work, or separate dwellings (Student halls of residence, bedsits etc.).
I agree the licensing situation, for BBC, is outdated and needs changing.

justpaper

the bbc make something like £2.4bn a yr on the fee so i dont think there going too want too move over too adverts,.. went there making easy money already

Crabman

gbmacqueen wrote:

why should we pay a licence fee to the bbc for the rest of the world to watch bbc programs for free?

The international BBC ventures are funded from the government/other sources not from the licence fee.

I'm not sure what to think about the BBC - on one hand their website and interactive features are far superior to ITV/CH4/five and on that basis it is good value. However I think it is too steep so maybe it should be reduced and adverts shown at the ends of programmes only not in the middle

Broke_Student

Crabman wrote:

so maybe it should be reduced and adverts shown at the ends of programmes only not in the middle

Yes I agree with that. I never though of that solution! I hate ads in the middle of shows but the ones in between are a good thing! I need the time to go to the loo or make a cup of tea or whatever.

Gordon_the_Moron

Keep the radio advert free though, I listen to the radio in the car and I always go for a (any) BBC station over a commercial one as the ads are seriously annoying as you can't just get up and !!!!!! off while your driving. The banks ones are quite funny though... all the 5 pages small print (small speak?) at the end of the ad spoken at 300mph :rotfl: