TV Licence

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Oh dear, the BBC luvvvies and the Tax Payers come abound.

You do not need a TV Licence to watch catch up TV Services. Full stop. I have been only watching tv catch up since April 2013.

For the TV Tax collector to take you to court, he either needs a confession from you or a court order to obtain a warrant, so he can inspect your property. For the TV Tax inspector to get a warrant, he must supply sufficient evidence that a crime is being committed.

As such, the legal process would deter,

As for the YouView box, I am a bit unsure, but a Now Tv box allows live broadcast, as does the iPlayer. As long as you do not watch live TV, you do not need a TV Tax disc. So I would assume the same applies.

TV Tax collectors site.
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/

The box on the right gives advice

BoP Not watched BBC News since 1982-05-03 21:33Z

almillar

Blackbeard's right. As long as you're clear in your mind that you're not recording or watching TV as it's broadcast, you don't need a Licence. You can plug the aerial in, and go backwards in the EPG to watch catch up stuff through the internet.
Receiving an EPG does not require a licence - what if you used it only for radio?!

albionrovers

Obvious Q.
So why doesn't everyone just lie about not watching live broadcasts?
I clearly haven't been paying attention, sorry .....

Heinz

We get one of these threads every few months and the same old assertions and arguments appear with boring regularity. Why people don't just read what's on the TVL website, I really don't know.

You need to be covered by a valid TV Licence if you watch or record TV as it's being broadcast. This includes the use of devices such as a computer, laptop, mobile phone or DVD/video recorder.

Ectophile

The law is that you need a licence to watch or record live TV.

However, the TV licencing people are very keen to prosecute anyone who hasn't got a TV licence. While you may know that you're not actually breaking the law, it's not going to look too good in court if you have a aerial, a Freeview receiver and a TV all connected to each other and ready to watch live TV.

spacey2012

What the law says matters not, they will send a man on commission to knock on your door, if he gets a TVL 178 form signed, he gets £30.
if you sign a TVL178 you are taken to court and fined regardless of what the law says, you were or were not watching.

Cornucopia

Still using that line, Spacey?

I am a licence fee campaigner and I own a YouView/TalkTalk box.

The YV box is useful in that it functions perfectly well for catch-up only if the aerial connection is not there. Simply de-tune all the Freeview channels, don't subscribe to any premium channels, and the solution works extremely well. Without the EPG, you access catch-up TV through the player apps.

It provides licence free access to iPlayer, 40d, Demand5, ITVPlayer, DaveOD, and Milkshake. You can also watch individual films on the Box office. Sadly, TT have reduced other VOD content, and there is no option to subscribe to what little there is without also subscribing to broadcast channels (which is a bad idea).

You can legally ignore any TVL communications or visits. Don't give them any info, and they will ultimately have to leave you alone.

spacey2012

Yes because it is exactly what happens to around 1400 people every month in this country.
Many people are unaware of the consequences of signing a TVL 178 .
Once this is signed, the court case will be a sheep dip one in and one out and over in seconds.

If you are unaware of this trick used day in and day out, I must ask, where have you been ?

Cornucopia

Yes and no. Your mistake is to accept what they do in 99% of cases as inevitable, when it isn't.

The two issues are-

1. Allowing the 178 to be completed. Signing it completes the picture, but it can be used to prosecute without a signature or if you tick the "disputed" box. It's also possible for the TVL bod to make their own statement after the event, if they have witnessed evasion directly.

So, (a) they don't actually need the 178 to prosecute, and (b) if the 178 is flawed, it is possible to get it struck out during a Not Guilty trial. (Arguably, it's not an independent or accurate record, so it should be possible to get it struck out, anyway).

2. Most LF defendants don't attend Court, therefore they are pleading guilty by default, therefore no evidence is considered by the Court beyond the charge details. Automatic conviction, fine as per income-related scales.

But it doesn't *have* to be that way. Everyone has a right to defend themselves. In fact, there are so many of these cases, that if everyone attended just to plead guilty in person, state mitigation, etc., the system would quickly collapse.

In other words, this is only "sheep dip" justice, because defendants allow the authorities to make it that way.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Thanks Cornucopia

We do not have the YouView box, so it is great to have this update.

For all TV tax payers out there, the law is quite plain. You require a licence to watch or record TV as it is being broadcast in the UK. You do not require a license for catch up TV Services.

Catch Up Services, Free. Some are funded by advertising

Internet based
BBC iPlayer
itv Player
4OD
Demand 5

Box Based, usually Blu Ray or game box
BBC iPlayer
Demand 5
NetFlix, premium
Lovefilm, premium
Qello, music. Free and premium
YouTube

YouView
BBC iPlayer
itv Player
4OD
Demand 5
(detune channels and remove aerial)

Now TV
Various entertainment catchup channels from Sky, premium
At present, there is no sport catchup

Others are being added by the day!

What to do about your TV Tax Disc

1 Ignore all sales letters, or make a statement on TV Tax website, stating you only watch up catch up TV. This will stop sales letters after about 6 weeks.

2 Don't answer any questions should a TV Tax collector come to your door. He has no rights of access or special powers. Remember, these people are employed on commission.

3 The TV Tax collector needs a warrant to gain access to your property. To obtain this, he needs grounds that a crime is being committed, and convince a magistrate.

Check out other TV Tax resistance sites for information.

As you will be using the internet for the TV, it is recommended that you get a unlimited package. Two 1 hour programmes in HD on any payer soon goobles up 2GB of data.

Enjoy yuor TV Tax free status