Scrapping Talktalk TV for Now TV?

[Deleted User]

littleboo wrote: »

It's not about what you could do, it's about what you do do, otherwise you'd still need a TV licence for owning a TV

But you do need a license for owning a TV, as long as it's connected to receiving equipment (aerial etc) which allows the viewing of live TV.

littleboo

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

But you do need a license for owning a TV, as long as it's connected to receiving equipment (aerial etc) which allows the viewing of live TV.

No, you dont.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/tv-licence
"Many wrongly believe that you'll need to be covered by a TV licence if you have the ability to watch "live TV", this is even if you don't watch it.

This is an urban myth: just because you have the ability to watch "live TV" doesn't neccessarily mean you need a licence. You'll only need a licence if you actually watch "live TV".

So, if you've got an aerial on your roof/satellite dish/TV with built-in Freeview etc, but you don't actually watch "live TV", you don't need a licence."

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/?WT.ac=home_plt_check
"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"

Obviously there would be no need to have an aerial connected if you weren't watching broadcast TV, but again its not what you could so, its what you actually do. If you didn't have a TV licence, it would be prudent to disconnect the aerial, but not doing so doesn't mean you need a licence.

[Deleted User]

littleboo wrote: »

. If you didn't have a TV licence, it would be prudent to disconnect the aerial, but not doing so doesn't mean you need a licence.

Hard to argue the reason for any such connection remaining in place if the owner didn't have a license. The customer might not technically require a license, but in practice anyone so connected would indeed need one.

littleboo

Well if you "technically don't need one", then you don't need one.
If I have a car on my private drive serviced, fuelled, MOT'ed, washed and ready to go, I don't need a tax disc even though rolling it forward 6 feet onto the public highway would mean I would.

BTW, I am a TV licence payer, I think its good value and certainly wouldn't encourage non payment. But the law is an donkey and makes no sense where this is concerned.

Cornucopia

I'm quite happy for this to turn from the original question (which is now answered) into a broader discussion.

However, there's little point quoting bits from MSE that aren't relevant.

We know that certain items of TV kit can be installed without requiring a licence. However, once you get to the stage where the STB that you are using daily has a button on it for one or more live TV channels, and you simply "never use them", it becomes such a fine distinction as to run the risk of a prosecution.

Not only that, but I have personally asked the BBC for more information on how they assess different sorts of installations, and they have refused to tell me. (That's good grounds to exclude them from my home, but that's another matter...)

I am not happy about taking the risk. In the end it would likely come down to the judgement of a technically illiterate Magistrate, and I wouldn't want to chance it. The system doesn't always play fair, and I would sooner take some time to get the correct installation than run the risk of a prosecution.

almillar

Hard to argue the reason for any such connection remaining in place if the owner didn't have a license.

Radio. No Licence required if you only listen to radio.

Then where Now TV's concerned, lets agree to disagree.

I disagree with agreeing to disagree. You're wrong. Littleboo and I are right.
I'm pro TV Licence and so is Littleboo - where are all the anti TVL people to tell people when they don't need a licence?!
You can connect any equipment up that you like, connect it to Virgin Media, Sky dish, aerial, internet. There are legitimate reasons to do so - radio is an example as above.
You need to NOT WATCH OR RECORD LIVE TV. Nothing to do with the equipment or capability. Plenty of other threads with shouty arguments eventually distill down to that same message.

Cornucopia

I am one of the anti-TVL people, and I would say that people need to exercise caution on this.

It comes down to four things (and isn't really a question of being factually right or wrong):-

1. Whether there is a legitimate reason for having the configuration as it stands. (See the Rudd case).

2. How much/little effort is required to select Live TV, or bring it into use.

3. The degree of flexibility that TVL employ in interpreting the rules against you (which you cannot predict, as it depends on the individual member of their staff you encounter).

4. Whether you intend to let TVL in or not, and whether you fit the profile for the tiny number of Search Warrants they obtain against people who are demonstrably legally licence free.

In addition, there's the question of whether your household only consists of well-informed people who will stand up for themselves, or not. I wouldn't want to put any family member or housemate in the situation where they inadvertently confess to an evasion offence because of the way they are questioned by the TVL person.

(As someone with quite a high anti-TVL profile, I want an installation that is as low-risk as possible. Therefore it may be that I am applying more caution than is strictly necessary. Having said that, it's worth saying again that one of the things we object to is that the BBC refuses to publish detailed guidance on legally-compliant AV configurations).

VisionMan

almillar wrote: »

Radio. No Licence required if you only listen to radio.

I disagree with agreeing to disagree. You're wrong. Littleboo and I are right.
I'm pro TV Licence and so is Littleboo - where are all the anti TVL people to tell people when they don't need a licence?!

Irrelevant - I am pro-licence too.

Cornucopia's comments encapsulated the situation. She is anti-license, but is always calm and considered in what she says.

Need or want Now TV? Need a licence. Period.

Cornucopia

She?

Is it the dancing fox?

VisionMan

Cornucopia wrote: »

She?

Is it the dancing fox?

She. And no.

But of course if I got that wrong I apologise.