Do I need a TV licence? Use Now TV & Netflix

homemademama

Hi all,

Just wondering if I need a tv licence. I currently have one, paying quarterly.

I have a Now TV box and Netflix that we use. We also have a Sky box that I am disconnecting as it's never used.

The TV Licensing website says "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".

We watch stuff on the Now TV box as it's broadcast but that's Sky channels not conventional ones.

Thanks for any advice.

Kernow666

its a grey area but i think if you TV can receive a signal from BBC then yes you will need a tv license

i think now its not a criminal offence though although better to be safe than sorry

[Deleted User]

any watching of live tv requires a license not just BBC
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one?WT.ac=home_plt_check

homemademama

Thanks for the reply Kernow.

I have completed the online form requesting a refund and giving my reasons for not needing one. They should write to me within 10 days notifying me of the result so until I hear from them I won't be cancelling my direct debit (payment due in October so not worried about that part).

Fingers crossed! I'll update once I have had a reply hopefully it'll help others in the same situation.

[Deleted User]

homemademama wrote: »

We watch stuff on the Now TV box as it's broadcast but that's Sky channels not conventional ones.

It's any live TV from any broadcaster. You'll receive no refund and alert TV licensing that you are trying to avoid paying.

rejsystems

YOU NEED A TV LICENCE IF YOU WATCH PROGRAMS AS THEY ARE BROADCAST (yes this includes satellite and internet broadcasts).

Sorry for the capitals but I wanted to get that across, the insane situation is that if you were to watch a live broadcast from Spain (whether by satellite or internet) you need a licence even though there is no benefit to the company whose program you are watching.

As you have said you watch programs on your NOW TV box as they are broadcast on Sky you will need a licence I'm afraid, as you would if you were solely watching Sky on satellite and no terrestrial channels.

If you ditched the NOW box live broadcasts and relied on catchup and Netfilx you would not need the licence.

It is not an offence to be in possession of receiving equipment without a licence, only to be using it to watch broadcasts.

At present it is still a criminal offence to watch live broadcasts without a licence but there is a lot of talk about it being changed to a civil matter, whether that is a good thing with the lower threshold for evidence in civil matters is yet to be seen..

ste_wilko

Yes you need a tv licence, even if you are not watching it through a tv.

Things you do not need a tv licence for:
> Netflix
> LoveFilm
> Any catchup service (iPlayer, ITV Player etc) as long as you're not watching a live channel (iPlayer has an option to watch some of their channels online at the same time as regular broadcasting)

You will need a TV licence for
> Freeview
> Sky
> Virgin
> BT (what ever the TV product is called)
> Any service that streams live channels to a device capable of receiving them and displaying them (tvcatchup.com is one such service)

The rules apply to
> TVs
> Set-top boxes
> DVD/Blu-Ray or VHS equipment (if it is recording a show for you as it is being broadcast)
> Computers (Desktop, laptop, Mac)
> Tablets
> MOBILE PHONES!

[Deleted User]

Since the OP came back and said they were sending off the request for a refund even AFTER I posted at #3 that she needs a license, I think this thread is not likely to be heeded.
Post #2 had already referred to a "grey" area which does not exist!


I wonder is it also a forlorn hope that this licence fee thread doesn't become another 500 post monster?

homemademama

Thanks for the advice given.

I had filled out the form about the tv licence before reading further posts as I didn't realise how the process worked (i.e 10 day decision time) and was waiting for a reply from them. However I have called them after seeing everyone's posts and can confirm that you are all correct.

I have renewed my licence and now need to wait to hear about the refund so I can cancel it as it's not on the system yet.

Thanks again.