TV license

zaax

When I watch a program on my laptop is 2 mins behind what is shown on TV, is this live?

London50

Tlg1991

It applies for all transmitted channels

zaax

Yes it is still live, I believe it is due to the way the signal is sent {ie via your cables and not through the air}

wealdroam

DaveRook wrote: »

I have read

moneysavingexpert com/ utilities/tv-licence

and then continued to read other articles on line...

I'm confused about the term "live".

Quote from (broken URL as I can't post with URLs yet)
tvlicensing co uk/about/foi-legal-framework-AB16




Does live TV mean live (happening there and then), such as a "live" sporting event, a "live" music event, the "live" news etc

If so, do things like soap operas, cbeebies, all animations and all films not require a license regardless of whether the signal comes via my ariel or internet connection?

I am really quite surprised by your confusion.

You tell us that you have read MSE's TV Licence article, but you are still confused.

Surely you read this in that article:

What counts as 'live TV'?
When we talk about 'live TV', confusingly it isn't necessarily a live episode of a programme, it could be pre-recorded.

'Live TV' is content at the time it's being broadcast on a TV channel. This applies to all channels (including, say, +1 channels) on any main TV platform, including Freeview, Virgin or Sky. Internet-only services such as YouTube or Netflix don’t count, though.

Here are a few examples to show what this means:

When watching an episode of The Big Bang Theory on your TV, on Channel 4, you DO need a TV licence.

When watching an episode of The Big Bang Theory via the Channel 4 online streaming service (4oD) at the same time as it's being shown on Channel 4, you DO need a TV licence.

When watching an episode of The Big Bang Theory online when it isn't being broadcast "live" on Channel 4, you DON'T need a TV licence.

wymondham

It is confusing and struggling to keep up with modern technology... as time goes on it does all seem crazy..

societys_child

zaax wrote: »

When I watch a program on my laptop is 2 mins behind what is shown on TV, is this live?

Yes, they regard that as live, you should be ok if you watch it a couple of hours later.

Cornucopia

The term "Live" is really unhelpful.

The thing that is licenceable is receiving TV via conventional means i.e. terrestrial through an aerial, satellite, and cable. They also add to that live streaming i.e. watching the same channels over the internet as you would using conventional means.

What is not licenceable is streaming a programme at a time that is unique to you. That is deemed the same as if you watched it on DVD - which is also not licenceable.

So, to not require a licence, the programme you are watching must be -

- Streamed over the Internet

- Not on the "live" stream of a TV channel, but part of the catch-up service

- Streamed/watched by you at your request, not at the same time as everyone else watching the same programme by conventional means.