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TV Licensing + iPlayer
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tomac
Posts: 8 Forumite
It's been in the press that the "iPlayer loophole" is closing - i.e. a TV Licence will soon be required to legally watch iPlayer catchup content online.
The TV Licensing website says "From 1 September 2016 you'll need a TV Licence to watch or download BBC programmes on demand, including catch up TV, on BBC iPlayer."
However, I cannot find any other sources online that say this date. Some say January 2017, some just a vague intention. Does anyone know if the is actually true and has been made law? I don't entirely trust TV Licensing to be complete straight with this sort of thing...
Many thanks for your help.
The TV Licensing website says "From 1 September 2016 you'll need a TV Licence to watch or download BBC programmes on demand, including catch up TV, on BBC iPlayer."
However, I cannot find any other sources online that say this date. Some say January 2017, some just a vague intention. Does anyone know if the is actually true and has been made law? I don't entirely trust TV Licensing to be complete straight with this sort of thing...
Many thanks for your help.
0
Comments
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Thats the official source and the date is correct .Its true but i really don't know if a law has been passed or if a law needs to be passed .0
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http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/704/pdfs/uksi_20160704_en.pdf
They pushed it through as secondary legislation rather than dealing with it as part of the new Royal Charter which will come into force in 20170 -
Many thanks both.
Tom0 -
Interesting explanatory note:Regulation 9 of the 2004 Regulations is amended to include in the definition of a television receiver any apparatus used or installed to receive an on-demand programme service which is provided by the BBC e.g. iPlayer. On-demand program me services are defined in Part 4A of the Act.
First, the phrase 'used or installed' still does not cover mere possession - actual use to receive would need to be proved.
Second, I read that as referring only to BBC on-demand programming (i.e. the ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 versions are not covered).
Time has moved on (much quicker than it used to - or so it seems at my age) and my previous advice on residential telephony has been or is now gradually being overtaken by changes in the retail market. Hence, I have now deleted links to my previous 'pearls of wisdom'. I sincerely hope they helped save some of you money.0 -
I read that as referring only to BBC on-demand programming (i.e. the ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 versions are not covered).
Yes, thats right. This only refers to the BBC iPlayer. They were asked if they wanted to be included but said no. Why I don't know, as only 5% of the population dont have a TV Licence. So at a guess they still wanted that 5% to have access. Either that, or the costs involved in changing them.0 -
I expect the commercial channels aren't that bothered about who watches their catch up service as their services have advertising - surely it will link back to some statistical evidence to entice advertisers to choose their channel?0
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