MSE News: You'll need a TV licence to use iPlayer from 1 September this year

almillar

I never use iPlayer for anything as everything the BBC produces is garbage and has been for many years.

I'd love to hear who produces non garbage. I mean, I consider Eastenders to be garbage but apparently a lot of other people like it. BBC makes (yes, makes) some of the best TV on the planet whether it's all to my taste or not. They've lost out a bit on sport over the last few years because of the cost cutting they've had to do but apart from that none of the other UK broadcasters come close, in my opinion.

SailorSam

A woman from the Licencing Office has just been getting interviewed on the radio to explain how this change in the law will work. She said it only applies to the Bbc, if you're only watching C3 or C4 for example, on the Catchup, you still don't need a licence.

Cornucopia

What is the "secret of their success", do you think?

Is it that they have the (public) money to spend/risk on things that other broadcasters would shy away from?

Is it the remit handed down from Government that gives them a particular range of programme topic areas to cover?

Is it the creativity of independent production companies who make many of the BBC's programmes?

Do you prefer programmes without ads?


In short is there really something quintessentially "BBC", or is it just a combination of various factors that could easily be replicated or transferred, with a potential saving to the public of £3.4bn every year?

Cornucopia

SailorSam wrote: »

A woman from the Licencing Office has just been getting interviewed on the radio to explain how this change in the law will work. She said it only applies to the Bbc, if you're only watching C3 or C4 for example, on the Catchup, you still don't need a licence.

Was she really a woman from the "Licensing Office", or a PR person?

It's correct, though, you won't need a Licence to view on-demand content on ITV Hub, All4, Demand5, UKTV Player, Netflix, Amazon, etc. etc.

VisionMan

Cornucopia wrote: »

What is the "secret of their success", do you think?

Its a combination of all the above, imo. Just my opinion, of course.

I know the BBC demands excellence, thats far and above what the other PSBs offer or consider acceptable. For the last 25 years its been SKY and the BBC pushing the forefront of technology in the UK. But the BBC don't play nice with SKY anymore, since they tried to crush them out of existence, as evidenced by the current Licence freeze. >allegedly<

So the BBC have now thrown their hat in with Sony, Fujitsu and BT. Plus of course The longstanding Video Factory and the ex-BBC owned Red Bee.

On a TECH front, the changes in the last six months alone have been stunning and they've not finished yet. Yes, technical excellence unmatched, and 4K to come next year. Its safe to say many people are very happy with what the BBC offer, and I'm one of them.

Cornucopia

Does the average person really appreciate technical excellence, though?

I think most people are concerned mainly with content.

VisionMan

Cornucopia wrote: »

Does the average person really appreciate technical excellence, though?

Your right, the answers no, not really.

As for content and production values, I know your well aware of BBC Commercials programme and series resale values across the globe. The BBC sells! And is generally regarded as the best broadcaster on the planet. The figures speak for themselves.

Cornucopia

It's also one of the wealthiest broadcasters in the World - THE wealthiest in the public sector.

If it wasn't succeeding in that way, whilst making programmes in the most sought-after language, too, then there would be a problem.

In reality, actual UK viewers are often left bemused by some of its content, as we see here. That's quite an important catch-22 for the BBC - it desires international success, but it can only sustainably achieve that whilst it serves its domestic viewers and owners ("it's our BBC") so that they are prepared to fund its expansionist tendencies.

My problem, as I'm sure you can understand, is that TV Licensing is the mechanism for securing that funding, and it is a rotten, rogue organisation - and yes, I am prepared to stand behind those allegations, should the BBC take exception to them.

At present in my off-forum antics, the BBC is unable and unwilling to demonstrate its own compliance with its own arguments on compatibility with the Right to Privacy from the Human Rights Act. That's not a good position to be in on the eve of a major change to enforcement.

sdj123

I don't have a TV and don't watch LIVE TV. I do watch iPlayer catch up though. So from 1st September It seems I need a licence.

Will the B&W licence cover me? As I don't have a tv receiver connected to a colour tv. Instead I am just using the online services on laptop/tablet?

Cornucopia

sdj123 wrote: »

I don't have a TV and don't watch LIVE TV. I do watch iPlayer catch up though. So from 1st September It seems I need a licence.

Will the B&W licence cover me? As I don't have a tv receiver connected to a colour tv. Instead I am just using the online services on laptop/tablet?

No. You'll be streaming & watching in colour, so you'll need a colour Licence.

You won't need a Licence if you only watch non-BBC online video-on-demand services.

There is a possible loophole in the new rules whereby you download content at a Licensed location and can then watch it anywhere.