Freeview radio and tv license - offical view

chrissochris

I have looked at the TV licencing website for explicit info on listening to freeview radio and a licence but all I can find is

"No, you do not need a TV Licence to listen to the radio."

I have found other rather old websites that it is ok - eg

that refer to the handbook that investigators use
but that's 2012 or so

the moneysavingexpert ref says ok

but does any one know of any OFFICIAL REFERENCE that explicitly refer to digital radio thru a tv ir freeview other than refer to "listening to the radio" which seems to refer to listening to a transistor radio?

it seems at one time the authorities did say it was ok referring to "digital radio broadcasts" but that reference seems to have been removed now

so any one help with this?


shame I cant post the urls for the websites for this but seems I am not allowed to......

mije1983

Surely the 'official reference' is what you have read on the TVL website? If they call it 'radio' and don't specify digital or analogue then that would indicate it covers both.

The specific reference to digital has probably been removed as digital radio is now much more widespread and common than it used to be.

If you are concerned that the TVL website is incorrect, then you will need to contact them for their line on it as there isn't a TVL rep on these forums as far as i know.

Buzby

The issue of 'radio' is defined in the Communications Act, the fact you can listen to a radio station on a TV isn't exempt, because the TV also receives terrestrial (digital) transmissions, and a TV licence is required for this.

chrissochris

some references please? I always thought, that a device could receive tv is not the question but whether it is in fact doing so? If you tune out the tv channels then it isn't & cant receive tv channels?


does the communications act explicitly say what you say?

mac.d

Have a look at the 'No Licence Needed policy' on the TV Licensing site.

I think the fact they state the following means you do need a licence to tune into the digital radio stations via your TV.

Licensable activity includes "watch or record any television programme service"
Not included as licensable activity "listening to radio programmes on BBC iPlayer"

It's only listening to radio via BBC iPlayer that is mentioned, so the freeview radio stations are probably considered a "programme service".

VisionMan

If you listen to the radio on a radio, you don't need a TV licence. If you listen to the radio on a TV, you do.

So if one doesn't want to pay the TV licence fee, one just needs to use a radio.

chrissochris

well I have contacted them for an answer, seems like you can -


"can you clarify about listening to radio, sound only, non tv non visual stations like Radio 3 on Freeview thru an aerial thru a tv or computer (not necessarily with iplayer but other software that can receive Freeview like Windows Media Center with a suitable tuner ). Your help files refer to "listening to the radio" which in my mind means a transistor radio. I am part of a discussion group on a forum and we cant agree about this" The say will get back to you in 3 days - I await with bated breath

VisionMan

Oh gawd... Pointless.

artyclarty

I'm pretty certain that you can't listen to radio on a Freeview device (without a TV licence) as in order to tune in the radio services, you also have to tune in the associated tv channels on that mux as per this link.

https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/multiplexes

So by wanting to listen to say Radio 4, you would also be capable of watching BBC 1, 2, News and Parliament, CBBC and Cbeebies which would certainly be enough for the TV licence people to make a case if they so desired.

Would it not be easier to just buy a nice DAB/internet radio separate (and speakers if required)? It will be far superior to anything you would get through a Freeview box. You also wouldn't have to worry about tv licence technicalities.

chrissochris

chrissochris wrote: »

well I have contacted them for an answer, seems like you can -


"can you clarify about listening to radio, sound only, non tv non visual stations like Radio 3 on Freeview thru an aerial thru a tv or computer (not necessarily with iplayer but other software that can receive Freeview like Windows Media Center with a suitable tuner ). Your help files refer to "listening to the radio" which in my mind means a transistor radio. I am part of a discussion group on a forum and we cant agree about this" The say will get back to you in 3 days - I await with bated breath

well this was their terse answer --


TV LICENSING Darlington DL98 1TL
Tel: 0300 790 6087
Fax: 0300 790 6012
Email: [EMAIL="enquiries@tvlicensing.co.uk"]enquiries@tvlicensing.co.uk[/EMAIL]

Our Ref: TVL45417894
12/05/2017


Dear XXXXXXX,


Thank you for contacting us. A TV Licence is not needed to listen to the radio. Yours sincerely, Narayan Lumaji TV Licensing




so does that really answer my question or just regurgitate the same old cant? I had hoped they would had said some thing like "no license is needed to listen to eg Radio 3 on Freeview on a tv or computer"


maybe this should be a stickie?

Cornucopia

The definitive answer is this:-

The general principle is that you do NOT need a TV Licence to listen to the Radio, irrespective of the technology or device.

However, those of us with some experience of dealing with TV Licensing do not recommend using Satellite, Cable TV or Freeview solutions to undertake radio listening, IF it would leave the equipment capable of immediately receiving AND displaying TV broadcasts simply by a change of channel number. (Sky and VM are not recommended for people without TV Licences under any circumstances).

So, either...

1. Use a different device for radio (one that has no TV capability).

2. Delete/hide all the TV channels so that they cannot be immediately accessed.

OR

3. Use a set-top box, so that it can be connected to an audio-only playout device (computer speakers, bluetooth player, hi-fi etc.) using audio-only leads. Once in use, there is no display device attached. You can also use this solution to listen to TV audio, if you wish.

I asked TV Licensing a while back what the distinction was between a TV and a TV solely playing radio over Freeview, and they would not tell me. They have a tendency towards unhelpfulness.