I wish to have a TV without a licence...

As title. I wish to purchase and use a TV in my property to watch things like Netflix and play DVDs from my PC. As I understand it I don't need a licence for this as I won't be watching live or time-shifted broadcast television.

Given the poorly disguised propaganda that comes out of the BBC nowadays, I don't wish to watch, much less fund it with the licence fee. The offerings from the other terrestrial channels have worsened in quality since I was a lad, I just used to watch the films, which it seems are no longer available or much reduced in number - and I won't be bothering with the likes of a Sky/Virgin subscription either - you have to pay through the nose to get anything better than wall to wall Judge Judy, Homes under the Hammer and Location Location Location.

A potential issue I have found is that all modern sets sold in the last few years have FreeView installed as standard and it is just a simple matter of turning away from the AV/HDMI selection to TV and selecting the channel you wish to watch.

How do I ensure I am safe legally by using my TV for non live broadcast viewing when it is simply a matter of changing the channel to access the live broadcasts? The TV will be in my living room and visible to any TV licence inspector that peers through my front window when my curtains are open.
«13456

Comments

  • House_Martin
    House_Martin Posts: 1,462 Forumite
    edited 31 March 2018 at 11:50AM
    swindled wrote: »
    As title. I wish to purchase and use a TV in my property to watch things like Netflix and play DVDs from my PC. As I understand it I don't need a licence for this as I won't be watching live or time-shifted broadcast television.

    Given the poorly disguised propaganda that comes out of the BBC nowadays, I don't wish to watch, much less fund it with the licence fee. The offerings from the other terrestrial channels have worsened in quality since I was a lad, I just used to watch the films, which it seems are no longer available or much reduced in number - and I won't be bothering with the likes of a Sky/Virgin subscription either - you have to pay through the nose to get anything better than wall to wall Judge Judy, Homes under the Hammer and Location Location Location.

    A potential issue I have found is that all modern sets sold in the last few years have FreeView installed as standard and it is just a simple matter of turning away from the AV/HDMI selection to TV and selecting the channel you wish to watch.

    How do I ensure I am safe legally by using my TV for non live broadcast viewing when it is simply a matter of changing the channel to access the live broadcasts? The TV will be in my living room and visible to any TV licence inspector that peers through my front window when my curtains are open.
    Yawn ! yet another BBC basher at work on here
    .What "poorly disguised BBC propaganda " is upsetting you ? I ve not noticed anything .
    Odd how the worlds best broadcaster and the UK s largest viewing figures by a country mile gets so much stick on here from recently joined forum users..

    Can we have a truce on here and try and leave Auntie alone.
    If you really want to save 40 p a day can you do it without BBC bashing please at the same time and enjoy your Americana on Netflix at £80 a year ..
    I ve personally just enjoyed on BBC2 since 6 pm, Eggheads, The Repair Shop, and a brilliant Mastermind final.and will continue with Gardeners World and then Pilgrimage .The Road to Santiago , which I will be doing myself in a few months.
    Worlds most popular TV channel is.......BBC News ! because the BBC is the most trusted for world news.
  • What size TV do you need, I wonder if a PC monitor would do?
  • cajef
    cajef Posts: 6,283 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Yawn ! yet another BBC basher at work on here.
    Odd how the worlds best broadcaster and the UK s largest viewing figures by a country mile gets so much stick on here from recently joined forum users..
    Now I wonder why that it ?
    Can we have a truce on here and try and leave Auntie alone.
    If you really want to save 40 p a day can you do it without BBC bashing please at the same time and enjoy your Yank rubbish on Netflix.
    I ve personally just enjoyed on BBC2 since 6 pm, Eggheads, The Repair Shop, and a brilliant Mastermind final.and will continue with Gardeners World and then Pilgrimage .The Road to Santiago , which I will be doing myself in a few months.
    Worlds most popular TV channel is.......BBC News !

    How is that rant helpful to the OP?

    OP if you do not wish to receive any live broadcasts do not plug an aerial of any type into the TV then it can not receive live broadcasts, ignore the rant above as it is by a capita spy that has an agenda on these forums, try read their posts in threads about TV licensing on this forum.


    And just for his information I do have a licence.
  • swindled
    swindled Posts: 45 Forumite
    Yawn ! yet another BBC basher at work on here.
    Odd how the worlds best broadcaster and the UK s largest viewing figures by a country mile gets so much stick on here from recently joined forum users..
    Now I wonder why that it ?
    Can we have a truce on here and try and leave Auntie alone.
    If you really want to save 40 p a day can you do it without BBC bashing please at the same time and enjoy your Americana on Netflix.
    I ve personally just enjoyed on BBC2 since 6 pm, Eggheads, The Repair Shop, and a brilliant Mastermind final.and will continue with Gardeners World and then Pilgrimage .The Road to Santiago , which I will be doing myself in a few months.
    Worlds most popular TV channel is.......BBC News !

    I read another thread you contributed to shortly after posting this.

    I find it extremely concerning that someone whose job is catching people using their TVs illegally has no interest in assisting people in informing them how they may legally use their equipment without a licence.

    Almost as though you'd prefer people be prosecuted for making a mistake rather than ensuring they can use their equipment whilst remaining on the right side of the law...
  • House_Martin
    House_Martin Posts: 1,462 Forumite
    swindled wrote: »
    I read another thread you contributed to shortly after posting this.

    I find it extremely concerning that someone whose job is catching people using their TVs illegally has no interest in assisting people in informing them how they may legally use their equipment without a licence.

    Almost as though you'd prefer people be prosecuted for making a mistake rather than ensuring they can use their equipment whilst remaining on the right side of the law...
    Hey.. can we get this straight. I m fed up of correcting people.
    I dont work for Capita ,"catching " people using TV s illegally.
    My duties occasionally are merely "hand " delivering TV Licence reminders for MDS. I say "hand " deliver because we don`t want to be assaulted on the doorstep so nearly all meter readers ignore our managers instructions and simply post them and skidaddle .
    My job is reading the gas and electric meters
  • Cornucopia
    Cornucopia Posts: 16,435 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    swindled wrote: »
    As title. I wish to purchase and use a TV in my property to watch things like Netflix and play DVDs from my PC. As I understand it I don't need a licence for this as I won't be watching live or time-shifted broadcast television.

    No, you don't need a Licence to view Netflix or DVDs. Also, you don't need a Licence to watch commercial channels via catch-up either.
    A potential issue I have found is that all modern sets sold in the last few years have FreeView installed as standard and it is just a simple matter of turning away from the AV/HDMI selection to TV and selecting the channel you wish to watch.

    How do I ensure I am safe legally by using my TV for non live broadcast viewing when it is simply a matter of changing the channel to access the live broadcasts? The TV will be in my living room and visible to any TV licence inspector that peers through my front window when my curtains are open.

    The recommended approach is not to have an aerial connection to the TV (you only need it for Freeview reception), and to detune the Freeview channels (i.e. go through the "Auto-tuning" process with no aerial connected - this should find no channels, and then save this setting to the TV). If you are buying a brand new TV, it's quite likely it will be in a detuned state to start with.

    Ideally, the TV would not be visible from the street.
  • swindled
    swindled Posts: 45 Forumite
    edited 30 March 2018 at 9:51PM
    Hey.. can we get this straight. I m fed up of correcting people.
    I dont work for Capita ,"catching " people using TV s illegally.
    My duties occasionally are merely "hand " delivering TV Licence reminders for MDS. I say "hand " deliver because we don`t want to be assaulted on the doorstep so nearly all meter readers ignore our managers instructions and simply post them and skidaddle .
    My job is reading the gas and electric meters
    In my unique job, getting behind the lies of so called "legally licence free" evaders I do encounter a few genuine people who can t wait to show me round their houses to verify their claims. I rarely take them up on it unless they insist because when they want to do that they are all correct and do not require a TV licence.

    If you are hand delivering TV licence reminders through the letterbox and accessing properties solely for the purpose of reading gas and electric meters only, why would you concern yourself with "getting behind the lies of so called legally licence free evaders"?
  • House_Martin
    House_Martin Posts: 1,462 Forumite
    edited 31 March 2018 at 10:48AM
    swindled wrote: »
    I read another thread you contributed to shortly after posting this.

    I find it extremely concerning that someone whose job is catching people using their TVs illegally has no interest in assisting people in informing them how they may legally use their equipment without a licence.

    Almost as though you'd prefer people be prosecuted for making a mistake rather than ensuring they can use their equipment whilst remaining on the right side of the law...
    Do exactly what Cornucopia suggests and detune all Freeview/Freesat. Disconnect the aerial, coil it up,and tape it up so it can t reach the TV from wherever it exits the wall.
    If Capita knock, I suggest letting them in to see your set up.
    Whenever the aerial lead is connected, or even if its pulled out in haste and lies near the TV you will be under suspicion . Capita are well aware about a loft aerial so they won t be fooled by no aerial on the roof.
    Alternatively register with a website who will assist you in how to deal with nosey BBC employees from Capita. They are the experts ! and they brag about how much they have saved by not paying the TV licence and they all hate the BBC !
    Personally I recommend paying the 41 p a day and pay for the Tv licence and relax and drawer the curtains open and watch what you like when you like, even the hated BBC.
    You will not be able to keep up the legally licence free guff and will soon have had enough of catch- up or awful Netflix .Life is too short just to save 41p a day
  • esuhl
    esuhl Posts: 9,409 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I'd just get a decent monitor without a TV tuner, then connect whatever sources you like.

    If you're connecting your PC to it, you don't really need anything else.

    And it makes it really easy to explain to TV Licensing people if you don't have a TV.
  • If Capita knock, I suggest letting them in to see your set up.
    If the thugs from Capita call, my advice would be do not open the door to them, do not engage with them. Definitely don't allow them in to your home. There are stories of people being forced to sign papers which are then used against them in court.

    If you choose to ignore the above, at the very least video everything they do. As they often act illegally in their bullying behavior, they will usually leave rather rapidly if you stick a camera phone in their face.
    For Democracy to work, the losers have to accept defeat.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 349.8K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.6K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453K Spending & Discounts
  • 242.8K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 619.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.4K Life & Family
  • 255.7K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.