US Open live streaming for Amazon Prime Members

simonbk

I used to be an Amazon Prime member as I enjoyed all the extras such as free ebooks, music streaming and free movie/tv box set streaming, but after the first 15 months (I earned a couple of free months for not receiving Prime items on time) I allowed by membership to lapse as I found I didn't have enough free time to take advantages of all the benefits and the few items I now order don't require immediate delivery.

The current offer (only £59 for a year of Prime until the end of August) almost tempted me back, until I realised they're now including "live" broadcasts as part of Prime video, which I'm not allowed to watch as I don't have a TV licence.

According to FAQ 104 on the TV licensing website (sorry, it doesn't allow me to post the link) you don't need a licence for streaming video from Amazon, but with them now offering live content, it makes that rule a bit ambiguous.

I've deleted the iPlayer app from my Smart TV and Xbox, but will taking out Amazon Prime and installing the Amazon Prime app require me to purchase a TV licence?

[Deleted User]

simonbk wrote: »

According to FAQ 104 on the TV licensing website (sorry, it doesn't allow me to post the link) you don't need a licence for streaming video from Amazon, but with them now offering live content, it makes that rule a bit ambiguous.

Nothing ambiguous about that surely? They stream live so you need a license.

simonbk

Yes, but I don't want to watch their "live" streams! They really should offer Prime video without the live streaming as an alternative for those without a TV licence. It's obviously not an issue for their American and Australian subscribers, but it is over here...

poppasmurf_bewdley

Do you need a TV licence to watch a live stream?

If so, anybody watching a live stream of a CCTV camera would need a TV licence.

I always thought the TV licence was actually a 'Broadcast Receiving Licence' - at least that's what it used to say on the top, or have they changed it now?

[Deleted User]

Colin_Maybe wrote: »

Nothing ambiguous about that surely? They stream live so you need a license.

Is this true Cornucopia ?, you re the expert on this sort of thing. Clarification is needed for this and also if Netflix end up doing the very same thing.

Cornucopia

Houbara wrote: »

Is this true Cornucopia ?, you re the expert on this sort of thing. Clarification is needed for this and also if Netflix end up doing the very same thing.

I can't give a definitive answer overall, but I can give more detail which may help individual households understand whether they may need a Licence or not. Clearly there will be more and more of these "borderline" cases, and TVL need to provide some proper, legally justified advice.

Firstly, per the comment above, if you subscribe to Amazon, and never watch their Tennis streaming nor any other Live broadcasts or BBC iPlayer, you do not need a Licence. That is a definitive answer, and it should be possible to confirm it on the TVL website.

If you do watch the Tennis coverage (live streamed from the US) then it gets complicated, and also my view differs from that of BBC-TVL. When they've been asked previously, they've said that live streaming from outside the UK requires a Licence, but I am unable to find a justification for that in the legislation. I have asked them for more info on the issue, but they have refused to provide it. I also don't know what their criterion for "TV program" is, and the Amazon streaming may not qualify.

My view is that a Licence is only required for reception of TV channels from within the UK & CI, and their equivalent live Internet streams and iPlayer. This is based on reading the (way too complicated) legislation. On that basis, Amazon coverage would not be included and would not require a Licence. But MSEers need to be aware that TVL may not see it that way.

If anyone is interested, the relevant piece of legislation is S.8 of The Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004. It says: "the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man" in a relevant supporting clause to the entire legislative regime.

If anyone is particularly concerned, then it might be worth asking BBC-TVL. It's possible it may result in a rare moment of transparency.

simonbk

As this article in the Guardian explains, Amazon have exclusive rights to stream this event until 2023 from their studio in New York. It cannot be seen on any TV channel, so does it still count as television?

Amazon has been flooded with so many complaints about its coverage of the US Open it has stopped disgruntled tennis fans from posting more bad reviews.

Amazon’s $40m five-year deal to broadcast the US Open to UK tennis fans – its first exclusive broadcast of a sports event – was meant to showcase the Silicon Valley giant’s streaming prowess and prove it can match traditional broadcasters and become a credible home for live sport.

The company, which has successfully streamed NFL matches in the US, has pulled out all the stops, including setting up its own studio at Flushing Meadows and drafting in former players such as Jim Courier, Greg Rusedski, Annabel Croft and Mark Petchey.

However, the internet giant has been inundated with complaints about a host of problems including the picture and sound quality of its streaming service and an inability to record matches. Almost 90% of the 650 reviews posted by subscribers to its Prime Video service, home to its US Open coverage, gave Amazon just 1 or 2 stars.

“There is no replay option, no ability to record [and] the picture quality is very poor,” said one unhappy tennis fan. “It’s like going back in time 25 years.”

Others urged Amazon to “give tennis back to Sky and Eurosport”, which both used to broadcast the US Open in the UK before Amazon snapped up the exclusive rights.

“Hopeless doesn’t describe it,” said another. “A complete embarrassment.”

dawyldthing

Just watch it on bet365 if you leave a penny in