Watching TV on your PC or mobile phone? Get a licence!

Swan_2

JMartin wrote: »

We got rid of our TV aerials last year and have a letter from TV Licensing stating that so long as we are not using our TV to receive broadcast signals then we don't need a licence. We have kept ours for DVDs and Games consoles.

It is very confusing on their site as to whether you must take the receiver out of the TV or not but a quick email clarified that you don't need to do anything to the TV...just remove all aerials.

I did that too a few years ago, & all I did was detune the telly's broadcast channels & unplug the aerial

TVLA kept saying someone would be round to check, but no-one ever showed up
which was fine by me

JMartin

Stephenbw wrote: »

David Attenborough, Fawlty Towers, Wimbledon, The Olympics, Newsnight, Dr Who, Catherine Tate, HIGNFY, Spooks, Morecombe & Wise, Bleak House, The Street, Mike Leigh, Stephen Poliakoff, Michael Palin,The Proms, Glastonbury, TOTP, Radio 1-4, BBC4, Little Britain etc. etc...

If you really never watch or listen to any of these, then you have my sympathy.

That is exactly the attitude that the TVLA have when they believe that anybody who doesn't have a TV is in some way weird. I never watch any of these...didn't when I had TV either...and I can assure you I'm not weird or a social reject.

The fact is that the TV Licence doesn't represent good value for money anymore. Programmes on TV and radio are repeated over and over and there is a wholly unnecessary amount of advertising of their own programmes. The BBC have failed to keep up with what viewers and listeners want. If it were any other organisation requiring subscription then their members would be leaving in their droves. As it is they have a very comfortable situation wherby people have to buy a licence if they wish to watch any form of TV, even if they choose not to watch BBC channels.

I, for one, hope that the mass adoption of digital TV brings with it a solution wherby people can choose to opt out of watching (and therefore paying for) BBC channels.

Boatie_Bird

So where do I stand then?
I live on a boat and have a TV which is not powered by plugging it into a 240v wall socket but connected to a 12v battery which is in turn charged by running the boat engine.
We do have a 240v ring main installed on the boat which we need to use the generator to power. We only really use this for the washing machine and never for the TV
We do have an 'official' postal address (the in-laws) which does have a TV licence.

roddydogs

rapido wrote: »

Can I just say that you do NOT have to let a Capita (TVLA) employee into your home at all or prove you don't have a TV or anything - unless they are accompanied by a warrant, which is very very unlikely (they would have to suspect you use a TV for receiving and explain it to the court). They cannot come and "inspect your set" as if it's a right.

After living in a flat for over 3 years I only twice had knocks on the door from these employees - they looked like temps, they didn't have any uniforms or anything.

I simply told them both times that I couldn't help them and the occupant was away in Manchester and that I was only looking after the place. After being told that, they simply go away.

I even got a 'phone call or two, and just gave them the same story and it shut them up.

Every month I would get a letter from them - "Official Warning" and "You are being investigated", each time inviting me to write to them if I don't use a TV. I never wrote back, as that might become evidence against me. I simply ignored each letter.

I'm sure they don't usually roam around in detection vans (maybe they have just one for the whole country!), they mostly rely on intimidation to make sure that they get their revenue.

By the way, I am not telling whether I had a TV or not, simply that Capita employees hardly have any rights without a warrant. So don't let them in unless you really want them to.

So if you do happen to use a TV set without a licence - you're safe until you are silly enough to let them come in (or tell them you have a set).

-rapido

So why do you think everyone else should subsidise your TV Viewing?

Stephenbw

JMartin wrote: »

That is exactly the attitude that the TVLA have when they believe that anybody who doesn't have a TV is in some way weird. I never watch any of these...didn't when I had TV either...and I can assure you I'm not weird or a social reject.

I did not accuse you, nor do I believe that you are 'weird' I just find it hard to understand that anyone with a TV would choose to deny themselves the joy, laughter, wonderment, knowledge and exhilhiration obtained by watching some of these BBC programmes, many of which would not be broadcast by any other channel

JMartin wrote: »

The fact is that the TV Licence doesn't represent good value for money anymore.

I think that 36p per day is excellent VFM

JMartin wrote: »

Programmes on TV and radio are repeated over and over

I am pleased that programmes are repeated. It gives me another chance to watch something I missed the first time round. I regularly use my PVR's search function to find repeats of programmes that friends have recommended.

JMartin wrote: »

The BBC have failed to keep up with what viewers and listeners want.

BBC1 still has the largest viewing figures of any channel.

JMartin wrote: »

I, for one, hope that the mass adoption of digital TV brings with it a solution wherby people can choose to opt out of watching (and therefore paying for) BBC channels.

The BBC was granted a Royal Charter for another 10 years so I wouldn't hold your breath.

Most countries have a licence fee for public service TV. In Australia the licence fee for the ABC was abolished but is now funded by direct taxation, so even those without a TV pay for it.

JoseWalkeros

Correct me if I'm wrong and misyunderstanding this complicated law, but as I understand
I need a licence if I have a Tv tuner in my laptop
I don't need a licence if I don't have a Tv tuner, but use on demand services via the internet? Or have they silently ammended this loop hole

JMartin

Stephenbw wrote: »

I did not accuse you, nor do I believe that you are 'weird' I just find it hard to understand that anyone with a TV would choose to deny themselves the joy, laughter, wonderment, knowledge and exhilhiration obtained by watching some of these BBC programmes, many of which would not be broadcast by any other channel.

Fair point, although when I had a TV I watched one programme religiously then switched it off. Perhaps I just have to accept I'm in the minority.

Stephenbw wrote: »

I think that 36p per day is excellent VFM.

36p buys me lunch for two days with 6p left over. Now that's value for money.

Stephenbw wrote: »

I am pleased that programmes are repeated. It gives me another chance to watch something I missed the first time round. I regularly use my PVR's search function to find repeats of programmes that friends have recommended..

Whilst I can't deny that a watch again feature is a great idea, I do dispute the repeating of programmes over and over and over again.

JMartin

JoseWalkeros wrote: »

Correct me if I'm wrong and misyunderstanding this complicated law, but as I understand
I need a licence if I have a Tv tuner in my laptop
I don't need a licence if I don't have a Tv tuner, but use on demand services via the internet? Or have they silently ammended this loop hole

It's quite simple although the wording they use makes it seem difficult. You need a licence to watch TV as it is broadcast. So if you have the ability to watch TV as it is broadcast you need a licence, say in the case of a TV tuner in your laptop, and if you watch streaming video on the internet as it is broadcast (e.g. sporting events) you need a licence. If you are watching pre-recorded material on the internet (e.g. you tube, news snippets) and don't have a TV tuner then you don't need a licence.

JoseWalkeros

So using the iplayer and 4od and not having a tv tuner for example, you don't need the license as they are not broadcasted live?

JMartin

As I understand it that is correct. I regularly watch you tube videos and don't believe I am breaking any laws to do so without a licence.

For the avoidance of doubt you could contact the TVLA. They are pretty quick to respond and you will then have a written confirmation that you are doing nothing wrong.