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

Dualcyclone

How does this effect the likes of BBC iPlayer and 4oD?

Like it is stated previously, you require a license if you have specifically installed apparatus to recieve television broadcasts.

However, BBC iPlayer and 4oD is software; and apparatus would be a specifically installed hardware that can recieve a VHF signal?

Plus this material is non-broadcast.

I have a TV license, but it would be interesting to know where the "law" stands on this one.

I really dont understand why the BBC dont make themselves a paid-for service, so if you want to watch their channels, you pay for a subscription. It would make more sense in my opinion, rather than demand everyone pay for their services when not everyone may watch their channels.

Swan_2

!!!!!! wrote: »

A computer PCI or USB TV stick is specifically detailed as requiring a licence (if there isn't one for a set in the household) on the TV licence renewal form and website

if you had them de-tuned & disconnected from an aerial, wouldn't it be the same as a de-tuned & disconnected telly? ie, you don't need a license

tlck9

Well in response to this I have been treatened to be taken to court for not having a license on my caravan, even though I do not simultanously watch tv at both properties...

they made me feel so unlawful and at risk of a fine, I ended up paying even though I didnt need one

I feel that for someone that doesnt break the law, they still make you feel like a criminal and make all kinds of threats, i'm afraid I felt bullied

even the declaration they got me to sign, and never received 5 times, even signed for delivery did not persuade them

personally if you break the law on this, fine get whats coming - if you dont and still get abuse from them and threats - they should go jump

personally I feel their tacktics work on people like me that do not want anything against them and someone flowuting the law will not give a fig

so who wins and who loses - the innocent lose and the wrong doer as always in this country gets away with it

mdean

t8769 wrote: »

>No, the BBC is independent from government, hence a licence fee, not a tax.

No, the BBC isn't independant, they get their money from the Government, and consistantly work with them.

Papers that have been released under the 25 year rule show the BBC worked with the government, putting out propaganda, to persuade people to vote to join the EC.

Its a tax.
Its a tax.

What drivel - The BBC is run by the BBC trust - formerly the governors- completely independent and trusted all over the world.

We get better TV all round because of the licence fee. ITV and C4 would be like living TV or $ky1 if there was no competition from the BBC
There is no such thing as the 25 year rule (its the 30 year rule) sounds like a quote from the sun or somewhere equally biased.
Long live the license fee

Stephenbw

SunnyBrighton wrote: »

That's a bit of inverted snobbery!! :beer: Certainly don't need your sympathy - I have a life!

It is possible to have a TV and a life, 97% of the population do:beer:

SunnyBrighton wrote: »

I watched Fawlty Towers, Dr Who, M&W, TOTP, etc when I was young, and have no desire to sit around watching repeats or dramas or news or whatever (especially things like Eastenders)! Nor do I need a tv licence to listen to the radio.

Totally agree with the poster who said that all the cross-channel promos were like advertising - especially if you don't have the channels they're referring to.

I can't imagine what it would take to get me to have a tv again. Certainly not the programmes which are shown now. There may indeed be the odd gem, but it's not worth sitting through the dross to find it!

How can you possibly know all this if you don't have a TV?

There are plenty of 'gems' on TV now, and with the advent of the PVR one doesn't need to sit through any 'dross', certainly not Eastenders.

Tetsuko

Phil.Thomson wrote: »

The government's own Nation Statistics department have reclassified the TV licence fee as a tax:-

The television licence fee has been reclassified as a tax, because the licence fee is a compulsory payment which is not paid solely for access to BBC services. Previously, the licence fee had been classified as a service charge. This reclassification means that the BBC will move from the public non-financial corporations sub-sector to the central government sector, effectively moving from one part of the public sector to another.

See http://www.statistics.gov.uk/CCI/nugget.asp?ID=1341&Pos=1&ColRank=2&Rank=224

Heheh. It doesn't matter how many times you tell people they live under state run television they won't believe it. As long as they can sit and watch Eastenders all Sunday they're happily oblivious to their TV taxation :rotfl:

I think they reclassified it as a tax because they know full well that when the whole country becomes digitised people could have chosen not to receive BBC channels in their homes. How would they then justify charging people for something they don't want to receive.

I'm fed up of all their damned advertising channels full of mindless pap like UK Style, UK Food, UK Home, UK Gold and whatever other rubbish they've wasted my money on. If I had the option to stop all BBC transmissions to my TV and save myself the tax I would do it tomorrow.

h1ghlander

Does the license fee not also pay for TV transimitting equipment on top of the hills and the staff to run this service?

I wonder how easy it would be to write new firmware for your freeview box which denies access to any of the frequencies used to broadcast bbc channels. Would make a good test case if they took someone to court who had done this.

LornaT_2

JMartin wrote: »

If I have nothing to hide why would I not let them in???? As it happens they won't ever bother me because I live in the middle of nowhere but I am interested to know why you suggest that people don't spend that five minutes showing them that they are not breaking the law so as to avoid being harrassed, sometimes very publically.

I agree. I had a note the other day after two years without telly to say they came as they said they would. Unfortunately they will never catch me in at the time they called so rang them to come in the evening. We untuned our telly on every station and took the aerial lead out - I do use the aerial for the radio though. I am more than happy to show I don't use the telly, why would I not be? They are only doing their job after all.

ambyuk

I don't have a TV. I was actually surprised that after telling TVLA this I haven't had any more threatening letters or visits.

If they do knock on my door I will not be letting them in though, simply because they do not do background checks on their employees and I'm usually here alone with my small children. Same as I wouldn't let any other stranger in the door.

I think it's ridiculous that people in this country have to pay to watch TV. In America there's no such thing. I wonder, if they changed it so you had to pay the license fee for the BBC channels (but could watch the rest free) - how much would viewership decline?

GREYBITS

Stephenbw wrote: »

No, the BBC is independent from government, hence a licence fee, not a tax.

I am happy to pay my licence to keep it this way and to keep it commercial free:j

It's a tax plain and simple. Ask yourself this: Can other companies force you (with the threat of fines and/or jail) to pay for a product even if you don't want it?