TV license about to run out. 23 January 2020 at 1:01PM in TV MoneySaving 41 replies 1.6K views

3secondmemory

My TV license is about to run out and I’m considering going without live tv and BBC.

Can I still keep my Now TV even though it has live channels and apps for live tv? Technically I could access these on my phone or lap top - even my trusty old Kindle so is it just a question of honour that people don’t cheat?

I know they say they’ll send a detector van around or an ‘enforcement officer but Ivrarely watch anything new on the television - just old films.

wongataa

As long as you don't watch any of the live stuff on Now TV you are fine without a license. Just because Now TV provides live TV does not mean you have to watch it.


In the end the licensing people just have to hope that people without licenses don't cheat and watch live TV or iPlayer. They can only prosecute you if you confess to doing what you shouldn't.

Swipe

You are fine as long as you don't watch the Live TV channels. They won't send a detector van around but they may send a salesperson to visit. Make sure you tell them "not today" if they do and close the door. Don't give them any details and never sign anything.

MrRobinson

Anyone watch here tv?

Marvel1

You have access to the Internet, you can access for example ITV live, it's no different.

Yes you can keep Now TV.

sevenhills

3secondmemory wrote: »

My TV license is about to run out and I’m considering going without live tv and BBC.

Can I still keep my Now TV even though it has live channels and apps for live tv? Technically I could access these on my phone or lap top - even my trusty old Kindle so is it just a question of honour that people don’t cheat?

I know they say they’ll send a detector van around or an ‘enforcement officer but Ivrarely watch anything new on the television - just old films.

The law says you need to be covered by a TV Licence to:

• watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, on any channel
• watch or stream programmes live on an online TV service (such as ITV Hub, All 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Sky Go, etc.)
• download or watch any BBC programmes on iPlayer.

This applies to any device you use, including a TV, desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, tablet, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder.


Just buy a license.

HWW

sevenhills wrote: »

The law says you need to be covered by a TV Licence to:

• watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, on any channel
• watch or stream programmes live on an online TV service (such as ITV Hub, All 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Sky Go, etc.)
• download or watch any BBC programmes on iPlayer.

This applies to any device you use, including a TV, desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, tablet, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder.


Just buy a license.

Detector vans are a myth - just vans with "Detector" on the side :rotfl:

Cornucopia

sevenhills wrote: »

The law says you need to be covered by a TV Licence to:

• watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, on any channel
• watch or stream programmes live on an online TV service (such as ITV Hub, All 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Sky Go, etc.)
• download or watch any BBC programmes on iPlayer.

This applies to any device you use, including a TV, desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, tablet, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder.

Just buy a license.

Presumably you are referring to the second bullet-point? This is the danger in their mis-use of the word "live". What they are referring to is simultaneous streaming of broadcast TV channels.

The OP's planned usage of Now TV for catch-up doesn't require a TV Licence. Likewise the "old films" if they are commercial catch-up or DVDs.

Takmon

3secondmemory wrote: »

My TV license is about to run out and I’m considering going without live tv and BBC.

Can I still keep my Now TV even though it has live channels and apps for live tv? Technically I could access these on my phone or lap top - even my trusty old Kindle so is it just a question of honour that people don’t cheat?

I know they say they’ll send a detector van around or an ‘enforcement officer but Ivrarely watch anything new on the television - just old films.

I'm surprised people actually think there are detector vans :rotfl: ... how exactly do you think they would work?

onomatopoeia99

Takmon wrote: »

I'm surprised people actually think there are detector vans :rotfl: ... how exactly do you think they would work?

There is a highly sophisticated technology that works for CRT televisions, it was used in cold war espionage by various countries secret services who had vans that would park near embassies to obtain a picture of what was on computer monitor screens, which lead to the screens being placed in lead lined housings.

There is another more basic technology that could detect the emissions from a CRT to simply show one is being used nearby and the direction, but not what was being watched. That became less useful once CRT computer monitors became widespread in domestic properties, and even less useful nowadays as LCD/LED screens don't have the same level of EM emissions that CRTs do.

wild666

If you don't intend to watch live as shown TV or iPlayer then dump the licence. You can keep the aerial connected to use the radio stations, or disconnect it and use the browser of the smart TV for radio.