TV license about to run out.

1.5K Posts

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.
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.
0
This discussion has been closed.
Latest MSE News and Guides
Replies
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.
Yes you can keep Now TV.
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.
I'm surprised people actually think there are detector vans :rotfl: ... how exactly do you think they would work?
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.
Solar PV 5.2kWp system, SE facing, >1% shading, installed March 2019.
Mortgage neutral target Jun 2019, achieved Dec 2018.