How to avoid buying a tv license?

toadhall99

I look after my mother who is in her 80's and is bedbound with dementia,she watches tv all day and did have a free tv license until this year when it changes for those people.

I'm wondering if there is anything that I can do to enable her to watch the television for free,I'm not a tv watcher and would love to know is there a service that plays for the whole day or is it like netflix where the film finishes and you have to find something else to watch with the control that she would be unable to use as she can't operate anything like now with her hands.I'm fine switching something on at the start of the day,we do this now with freeview and she finds things that she enjoys watching for the full day.

Has anyone got any thoughts or a solution please?

pphillips

She would need a broadband connection and a streaming device to plug into the back of her TV. Most of the devices come with a remote and easy access to the streaming apps.
In terms of back to back TV content there is some confusion out there over whether the Pluto tv service requires a TV licence, I would say that it doesn't but TV Licensing would probably disagree with me. I know that once you start a TV programme on Netflix, it will begin at series 1 episode 1 and every episode will automatically play until you get to the end of the last episode of the final series. I believe that there is a similar autoplay feature on most of the free catchup services such as ITV Hub, All4, 5od and UKTV Play. Of the free services, All4 seems to have the largest back catalogue of on demand content.

toadhall99

pphillips said:

She would need a broadband connection and a streaming device to plug into the back of her TV. Most of the devices come with a remote and easy access to the streaming apps.
In terms of back to back TV content there is some confusion out there over whether the Pluto tv service requires a TV licence, I would say that it doesn't but TV Licensing would probably disagree with me. I know that once you start a TV programme on Netflix, it will begin at series 1 episode 1 and every episode will automatically play until you get to the end of the last episode of the final series. I believe that there is a similar autoplay feature on most of the free catchup services such as ITV Hub, All4, 5od and UKTV Play. Of the free services, All4 seems to have the largest back catalogue of on demand content.

Hi thanks, I have broadband and I was thinking about getting a 4k firestick when they are reduced so I suppose I could play netflix on that.I also have Amazon prime on trial at the moment which I have been using for deliveries but have no idea of it's content for tv and how it works

pphillips

toadhall99 said:

pphillips said:

She would need a broadband connection and a streaming device to plug into the back of her TV. Most of the devices come with a remote and easy access to the streaming apps.
In terms of back to back TV content there is some confusion out there over whether the Pluto tv service requires a TV licence, I would say that it doesn't but TV Licensing would probably disagree with me. I know that once you start a TV programme on Netflix, it will begin at series 1 episode 1 and every episode will automatically play until you get to the end of the last episode of the final series. I believe that there is a similar autoplay feature on most of the free catchup services such as ITV Hub, All4, 5od and UKTV Play. Of the free services, All4 seems to have the largest back catalogue of on demand content.

Hi thanks, I have broadband and I was thinking about getting a 4k firestick when they are reduced so I suppose I could play netflix on that.I also have Amazon prime on trial at the moment which I have been using for deliveries but have no idea of it's content for tv and how it works

I think Amazon also has an autoplay feature. There is a good range of content on Amazon, generally of a lower quality than Netflix although Amazon does have some sports content. What I don't like about Amazon is unlike Netflix, they mix extra TV services into their platform that require additional subscriptions/cost to access.

elsien

If mum is happy watching freeview, it seems a comparatively small price to pay to carry on with what you know she enjoys. Why change it if its not broke? 
With regards to the changes in the TV licence does she get pension credit at all, as if so she can still have the free licence. 

toadhall99

pphillips said:

toadhall99 said:

pphillips said:

She would need a broadband connection and a streaming device to plug into the back of her TV. Most of the devices come with a remote and easy access to the streaming apps.
In terms of back to back TV content there is some confusion out there over whether the Pluto tv service requires a TV licence, I would say that it doesn't but TV Licensing would probably disagree with me. I know that once you start a TV programme on Netflix, it will begin at series 1 episode 1 and every episode will automatically play until you get to the end of the last episode of the final series. I believe that there is a similar autoplay feature on most of the free catchup services such as ITV Hub, All4, 5od and UKTV Play. Of the free services, All4 seems to have the largest back catalogue of on demand content.

Hi thanks, I have broadband and I was thinking about getting a 4k firestick when they are reduced so I suppose I could play netflix on that.I also have Amazon prime on trial at the moment which I have been using for deliveries but have no idea of it's content for tv and how it works

I think Amazon also has an autoplay feature. There is a good range of content on Amazon, generally of a lower quality than Netflix although Amazon does have some sports content. What I don't like about Amazon is unlike Netflix, they mix extra TV services into their platform that require additional subscriptions/cost to access.

Cheers I used my prime trial by accident that I usually save for xmas shopping when I was checking out last week,but have ordered other stuff since,anyway I think I might keep it until after the Xmas sales at least I can have a little look on there to see what it's all about

toadhall99

elsien said:

If mum is happy watching freeview, it seems a comparatively small price to pay to carry on with what you know she enjoys. Why change it if its not broke? 
With regards to the changes in the TV licence does she get pension credit at all, as if so she can still have the free licence. 

Hi mum is happy to watch anything she even likes watching cartoons in the morning now particularly the bright and colourful ones. It's just an idea at the moment,I just felt it was a cheek of the BBC to withdraw her free license so it's a reaction to that to see if there is another way,she isn't on pension credit.

toadhall99

To be honest it just seems a con that you have to pay them money even if you're not watching their channels,I disagree with it and as a matter of principle I would be quite happy to ditch the BBC tv license for good,I just want to investigate the alternatives.

elsien

All of which is fine, but mum's best interests should come before your principles and being miffed with the BBC unless you can find alternatives which she will enjoy equally as well. 

pphillips

elsien said:

All of which is fine, but mum's best interests should come before your principles and being miffed with the BBC unless you can find alternatives which she will enjoy equally as well. 

Do people who have dementia actually care what they're watching on TV? Perhaps it's in her best interests to spend the extra £13.12 per month to the BBC on something that actually matters.

elsien

pphillips said:

elsien said:

All of which is fine, but mum's best interests should come before your principles and being miffed with the BBC unless you can find alternatives which she will enjoy equally as well. 

Do people who have dementia actually care what they're watching on TV? Perhaps it's in her best interests to spend the extra £13.12 per month to the BBC on something that actually matters.

Some do, some don't. A bit like the rest of us really.  And if the person needing to stay in bed and is enjoying TV then that would appear to be something that matters to them. You may wish to note my use of the phrase "alternatives which she will enjoy equally as well."