TV licensing

pphillips

Chino said:

andygb said:

So, basically "live" TV as described by the BBC/Licencing, is not in any way "Live" TV.

From the TV Licensing website:

What is live TV and when do I need a licence for it?
Live TV means any programme you watch or record as it’s being shown on TV or live on any online TV service. It’s not just live events like sport, news and music. It covers all programmes on any channel, including soaps, series, documentaries and even movies.
...

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one

I hate incorrect or misleading terminology, they now say you need a licence to watch "live TV" but they used to say you need a licence to watch "TV as it's being broadcast".

Cornucopia

It's worse than just an arbitrary misuse of terms...

TV Licensing *know* that people find it confusing:

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/cs/media-centre/news/view.app?id=1369783012664#

pphillips

Cornucopia said:

It's worse than just an arbitrary misuse of terms...

TV Licensing *know* that people find it confusing:

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/cs/media-centre/news/view.app?id=1369783012664#

I find it funny that TV Licensing found that 49% were incorrectly identified "live TV" according to its dictionary definition. They think they can just take a word from the dictionary and change its meaning, seriously!

andygb

Cornucopia said:

It's worse than just an arbitrary misuse of terms...

TV Licensing *know* that people find it confusing:

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/cs/media-centre/news/view.app?id=1369783012664#

So, according to their (widely disingenuous) rules, I do not need a licence to view "on demand" or "cach up" TV as long as I do not watch any BBC content. I can also link up the desktop and watch youube or other content.

I should also add DVD's to that.

Cornucopia

andygb said:
So, according to their (widely disingenuous) rules, I do not need a licence to view "on demand" or "cach up" TV as long as I do not watch any BBC content. I can also link up the desktop and watch youube or other content.

You don't need a Licence if you only watch on demand or catch up TV other than BBC content on BBC iPlayer.

You can watch BBC content as it appears on other platforms (UKTV Player, Netflix, Amazon, Youtube, etc) without requiring a Licence.

You can use your desktop to watch Youtube, except YT channels that are the same broadcasts as channels that you would otherwise receive using an Aerial or Satellite feed.  The most obvious example is Sky News.

Cornucopia

pphillips said:
I find it funny that TV Licensing found that 49% were incorrectly identified "live TV" according to its dictionary definition. They think they can just take a word from the dictionary and change its meaning, seriously!

Presumably they do it because they believe (foolishly) that it makes it easier to understand, when it obviously makes it more confusing. 

To that extent, I think they are foolish and negligent, rather than being actively dishonest (encouraging confusion for their own benefit). 

TehJumpingJawa

So, here's my situation/proposed work-around for needing multiple licenses.
My home address has a TV license.
At my home, I have a NextPVR server with several TV tuners in it, allowing remote clients to watch Live TV.

Mobile devices (not mains powered) can then legally watch Live TV by connecting* to this NextPVR server, as they're covered by the home address' TV license. (*connecting either by mobile broadband, or a 2nd property's wifi)

From reading TV licensing's guide, I think such a setup is legitimate*, as no TV aerial is utilized, and the devices used for watching TV are all battery powered. (*so long as they're not plugged into the mains & watching Live TV at the same time).

More importantly, even if it isn't permitted, how are they *ever* going to catch on to such a setup.
Honestly TV licensing in the UK is a joke; woefully out of touch & outdated in relation to how media is both produced & consumed.

• Wireless charging completely bypasses the 'mains power' limitation.
• Plugging your phone into a public charging station while watching Live TV on your phone? The charging station now needs a TV license!?!?!

Licensing by property (or by device, as it originally was) is deeply flawed; the only sensible way to license is by the individual.
For simplicity they could still offer a bulk 'household' package, but fundamentally the license would follow the individual, not the property.

Mickey666

TehJumpingJawa said:

Honestly TV licensing in the UK is a joke; woefully out of touch & outdated in relation to how media is both produced & consumed.

Indeed, it most certainly is!
There’s a BBC Charter renewal review later this decade (2027?) so perhaps whatever government is in place by then will bite the bullet and sort out the farce that is BBC funding once and for all, though I’m not holding my breath.

Tictactaylor

We have to put this into context. I had an encounter with a TV Licensing officer, upon just a short interaction, actually just asking for ID he threatened to assault me. These people don't seem to play by the rules, I uploaded the event to my YouTube channel, Tech& more4U. I'm a lover of technology, so read your work around, it has credibility...but who cares now? I'm the type of person that remains within the law, but...today...with folks like those I've encountered...it's everyone for themselves. I don't advocate watching TV unlawfully, and any work around to minimise licence number is excellent...but I'm beyond caring...many are I feel...so alienated we are.

Big24fan

Interesting if we need a tv license as now have sky glass that’s is all streaming from the net and have no longer got a dish and no tv Ariel connection. We don’t watch iplayer much and can stop watching it if it saves £159 a year , and don’t watch live tv ie from the planner and can’t record . We mostly watch Netflix and prime and other onDemand stuff like sky cinema. Do we need a tv license ? I think if you had sky for 20+ years and not used free view for most of that we shouldn’t have needed on them too for all them years ! Thanks