Anyone escaped from the BBC licence fee?

Options

Gobsh

Gobsh Posts: 104 Forumite

First Anniversary

First Post

Photogenic

15 January at 2:38PM in TV MoneySaving

Anyone escaped from the BBC licence fee?

So you disconnect your Ariel

Get a streaming stick

Don't watch/install BBC iPlayer

Don't watch live terrestrial TV (which technically doesn't exist on streaming platforms) because there is always a lapse

Questions

Do simultaneous streaming of live TV count as "live TV"?

Does "Watch from the start" count as "live TV"?

0

Comments

Rodders53 Posts: 2,152 Forumite

15 January at 3:31PM edited 15 January at 3:32PM
Options
<Sarcasm ON> No no one ever has escaped. </OFF>

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/watching-live-online-and-on-mobile has TV Licensing's take on the subject.
Q1 Yes 100%
Q2 Probably Yes - cos to get to the 'watch from start' prompt you're watching the Live stream?

Coding and delivery delays exist on all Platforms: Terrestrial, Satellite, Cable and IP streaming. So nothing is truly live nowadays..

Catchup TV is considered "not Live" as the live broadcast programme has finished, and you are watching after that event.

0
Krakkkers Posts: 1,130 Forumite

15 January at 5:11PM
Options
Have not paid TV license fee in years, can't remember how many now, about 5 - 7 years.
I watch youtube and some downloads.

0
amanda1024 Posts: 409 Forumite

15 January at 5:33PM
Options
Never bought a TV licence myself. ‘Simultaneous streaming’ sounds like live TV to me - you’d have to wait and watch on catch-up (and still not watch anything on bbc iplayer)

0
oldernonethewiser Posts: 1,775 Forumite

15 January at 5:50PM
Options
Gobsh said:

Anyone escaped from the BBC licence fee?

So you disconnect your Ariel
Get a streaming stick
Don't watch/install BBC iPlayer
Don't watch live terrestrial TV (which technically doesn't exist on streaming platforms) because there is always a lapse
Questions
Do simultaneous streaming of live TV count as "live TV"?
Does "Watch from the start" count as "live TV"?

There is nothing to escape.

Don't need a TV licence then don't pay for one.

Streaming of a live broadcast requires a licence as does "watch from the start" of anything that is still being broadcast at the time.

Things that are differerent: draw & drawer, brought & bought, loose & lose, dose & does, payed & paid

0
Gobsh Posts: 104 Forumite

15 January at 8:10PM
Options
Q2 not actually. If you go to live TV menu you have a choice to "watch live" or "watch from the beginning"

Rodders53 said:
<Sarcasm ON> No no one ever has escaped. </OFF>

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/watching-live-online-and-on-mobile has TV Licensing's take on the subject.
Q1 Yes 100%
Q2 Probably Yes - cos to get to the 'watch from start' prompt you're watching the Live stream?

Coding and delivery delays exist on all Platforms: Terrestrial, Satellite, Cable and IP streaming. So nothing is truly live nowadays..

Catchup TV is considered "not Live" as the live broadcast programme has finished, and you are watching after that event.

0
Gobsh Posts: 104 Forumite

15 January at 8:13PM
Options
As I said. There's a delay to all streaming, ergo , not live, by definition
amanda1024 said:
Never bought a TV licence myself. ‘Simultaneous streaming’ sounds like live TV to me - you’d have to wait and watch on catch-up (and still not watch anything on bbc iplayer)

0
Cornucopia Posts: 16,161 Forumite

15 January at 10:31PM edited 15 January at 10:47PM
Options
"Escaped"? Yes and no. Yes, I don't have a Licence, because I don't need one. No, no one ever quite escapes the clutches of TV Licensing, and it pays to treat them with caution. There are similarities between TVL and the Post Office.

The Licence is a licence to receive TV broadcasts and BBC TV from iPlayer. TV broadcasts are linear channels from licensed broadcasters, received via any of the traditional transmission methods or streamed online.

I wouldn't bother trying to be ingenious in working around the rules - just stick to commercial catch-up/on-demand and live streaming from non-broadcasters and you'll be fine.

Q1: Yes, absolutely.

Q2: Probably not, unless you have to watch live in order to rewind it. TVL have previously spoken about a 2 hour delay between live and catch-up, but that doesn't originate in legislation (i.e. they made it up).

"Live" doesn't originate in legislation, either. I'd suggest not putting too much trust in it.

0
wild666 Posts: 2,117 Forumite

16 January at 11:47AM
Options
Gobsh said:

Anyone escaped from the BBC licence fee?

So you disconnect your Ariel
Get a streaming stick
Don't watch/install BBC iPlayer
Don't watch live terrestrial TV (which technically doesn't exist on streaming platforms) because there is always a lapse
Questions
Do simultaneous streaming of live TV count as "live TV"?
Does "Watch from the start" count as "live TV"?

I didn't have a TV licence from August 1983 until August 2011 then I paid for a licence for 5 years because I had a TV subscription up until August 2016 when I went licence free again, I'm still licence free now.
I only used to watch BT Sport online so I could have not paid for a licence as all my TV viewing was online and even with a warrant TVL wouldn't have access to my PC viewing habits as the licence only covers TV receiving equipment i'e. a TV set.
If something is online at the same time as it's shown on a TV channel then a licence is required to watch the content. I often watch live content on the FA player as these matches are from the championship of the women's football and have only a few thousand views per game and to the best of my knowledge aren't shown on any live as shown TV channel no licence is required.

Someone please tell me what money is
0
MouldyOldDough Posts: 1,783 Forumite

21 January at 3:38PM edited 21 January at 3:41PM
Options
wild666 said:

Gobsh said:

Anyone escaped from the BBC licence fee?

So you disconnect your Ariel
Get a streaming stick
Don't watch/install BBC iPlayer
Don't watch live terrestrial TV (which technically doesn't exist on streaming platforms) because there is always a lapse
Questions
Do simultaneous streaming of live TV count as "live TV"?
Does "Watch from the start" count as "live TV"?

I didn't have a TV licence from August 1983 until August 2011 then I paid for a licence for 5 years because I had a TV subscription up until August 2016 when I went licence free again, I'm still licence free now.
I only used to watch BT Sport online so I could have not paid for a licence as all my TV viewing was online and even with a warrant TVL wouldn't have access to my PC viewing habits as the licence only covers TV receiving equipment i'e. a TV set.
If something is online at the same time as it's shown on a TV channel then a licence is required to watch the content. I often watch live content on the FA player as these matches are from the championship of the women's football and have only a few thousand views per game and to the best of my knowledge aren't shown on any live as shown TV channel no licence is required.

I'm sorry to inform you that once again you are breaking the law
You DO need a TV licence to watch on line TV
So you drive a mobility scooter at 8 mph on the pavements - totally oblivious to other pavement users https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80533384#Comment_80533384 and now appear proud that you are breaking the law watching unlicenced TV !!

Do I need a TV Licence to watch TV live online-only TV channel or service?

Yes, you need a TV Licence to watch live on any channel, TV service or streaming service, on any device. It doesn’t matter if you receive it over the internet, from a cable or satellite provider or through an aerial.
You could still need a TV Licence if you don’t have a TV

A TV Licence covers you to watch live on any channel, TV service or streaming service, and to use BBC iPlayer*.

This applies to any device, including a TV, computer, laptop, phone, tablet, games console or digital box.

0
Cornucopia Posts: 16,161 Forumite

21 January at 4:40PM edited 21 January at 5:12PM
Options
MouldyOldDough said:

wild666 said:

Gobsh said:

Anyone escaped from the BBC licence fee?

So you disconnect your Ariel
Get a streaming stick
Don't watch/install BBC iPlayer
Don't watch live terrestrial TV (which technically doesn't exist on streaming platforms) because there is always a lapse
Questions
Do simultaneous streaming of live TV count as "live TV"?
Does "Watch from the start" count as "live TV"?

I didn't have a TV licence from August 1983 until August 2011 then I paid for a licence for 5 years because I had a TV subscription up until August 2016 when I went licence free again, I'm still licence free now.
I only used to watch BT Sport online so I could have not paid for a licence as all my TV viewing was online and even with a warrant TVL wouldn't have access to my PC viewing habits as the licence only covers TV receiving equipment i'e. a TV set.
If something is online at the same time as it's shown on a TV channel then a licence is required to watch the content. I often watch live content on the FA player as these matches are from the championship of the women's football and have only a few thousand views per game and to the best of my knowledge aren't shown on any live as shown TV channel no licence is required.

I'm sorry to inform you that once again you are breaking the law
You DO need a TV licence to watch on line TV
So you drive a mobility scooter at 8 mph on the pavements - totally oblivious to other pavement users https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80533384#Comment_80533384 and now appear proud that you are breaking the law watching unlicenced TV !!

Do I need a TV Licence to watch TV live online-only TV channel or service?

Yes, you need a TV Licence to watch live on any channel, TV service or streaming service, on any device. It doesn’t matter if you receive it over the internet, from a cable or satellite provider or through an aerial.
You could still need a TV Licence if you don’t have a TV

A TV Licence covers you to watch live on any channel, TV service or streaming service, and to use BBC iPlayer*.

This applies to any device, including a TV, computer, laptop, phone, tablet, games console or digital box.

I don't particularly want to get into the question of whether other users are breaking the "law" or not - I wouldn't be so bold.

However, I can tell you that the TVL guidance you've posted is wrong, and it's clear that it's wrong (though it somewhat depends on what they mean by "streaming service").

You need a Licence to view or record TV broadcast channels via terrestrial, satellite or cable TV. You also need a Licence to view any of those channels concurrently (to their broadcast) using internet streaming. And also BBC TV content on iPlayer.

Anything else is at best a grey area (which needs testing in court), or is definitively not within the scope of the TV Licence. I don't know about BT Sport, but certainly Amazon Sport will include live content at times that is not subject to concurrent broadcast and therefore doesn't need a Licence to view.

More generally, there is a wide variety of live streamed content on platforms like Youtube and Twitch - the vast majority of that content doesn't originate with broadcasters and therefore doesn't require a Licence to view it.

BBC/TV Licensing seem to have done their level best to confuse things, and the white heat of technological change doesn't help.

edit: Their Q&A on "Do I need a Licence to watch Youtube?" digs into the detail rather more robustly than their comments above. This is what they say:-

"You don’t need a TV Licence to watch videos or clips on demand on YouTube.
But you do need a TV Licence if you watch live TV on YouTube.
An example of this would be watching Sky News live. But it isn’t just live news or sport which needs a licence – it’s any programme which is part of a TV channel, shown or transmitted for everyone to watch at the same time".

2

★ ★ ★ Meet your Ambassadors

Categories

All Categories
343.3K Banking & Borrowing
250.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
449.7K Spending & Discounts
235.3K Work, Benefits & Business
608.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
173.1K Life & Family
248K Travel & Transport
1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
15.9K Discuss & Feedback
15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

MSE News

Nationwide urged to "give members a say" over proposed Virgin Money takeover as thousands sign petition calling for a vote
Nearly 4,000 people have signed a petition calling on Nationwide – a building society owned by its customers, who are known as members – to let them vote on its decision to buy rival lender Virgin Money.
Bank of Scotland, Halifax and Lloyds to close 177 branches in 2024/25 – here's the full list, plus alternatives
Bank of Scotland, Halifax and Lloyds, which are all part of the Lloyds Banking Group, will shut at least 177 of their bank branches in 2024 and 2025, the Group has confirmed.
Barclaycard's cutting minimum repayments – you could be in debt YEARS longer paying DOUBLE the interest
If you've got debt on a Barclaycard, it's likely the minimum you have to repay each month will be cut from July. If you're unaware, and don't act, you could stay in debt for many years longer and pay possibly £1,000s more in interest.
NatWest, RBS and Ulster Bank to close at least 100 branches in 2024/25 – here's the full list, plus alternatives
NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Ulster Bank, which are all part of the NatWest Group, will shut at least 100 of their bank branches in 2024/25, after RBS announced a further 18 closures.
Co-op Bank customer? You could be moved to Coventry Building Society in future – here's what's happening
The building society has today agreed to a potential takeover of the high street bank – though it's still very early days and the deal needs regulatory approval.
Got a text, email or letter from the Met Police? Don't ignore it – you may need to act to protect yourself from scams
If you got a text message or email from the Metropolitan Police between 4pm and 6pm on Wednesday 17 April – or you get a letter in the next few days – don't ignore it.
Save up to £1 on your takeaway coffee – while saving the planet
Many of us regularly reach for a cup of coffee or tea to give us a caffeine boost, but if you’re out and about and can't bring a thermos from home, the cost of this can quickly mount up.
Chase customer? Check if you can get its boosted 5.1% easy-access saver
If you have a Chase current account, you may be able to get a table-topping 5.1% easy-access savings rate to go with it, as the bank has launched a new, temporary bonus offer for some existing customers.
New online state pension boosting tool promised to Martin Lewis hit by delays – here's what you need to know
The tool was first promised to MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis on ITV's The Martin Lewis Money Show Live last summer and was expected to launch before the end of the 2023/24 financial year.