Do I need TV Licence if no Aerial? New flat? Is itvX free?

Alpha_5

Cornucopia said:

Because they aren't the rules.   Someone in charge has made the rules, and (really) they should be telling us mere citizens who are required to abide by them what they are (clearly, concisely and accurately).   They have failed to do that, and even minor changes in available content types are showing the cracks in the system.

If your summary of the rules uses terms like "essence" and "considered" then it isn't correct.   If the interpretation of the rules doesn't provide that you can watch live streaming from radio stations, newspapers and the Post Office Inquiry without requiring a Licence then it isn't right, either.   If the fine detail requires me to take a view as to whether Tim Pool's studio is inherently less professional than the One Show studio, then it is daft.

I'd much rather legislation and courts decide what does and does not constitute a television programme, than let TVL be the arbiter.

Of course, the best way of clearing all this up would be to abolish the LF altogether, but that's another discussion.

Peppa537

joe565 said:

So looks like it will just be Netflix and YouTube if I don't want to pay a licence 

You can watch on demand/catch up from other services (ITVX, Amazon Prime, Ch5 etc) without a licence just not watch any live tv from those apps. The only app you definitely need the licence for is BBC iplayer. Therefore if a show is on ITV at 8pm and you watch it at 8pm live on the ITVX app you officially need a licence, however if you watch it when it's available to stream later you don't need one. On BBC iplayer whatever you watch, whether live or not, you need a licence. 

Cornucopia

Just noticed a new development that shows the cracks in the rules as they are currently stated.

Sky News has started showing live streams of events on Youtube (and presumably other social media) that are not mirroring the linear channel broadcast.  

frostymorning

TV licence letters stressing me out.

Firstly, I don’t need a TV licence. Some dodgy DIY skills using an Amazon wire scanner led to my husband drilling through the TV cable in our wall, so even if we wanted to we don’t have access on our TV. 

We have a firestick and use Disney+, Netflix, Amazon, Apple and any programmes we watch are on demand programmes/films.

Despite this I hate the idea that I’m going to have to deal with a couple of people showing up at my door and essentially attempting to gather evidence to prosecute me. 

I’m considering paying just to avoid the intimidation. I WFH and husband works long days so it’ll most likely be me dealing with them on my own. 

Cornucopia

frostymorning said:

TV licence letters stressing me out.

Firstly, I don’t need a TV licence. Some dodgy DIY skills using an Amazon wire scanner led to my husband drilling through the TV cable in our wall, so even if we wanted to we don’t have access on our TV. 

We have a firestick and use Disney+, Netflix, Amazon, Apple and any programmes we watch are on demand programmes/films.

Despite this I hate the idea that I’m going to have to deal with a couple of people showing up at my door and essentially attempting to gather evidence to prosecute me. 

I’m considering paying just to avoid the intimidation. I WFH and husband works long days so it’ll most likely be me dealing with them on my own. 

If you live in England or Wales, then it's unlikely that it would be two TVL staff visiting you - one is much more likely.   But depending on where you live, it may be unlikely that they would call at all.

Their attempts to gather evidence revolve around talking to you, and you are under no obligation to speak with them.  You can simply shut the door on them.   

If the threatening theatrical language of TV Licensing bothers you, you can legally ban them from visiting you in England & Wales.  This is called WOIRA (Withdrawal of the Implied Right of Access).   It's not a perfect solution, but if they are intimidating you, it could be an option.

steven141

They would be better changing it to if you use any app then you need a TV Licence or just tax broadband/mobile data and then people aren’t confused. 

Cornucopia

steven141 said:

They would be better changing it to if you use any app then you need a TV Licence or just tax broadband/mobile data and then people aren’t confused. 

How would you ever enforce "if you use any app"?

The problem with adding the TV Licence to BB and/or Mobile is that many people would be paying 50% or more of their bill for those services to the BBC.    My Mobile service is £9.  Adding a £14 TV Licence would amount to a tax of 155%, and I think that would be very hard to justify. 

onomatopoeia99

Cornucopia said:

steven141 said:

They would be better changing it to if you use any app then you need a TV Licence or just tax broadband/mobile data and then people aren’t confused. 

How would you ever enforce "if you use any app"?

The problem with adding the TV Licence to BB and/or Mobile is that many people would be paying 50% or more of their bill for those services to the BBC.    My Mobile service is £9.  Adding a £14 TV Licence would amount to a tax of 155%, and I think that would be very hard to justify. 

Somehow the Danish cope though.  A 3G of better mobile data contract is one of the things that obliges you to buy their equivalent of the TV licence.