Don't need Tv License: should I write to them saying I don't need it?

JohalaReewi

It's amazing the amount of mis-information being posted about when you need a TV licence. As toasterman says, it is really very very simple

If you are watching or recording LIVE tv, you need to be covered by a TV licence.

It doesn't matter how you are watching (or recording) it, TV, PC, Mobile, Internet. If you are watching while it is being broadcast, you need to be covered by a TV licence.

This means you don't need a TV licence to:
Own a TV (or VCR, DVDR, freeview box, sky box, etc.)
Watch DVDs or VCRs
Play computer (or console) games
Own a PC with a TV card
Watch past TV shows with the BBC iPlayer
Listen to freeview/sky radio stations through your hifi
Watch somebody else's TV

Swan_2

JohalaReewi wrote: »

It's amazing the amount of mis-information being posted about when you need a TV licence. As toasterman says, it is really very very simple

If you are watching or recording LIVE tv, you need to be covered by a TV licence.

It doesn't matter how you are watching (or recording) it, TV, PC, Mobile, Internet. If you are watching while it is being broadcast, you need to be covered by a TV licence.

This means you don't need a TV licence to:
Own a TV (or VCR, DVDR, freeview box, sky box, etc.)
Watch DVDs or VCRs
Play computer (or console) games
Own a PC with a TV card
Watch past TV shows with the BBC iPlayer
Listen to freeview/sky radio stations through your hifi
Watch somebody else's TV

very succinctly put ... :T :T :T :T :T :T :T

moonrakerz

JohalaReewi wrote: »

Listen to freeview/sky radio stations through your hifi

Just to be really pedantic !

"If you use a digital box with a hi-fi system or another device that can only be used to produce sounds and can't display TV programmes............ you don't need a TV Licence." (My underlining)

A lot of people misunderstand this and believe that you can listen to radio on a TV without a licence.

Swan_2

moonrakerz wrote: »

Just to be really pedantic !

"If you use a digital box with a hi-fi system or another device that can only be used to produce sounds and can't display TV programmes............ you don't need a TV Licence." (My underlining)

A lot of people misunderstand this and believe that you can listen to radio on a TV without a licence.

no, not pedantic at all

anything that clears up the (deliberate imho) morass of confusion & dis-information produced by TVLA is welcome

jamesd

I wonder how long you need to delay your watching before it's no longer live? One minute? Five minutes? I wonder how long it is before a set-top recorder maker investigates the possibilities of time-delayed TV watching.

Andy_L

You'd still be recording live TV though

bryanb

Watching TV via a PC is delayed a few seconds and is therefore not live!

melancholly

bryanb wrote: »

Watching TV via a PC is delayed a few seconds and is therefore not live!

but so is watching it via digital... it's always a second or two behind analogue...! not a good enough excuse!

JohalaReewi

melancholly wrote: »

but so is watching it via digital... it's always a second or two behind analogue...! not a good enough excuse!

Well you could say analogue is delayed in that it takes a short time for the signal to reach your TV from the transmitter. Perhaps a reasonable test of live TV is where the broadcast hasn't been purposely time delayed for watching later although as Andy L says, you would still be recording live TV in order to watch it later.

Also, for those watching live TV on mobile devices, your TV licence covers you for watching live TV on equipment with its own aerial powered by its own internal batteries while away from your place of residence. So this covers watching TV on your mobile phone, notebook PC, portable TV, etc. while out and about.

bryanb

Yes, but the discussion is whether a license is needed