TV Licence article Discussion

iancarbarns

Cornucopia wrote: »

What about a TV that has an aerial, but whose TV channels are all detuned?

That would make interesting discussion in court. I would say that is not installed.

iancarbarns

sniggings wrote: »

wrong, you have to be found guilty of watching too.

No, you don't need to watch. INSTALLING a TV receiver without having a licence is an offence under the Communications Act Section 386. Read it (page 71)

sniggings

iancarbarns wrote: »

No, you don't need to watch. INSTALLING a TV receiver without having a licence is an offence under the Communications Act Section 386. Read it (page 71)

they define install as installing+watching.

sniggings

iancarbarns wrote: »

The problem is that BBC iPlayer blocks viewing if your computer seems to be outside the UK. It does this based on your IP address, which is likely to be foreign if you are outside the UK.

Workarounds are:
1. Connect using your business laptop, through your company network. If you work for a UK company, this will probably have a UK IP address - no problem
2. Use a VPN service to get a UK IP address eg www.bestUKvpn.com or www.freeUKvpn.com

If living permanently abroad, in Europe, just install a satellite dish and you can receive freesat. You will likely need a larger (eg 80 cm) dish than needed in England if you are off the target part of the satellite transmission beam. (You will likely need a TV licence for the country you are in, though)

hence why I said

You are allowed, getting a workable solution is the problem here.

the OP I was answering was implying the rules some how don't allow licence payers the same viewing rights as others when outside the UK.

iancarbarns

sniggings wrote: »

hence why I said the OP I was answering was implying the rules some how don't allow licence payers the same viewing rights as others when outside the UK.

I was just advising what some 'workable solutions' include

Actually, the reason the BBC put in the hurdles is because they don't have copyright permission to show things outside the UK, so they have to make some effort. Sky do it by refusing to issue viewing cards except to UK addresses.

There is another easy means, particularly useful if using a phone or tablet, and works with mobile data as well as internet. Use an App such as film.on (see https://www.filmon.com). 600 worldwide channels, the UK ones are similar scope to Freesat.

iancarbarns

sniggings wrote: »

they define install as installing+watching.

No they don't. Installing is defined as installing, and there is even a special exemption for installation engineers, so they are not committing an offence if they install for a customer. The customer needs the licence. It is all VERY clear in the law.

TVL might choose to not chase you up if you don't watch, that's up to them, but it is still an offence to install.

Cornucopia

I think two different things are being conflated, here.

The terms of the Licence are determined by the BBC. The Legislation gives them that privilege under S.364 1(a) of the Communications Act.

If TVL (as the BBC by any other name) states that a Licence is only required for watching and recording, then that is that.

If the BBC chooses to create a small and largely irrelevant lacuna in the Law between using and installing TV equipment, then that is also that. One would not expect them to prosecute anyone for something that they do not provide a licence for (installing only).

jimmyjoe7

iancarbarns wrote: »

No they don't. Installing is defined as installing, and there is even a special exemption for installation engineers, so they are not committing an offence if they install for a customer. The customer needs the licence. It is all VERY clear in the law.

TVL might choose to not chase you up if you don't watch, that's up to them, but it is still an offence to install.

What if you only watch/record catch up channels...would a licence be required then??

cw18

Can you record catch-up? You don't need a licence if you only watch catch-up, so if it's possible to record them I'd say that's OK too - but I really wouldn't advise doing it unless it's possible to prove you recorded it from catch-up (if your recorder puts a date/timestamp onto the recordings).

iancarbarns

cw18 wrote: »

Can you record catch-up? You don't need a licence if you only watch catch-up, so if it's possible to record them I'd say that's OK too - but I really wouldn't advise doing it unless it's possible to prove you recorded it from catch-up (if your recorder puts a date/timestamp onto the recordings).

That's not right - see below