TV Licence article Discussion

JimmyTheWig

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Yes I do.

Why wouldn't they be?

Well, for a start Dave shows a lot of BBC programmes.

But more relevantly, I think commercial channels benefit from the competition that the BBC gives them.
[Doesn't quite make sense. I mean that their output is better (i.e. their viewers benefit) because of the competition. The channels themselves would rather the competition wasn't there and they could make more money from cheaper programmes.]

Cornucopia

It's an argument that's often given in support of the BBC, but I'm not sure it bears scrutiny.

No amount of R4 or R3 has encouraged the development of similar commercial stations. In the case of R4, the production costs are simply too high for any commercial operator.

In the case of BBC TV, competition implies, well, competition - which is probably a bad thing in itself. We already see far too many similar and derivative programmes, and the traffic goes both ways. For me, the competition argument would work if BBC TV were genuinely innovative for a reasonable proportion of the time, perhaps something like the early days of C4. If BBC1 is simple playing it safe 90% of the time, then I don't see how that keeps standards high.

Whilst we have moved on (at least for most commentators) from BBC1 vs, ITV1, it does bear some examination for this argument. ITV1 from my POV shows no signs of having been boosted by effective competition (from the BBC or anywhere else). I suppose people will say that there is no telling how low it could go without the BBC, which is true, but does not support the original proposition.

I suppose we could look at similar scenarios elsewhere:-

- Is BUPA "better" for the competition from the NHS?

- Are bookshops "better" for the competition from libraries?

- Are cars "better" because people have the choice to go by bus?


For me, all these arguments about how worthwhile the BBC might be come down to three things:-

1. Why do we need State permission to watch TV with the proceeds funding the BBC?

2. Why do we tolerate the grossly mismanage-y style of the BBC?

3. Do we actually need the BBC (in its present form) given the vast amount of other TV/Video outlets we have? Is the BBC really doing anything significantly better for us in return for what is really rather a lot of money?

Claudiah

Hi,

I'm new here, but seemed a good thread to join with wee query I have...

I'm considering ditching the TV license. I hardly ever watch live TV and the little I do watch I can easily stop. I'd actually play fair and not watch live TV.

Currently I have a sky package. Phone, internet, tv. I have a very good deal. So I rung tvlicensing to see if I could not watch live tv, but use the other services on my sky like bbci player etc, and sky go (obviously not for live channels). I was told that I would have to have a tv license.

I double checked by asking if I categorically wasn't watching live tv, I would still need a license, and was told yes, as the sky box will be receiving live tv channels (I'm not sure if it does if it is left on channel 999, or a radio channel, or the catch up menu).

Does anybody know if this is right?

As I said, I'm not trying to scam the system, I just want to be able to use the sky service and hardware to watch catch up tv, or even the radio, and would not ever watch live tv.

derrick

Claudiah wrote: »

Hi,

I'm new here, but seemed a good thread to join with wee query I have...

I'm considering ditching the TV license. I hardly ever watch live TV and the little I do watch I can easily stop. I'd actually play fair and not watch live TV.

Currently I have a sky package. Phone, internet, tv. I have a very good deal. So I rung tvlicensing to see if I could not watch live tv, but use the other services on my sky like bbci player etc, and sky go (obviously not for live channels). I was told that I would have to have a tv license.

I double checked by asking if I categorically wasn't watching live tv, I would still need a license, and was told yes, as the sky box will be receiving live tv channels (I'm not sure if it does if it is left on channel 999, or a radio channel, or the catch up menu).

Does anybody know if this is right?

As I said, I'm not trying to scam the system, I just want to be able to use the sky service and hardware to watch catch up tv, or even the radio, and would not ever watch live tv.

In a nutshell, you do NOT need a TV licence if you don't watch LIVE tv, i.e.as it is broadcast on any device including a computer or Iphone etc.

See HERE. from their own website


.

JimmyTheWig

Claudiah wrote: »

I double checked by asking if I categorically wasn't watching live tv, I would still need a license, and was told yes, as the sky box will be receiving live tv channels

I believe that this is correct.
But there are plenty of options for watching catch-up without Sky.

JimmyTheWig

derrick wrote: »

In a nutshell, you do NOT need a TV licence if you don't watch LIVE tv, i.e.as it is broadcast on any device including a computer or Iphone etc.

See HERE. from their own website


.

Not true. The link says that you need a TV Licence to watch _or record_ live TV.
If Claudiah's set up is automatically recording live TV then they would need a licence.

derrick

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

I believe that this is correct.
But there are plenty of options for watching catch-up without Sky.

It isn't, from my link above:-

"I already pay for cable or satellite TV. Do I still need to buy a TV Licence?

Yes you do if you watch live TV. Whether you receive a TV programme from a cable or satellite provider, through an aerial or via the internet, you need a TV Licence to watch or record live TV.
Live TV means any programme you watch or record at the same time as it’s being shown on TV or an online TV service.
If you only ever watch on demand programmes, you don’t need a TV Licence. On demand includes catch-up TV, streaming or downloading programmes after they’ve been shown on live TV, or programmes available online before being shown on live TV."
.

derrick

Claudiah wrote: »

Hi,

I'm new here, but seemed a good thread to join with wee query I have...

I'm considering ditching the TV license. I hardly ever watch live TV and the little I do watch I can easily stop. I'd actually play fair and not watch live TV.

Currently I have a sky package. Phone, internet, tv. I have a very good deal. So I rung tvlicensing to see if I could not watch live tv, but use the other services on my sky like bbci player etc, and sky go (obviously not for live channels). I was told that I would have to have a tv license.

I double checked by asking if I categorically wasn't watching live tv, I would still need a license, and was told yes, as the sky box will be receiving live tv channels (I'm not sure if it does if it is left on channel 999, or a radio channel, or the catch up menu).

Does anybody know if this is right?

As I said, I'm not trying to scam the system, I just want to be able to use the sky service and hardware to watch catch up tv, or even the radio, and would not ever watch live tv.

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

Not true. The link says that you need a TV Licence to watch _or record_ live TV.
If Claudiah's set up is automatically recording live TV then they would need a licence.

I cannot see anywhere she says it is recording live TV, if the box is receiving but not recording then it is no different to a PVR connected to an aerial and left in standby.


.

pappa_golf

any set (or box) connected that can record or display a live TV programme , A PVR on STANDBY is not capable of recording or viewing live TV ,


if sky would make a "button" that disabled live TV , then all would be good

DavidP24

Hey Claudia

Not to discredit you but as a warning to others, DON'T EVER CALL TVL CRAPITA because they will simply use your call to gather information about you that they will use against you.

Sadly they are not a customer service driven company, or maybe they are but we are not their customer, the BBC is, to them we are simply opportunities to earn a commission. These scum sucking bar stewards will stop at nothing to make you pay, just watch the videos on YouTube, maybe I am not being fair, perhaps not all are scum sucking bar stewards, OK, the remaining are incompetent !

So to your situation, what makes a Sky TV box (or anything else) require a TV License is it's ability to receive live TV and soon that will extent to catchup but not to services like netflix.

When you cancel SkyTV Subscriptions the box will disable any content from PAYTV channels you no longer subscribe to BUT if you keep the card in it the device becomes a freeview box and capable of receiving some live channels. It would also be wise to cancel the TV part of your Sky Subscription

So removing the card is one way to prevent it from receiving live channels, another is to remove the Sat Cable and to save yourself a few quid you might as well unplug it from the mains and put it in a cupboard. At the same time tie up your sat cable into a loop so it can clearely be see to be not in use.

If you have a TV with a freeview capability you can disable that by again removing the cable and putting it out of reach. My old TV is analogue so it was not capable of receiving live or catch up TV, but if you have a modern TV with digital channels, then if you really want to completely disable it you could remove the tuner module, I know I would if I bought a new TV.

The key things to remember is that TVL have no right of access to your home without a warrant.

Also, you do not have to give them your name, albeit that they know your name because you had a license but you could always inform them that you have moved abroad, then they will start writing to "the occupier" with all the usual scare tactics saying you HAVE to have a license and here is what you will need for Court, not making it clear that if you do not (currently) watch live TV you do not need a license.

You can have some fun with them at the door by filming them or you could just say foxtrot oscar, pulling out a mobile and filming them does seem to send them running for some reason!

If they were a reasonable organisation to deal with you could simply call them, say I can no longer afford to pay for a TV License so I have got rid of my equipement.

They will say they want to verify that but they have no actual right to enter your property without a warrant.

If you DO let them in they will have a look around and ask you questions to try and get you to incriminate yourself.

The Government is planning to change the law to make catchup TV require a license and on freeview boxes I do not have a problem with that, but for Iplayer and other online services I do.

You will see from this thread that I have moved from someone who loved the BBC and would protect it from advertising to my dying breath, but they need to become a commercial organisation moving to a subscription model, sponsorship of programmes with no ads and they need to stop spending other people's money as if it was going out of fashion.

You are entitled of course to subscribe to netflix or collect your own content and store it on your own PC using something like Plex.TV, it will then be accesible in your home via wifi using a browser, Amazon firestick, Ipad, or a Roku type box and to you or your guests via the web.

Claudiah wrote: »

Hi,

I'm new here, but seemed a good thread to join with wee query I have...

I'm considering ditching the TV license. I hardly ever watch live TV and the little I do watch I can easily stop. I'd actually play fair and not watch live TV.

Currently I have a sky package. Phone, internet, tv. I have a very good deal. So I rung tvlicensing to see if I could not watch live tv, but use the other services on my sky like bbci player etc, and sky go (obviously not for live channels). I was told that I would have to have a tv license.

I double checked by asking if I categorically wasn't watching live tv, I would still need a license, and was told yes, as the sky box will be receiving live tv channels (I'm not sure if it does if it is left on channel 999, or a radio channel, or the catch up menu).

Does anybody know if this is right?

As I said, I'm not trying to scam the system, I just want to be able to use the sky service and hardware to watch catch up tv, or even the radio, and would not ever watch live tv.