TV Licence article Discussion

carrotmuseum

So i can watch Iplayer on a laptop not plugged in to the mains? but surely the laptop takes power from the battery, then the mains charges the battery at the same time.

How on earth are the BBC going to police such a ludicrous rule? they cannot possibly monitor the power supply!

shaun_from_Africa

Cornucopia wrote: »

The BBC is trying to block VPN access to iPlayer. If you can get access from outside the UK, the Licence does not apply and the BBC cannot do anything.

They've already blocked the VPN I use so I pretty much have to stick to American TV now. What pi55es me off about it is that even though I was watching the BBC from overseas, I do have a UK TV licence.

cw18

I think they see the 'running on a battery' as meaning you're in a temporary location they'd be unable to issue a licence for. Once you plug into the mains you're considered to be wherever on a more permanent basis, therefore needing a licence (and as it has a mains supply it presumably has an address they can issue one to - though touring caravans that can get hook up pitches are still an exception and covered by your home licence , as are static caravans providing no-one is at your home watching TV at the same time!)

Cornucopia

Mumalbthree wrote: »

Hi, we haven't had a TV for over 8+ years and my children watch IPlayer, 4OD, YouTube etc on their devices. If they download BBC programmes when they stay at their dad's (who does have a TV licence), can they watch them at home with me without me needing a TV licence? Thanks.

Yes, that's my understanding.

To be honest, when you describe that scenario, it would be impossible for parents to police if you needed a Licence to watch previously downloaded programs.

If you are going to operate like this, I would suggest blocking iPlayer on your home network, either on the Router, or your ISPs parental controls.

The URLs to add are either:

BBC.co.uk/iPlayer (if you aren't bothered about radio, and your router/ISP can handle longer names).

or

mybbc.files.bbci.co.uk
emp.bbci.co.uk
component.iplayer.api.bbc.co.uk

(these are for Windows, and may not work for iPhone etc.)

Cornucopia

carrotmuseum wrote: »

So i can watch Iplayer on a laptop not plugged in to the mains? but surely the laptop takes power from the battery, then the mains charges the battery at the same time.

If you are using the Laptop without a Mains connection then the battery is not charging.

How on earth are the BBC going to police such a ludicrous rule? they cannot possibly monitor the power supply!

It's been this way since at least 2003. It's only the new change in the Law regarding iPlayer that has led to increased interest in all the other rules.

It's not enforceable as such. The TVL operatives will do as they always have done - trawl all unlicensed addresses until they get someone who can be persuaded, berated, coerced or deceived into giving a confession.

No doubt if you claimed to always watch TV on a Licence from another property with a Laptop powered by its own batteries, they would ask more questions.

There's no evidence of them ever having enforced the Licence in public areas - it would just be too hard to do.

historian

I am over 80 - do I have to have a licence for BBCiplayer?

derrick

historian wrote: »

I am over 80 - do I have to have a licence for BBCiplayer?

No licence required if 74 and over.

.

Lynnejo

exprog wrote: »

Remarkable how generous people are with other people's money. The BBC appeals to those who lap-up the unending stream of leftwing propaganda rubbish it pukes out day and night. It only exists because people are, in effect, forced to pay for it. Those who like beeb drivel should not expect to have their propaganda paid for them by other people. Then see how much of it survives.

Haha that's a good joke. It has been shown that BBC is the most right wing of all media. Just look at Laura Kuensberg (no ignore that, ALL BBC journalists) and their bias approach to covering Tory and ignoring or contempt of Labour news. Left wing wants the BBC peadaphilia looked into, Tories want it hidden. I can go on with more but I'll leave it for now.

blahblahdoh

Cornucopia wrote: »

Radio iPlayer, BBC Audio podcasts and BBC Radio by other sources (e.g. Tunein Radio) are not part of TV licensing requirements.


It's not clear whether these embedded videos are included or not, which is presumably why no commentators have ventured an opinion on them.

Agreed. The first point is not stressed clearly enough in the article, which sometimes just refers to iPlayer as if it is one thing; the second point is not even mentioned as an issue, a serious omission given that many, many people will be using embedded videos on the News website and need to know either way. Both are likely to add to the public's confusion, imo, along with the raft of other issues being raised on this thread. The net result will be a certain percentage of people needlessly stopping using BBC content out of fear and uncertainty.

A competent minister could easily clarify the situation - I would suggest starting by dropping the words "Television" and "License" which are both increasingly misleading. "BBC tax" would be more accurate.

hutch96

If I am a student (as of 1st September when the new licensing laws come into play), I am covered by my parents' TV license when away from home as long as I am using a device which isn't plugged into the mains (for example a laptop). If I was then to plug the laptop into a TV or a computer monitor through an HDMI cable (so the TV/monitor is connected to the mains but the laptop which is streaming live TV isn't), would I still need a TV license?