TV Licence article Discussion

Cornucopia

dunxmac wrote: »

Does that mean I can do the same on the basis of my father's licence, linked to his address?

Only if your Father's house is your permanent address.

Or is there a 'usual residence' or 'nominated primary residence' requirement?

Yes, the requirement is "permanent residence". A student's term-time address is deemed temporary by TVL.

And if a visitor can watch TV next door, then they are covered by that licence. If they watch iPlayer on their phone, step out into the street still watching, and walk in through their own front door, at what point are they no longer covered, if geography is not what counts?

Geography is mainly what counts. A "floating" visitor would be covered by a house's Licence when they were on the premises. The moment they left the premises, they would need to be covered by their own Licence.

If the tennis club next door has a licence, how far can I stray from the building watching live Tv on my phone?

You should be okay watching TV anywhere on the grounds of the Tennis Club (assuming they have a Licence).

I think I know the answers, but would they hold up in a court of law?

The reality is that TVL isn't that bothered about most of these mobile scenarios at the moment. They are just too complicated to police. The only scenario in this group it cares about is the Student one. I would recommend that any Student wanting to rely on this exemption take a paper copy of their parent's Licence with them, in case they feel the need to show it to anyone.

Hedger_2

I haven't had a TV licence for nine years, because (a) I don't have a television, and (b) I never watch any live broadcasts on any type of device. I used to watch iPlayer, but with the new rules I have decided to stop using it because the amount I used it doesn't justify the cost of the TV licence.
All very straightforward!
However, my girlfriend (who has a TV licence) comes over and uses her mobile phone, quite legally, to watch programmes.
The law clearly states: 'If you already have a TV Licence for your address, you are already covered to download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer when you’re on the go, provided the device you’re using isn’t plugged into the electricity mains at a separate address.'
My girlfriend is therefore using her device legally, as she DOESN'T PLUG IT IN TO CHARGE IT while she is using it.
My question I is this: If my girlfriend wants to use MY DEVICE, ie my laptop, to watch programmes, can she do so legally?
From the wording of the law it seems that she can, because the law says 'provided the device you’re using isn’t plugged into the electricity mains at a separate address.'
It doesn't say that you have TO OWN THE DEVICE, only 'THE DEVICE YOU'RE USING'.
It all seems quite ridiculous! How on earth can this law be enforced? How can TV Licencing monitor whether your device is plugged in or not?
As a non licence holder, can I look over her shoulder and watch what she's legally watching on her phone? Or on my laptop if she decides to use it?
Or do I have to go and sit in another room?
The changes to the law would appear to have been very badly thought out, and completely unenforceable.
What do others think about this?
Cheers, Hedger

Cornucopia

The problem for the authorities is that they want to maintain the wavy line through the rules that separates licenceable activities from unlicenceable ones. In particular, they did not want to include Netflix and Amazon under the Licence, and they were lobbied by ITV and C5 not to put commercial catch-up under the Licence.

The upshot of that is that we have such a distinction running through the legislation, albeit that it creates certain anomalies.

I'm actually not sure where in the law the "battery-powered" exemption comes from. It's certainly written on the back of the paper Licence (or was).

The difficulty with it, is that it necessarily moves the Licence from being for a place to being for a person. I can see that it is reasonable for that person to share their viewing with others, though that is not apparent within the rules.

TVL will continue to enforce use doorstepping of unlicensed addresses. Those who get "caught" will continue to be those who deal with TVL without the necessary degree of caution and knowledge of their rights. That may well include some people who are using iPlayer or portable equipment rather than traditional TVs.

JimmyTheWig

Hedger wrote: »

My girlfriend is therefore using her device legally, as she DOESN'T PLUG IT IN TO CHARGE IT while she is using it.

Correct.

My question I is this: If my girlfriend wants to use MY DEVICE, ie my laptop, to watch programmes, can she do so legally?

I would have said so. I agree with your logic.

As a non licence holder, can I look over her shoulder and watch what she's legally watching on her phone?

I'd say no. You can watch TV at her house and be covered by her licence. She can watch TV on a battery powered device at your house and be covered by her licence. But you can't watch at your house as neither you nor your house is covered by a licence.
Quite what happens if the guy in front of you on the bus is watching TV I don't know!

It all seems quite ridiculous! How on earth can this law be enforced? How can TV Licencing monitor whether your device is plugged in or not?

As always, the only way to enforce it is to get people to agree that they've broken the rules.

cw18

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

I'd say no. You can watch TV at her house and be covered by her licence. She can watch TV on a battery powered device at your house and be covered by her licence. But you can't watch at your house as neither you nor your house is covered by a licence.

That's also the way my OH and I read it. The very rare once-in-a-blue-moon he wants to pick up a signal on his tablet at mine he tries to do so while I'm in the kitchen. But as it's normally football I have no interest in it anyway, so if I'm sitting on the same settee I'll be doing stuff on my laptop and not glancing at his screen anyway.

cw18

HELP !!

I.ve had a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/ as a blocked site on my router since last June, which seemed to work

Just checking things given the licence change, and whilst iPlayer isstill blocked on my laptop it's now allowing me in to watch on my Smart TV via the iPlayer App (which I can't uninstall). I can't see what I need to do in order to ensure visitors can't watch it - short of taking out the network cable, which also removes access to Netflix.

Anyone have any ideas as to what else I need to do?

Cornucopia

Have you tried the other "recommended" URLs?

- ibl.api.bbci.co.uk, mybbc.files.bbci.co.uk, emp.bbci.co.uk and component.iplayer.api.bbc.co.uk

I've also been using just a.files.bbci.co.uk.

cw18

Don't know which one of that list did the trick. but it's not even loading the front screen to try selecting shows any more.

Many thanks

Cornucopia

cw18 wrote: »

Don't know which one of that list did the trick. but it's not even loading the front screen to try selecting shows any more.

No, I wasn't able to drill down further than that, either.

Many thanks

HTH.

mimi1980

Hi does anyone know if I need a TV licence to watch iplayer in my office which is covered by a licence and a hotel also covered? I cant get a tv signal at home so I dont have a licence I have only watched on catch up until they changed the law. I dont want to buy a licence just to watch eastenders the only programme I watched not watched it since the change but wondering if there is a way round it