TV Licence article Discussion

cw18

wymondham wrote: »

Sorry if this has been answered in the thread but I just wondered as TV's now are 'smart' TVs and able to get broadcasts via the web is the whole 'unplug the aerial' idea a bit redundant?

Blue_Max wrote: »

You can detune a smart TV.
Auto tune with the aerial disconnected. It will find no channels.
You can leave it like that or retune, after you buy a license or decide to sell your smart TV.

I have a Smart TV that has never been tuned or been attached to an aerial (bought after I cancelled my licence). I use it to watch DVDs, and (very occasionally) stream something via Netflix.

The only issue with it is the ability to watch iTunes via the App that I can't delete - comes as a standard manufacturers feature, so I've blocled iPlayer on my router - and has a web browser I could use to access live TV. But it's really not going to make a lot of difference given I own a laptop and a smartphone. both of which could be used to access these via my internet connection.

So I'll just leave as is, and won't ever admit to watching something I shouldn't because I don't. I think not having an aerial attached and having the TV untuned is still the safest option though.

cw18

DavidP24 wrote: »

Did the router block the App? I had friends tell me sometimes it does not on smart tv's, one of them managed to do it an update of BBC Iplayer then pull the mains as it was downloading. However, they do not connect it to the internet, I imagine it might auto repair if it was able to get online.

I would never want a smart TV, what and give advertisers yet more data on me, no way!

What brand is your TV if the block worked.

The laptop would surely use wireless in the house?

I would have thought the phone would do the same?

Besides you would need a mega mobile data plan to watch TV.

Blocking iPlayer on my router stops my TV (LG), laptop and mobile accessing it via wired or wireless connections - also stops it being accessed by (licenced at home) visitors who could legally watch it on an appliance that isn't plugged into the mains. The only time I'm aware I "lost" the block was when I changed router and forgot about the block being needed !!!

I didn't intentionally go shopping for a Smart TV, and actually tried to find a set without built in Freeview. But there was very little else out there, and the few I saw were prohibitively expensive Being as I got stuck with one, it's actually connected to the router via a Lan cable so I can use it to stream from Netflix

Streaming live TV/iPlayer to a mobile doesn't use your data allowance if you're connected to the home network.

TommyG-87

Hi all,

Quick disclaimer; I have no interested in live TV nor in iPlayer so I know I don't need a licence, this is purely a question out of interest as I'm in an unusual situation and the idea of taking advantage of legal loopholes amuses me.

My question relates specifically to the strange student loophole, which basically says a student can watch live TV and use iPlayer on any device with it's own power source as long as it doesn't rely on an aerial, assuming their parents have a licence.

I am technically a student. I say technically because I work full time and my company is paying for me to do a degree part time. Apparently it's enough to get me a NUS card so I suppose I must officially count.

Given this, I should be able to use my smartphone/tablet/laptop etc. for watching iPlayer and live TV. As my TV is not connected to any satellite dish etc. but could access live TV/iPlayer through the internet, I believe the only thing stopping me from being able to do the same on the bigger screen is the lack of self-reliance when it comes to power.

Could I not simply connect my TV to a backup battery charged off the mains, then disconnect the mains connection whenever I wanted to watch live TV? As far as I can tell this would satisfy the letter of the law, though not the spirit.

To reiterate I have no interested in doing this, and also I'm well aware that a backup battery of sufficient capacity would cost far, far more than the money I'd save on the license, but do you think it would technically be legal?

Cornucopia

You have slightly misunderstood the nature of the exemption. It isn't about being a Student, as such. It is about having two addresses, one of which has a Licence and the other one doesn't.

In those circumstances, ANYONE (not just a student) can use a device powered by its own internal batteries to watch TV or use iPlayer.

There is a viable loophole for playing content on a big screen, and it is to download it to the laptop without a TV connection or mains power, and then play back later with a mains connection and TV connection.

[Deleted User]

TommyG-87 wrote: »

Could I not simply connect my TV to a backup battery charged off the mains, then disconnect the mains connection whenever I wanted to watch live TV?

I'm afraid not.

The exemption applies to devices powered by "self contained" (ie. internal) batteries.

wymondham

ok, so with a smart TV that has internet access. The TV licensing people wont be able to see what's been viewed on it surely? if you're using the inbuilt apps they wont leave behind usual web based traces.... Would they/could they bother to try and find out??

Cornucopia

wymondham wrote: »

ok, so with a smart TV that has internet access. The TV licensing people wont be able to see what's been viewed on it surely? if you're using the inbuilt apps they wont leave behind usual web based traces.... Would they/could they bother to try and find out??

TV Licensing seem to work mainly through householders confessing to watching without a Licence (though that interview process may not be compliant with all the principles of the law, and they may be economical with the truth as to what requires a Licence).

NickAll

Hi, I have recently lost both my grandparents (who were in receipt of free licence) and are now being hassled for a TV licence. Nobody is living in their house and I am spending a few days every other week in the house or so (its around a 2 hour drive away, so not practical to visit only during the day and return home each day) trying to get the grounds/house tidy for it to go onto the market. As I have a TV licence at home that wont be being utilised while I am away, would I still be required to get a licence for my grandparents place as well? As I would just be visiting it isn't my main place of residence etc, would I be able to avoid needing a licence under the "Lodgers don't require a licence" clause? Thanks In Advance

Cornucopia

NickAll wrote: »

As I have a TV licence at home that wont be being utilised while I am away, would I still be required to get a licence for my grandparents place as well?

Potentially. If you watch/record TV broadcasts or use iPlayer there, you will need a Licence. Your home Licence WILL cover you, as long as you only watch TV or iPlayer on a self-contained device powered by its own internal batteries.

You can also freely watch any content that would never be covered by a Licence such as commercial catch-up, Netflix etc. You could also, conceivably, download content on iPlayer or All4 at home, to take with you.

As I would just be visiting it isn't my main place of residence etc, would I be able to avoid needing a licence under the "Lodgers don't require a licence" clause? Thanks In Advance

You won't be a lodger in an otherwise empty house, though. So even if there were an unconditional exemption for lodgers (which there isn't), it wouldn't apply here.

Cornucopia

JohnJohn777 wrote: »

Hi. I'm only watching football games online once or twice a week via Ace Player/Ace Stream program. Do I need TV licence?

Where does the content originate from? Is it a UK-based linear channel?

If the answer is Yes, you need a Licence.