TV Licence article Discussion

Blue_Max

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

But, thankfully, it's not mine or Cornucopia's money they are wasting.

Read somewhere that according to the BBC's 2013/14 Annual Report BBC received
£244.6 million from government grants.

So inappropriate spending BBC does cost the taxpayers.

Blue_Max

Cornucopia wrote: »

You need a TV Licence to watch the Internet-streamed versions of live TV channels from the UK.

You don't need a TV Licence to watch catch-up, video-on-demand and non-UK TV channels via the Internet.

Sorry, but I don't think MSE would want info of possible assistance to Licence evaders to be published here.

There was a bit of a row last year about Wifi sniffing by the BBC, but it turned out to be a hoax.

Cornucopia, I asked the question not to evade licence.
I was trying to find out if ISPs are obliged to give account info to 3rd party companies. If so, that is a concern.

Cornucopia

Blue_Max wrote: »

Cornucopia, I asked the question not to evade licence.
I was trying to find out if ISPs are obliged to give account info to 3rd party companies. If so, that is a concern.

Okay. The answer is also somewhat complicated.

The BBC has been instructed to begin obtaining subscriber details from Pay TV companies. Obviously, most of those companies are also ISPs. So, we're reliant on that process working properly to confine details solely to Pay TV subscribers. I don't think it's started yet.

Historically, BBC-TVL has also had the option to subpoena Pay TV package details from Pay TV providers for an individual evader who has been identified. I don't know the exact mechanics or timing of this.

Cornucopia

Blue_Max wrote: »

Read somewhere that according to the BBC's 2013/14 Annual Report BBC received
£244.6 million from government grants.

So inappropriate spending BBC does cost the taxpayers.

Yes, for the time being.

The main source of Government funding is the subsidy of the Free Over-75 Licences. This funding is being phased out, and Licence Fee payers will ultimately cover that cost.

Chomeur

If you just listen to BBC programs but don't watch them is that OK to do without a licence? Quite natural to do this with the news for instance.

Ebe_Scrooge

Chomeur wrote: »

If you just listen to BBC programs but don't watch them is that OK to do without a licence? Quite natural to do this with the news for instance.

Do you mean listening on the radio ? If so then you don't need a licence ( assuming it's a standard FM / DAB / whatever radio ). But if you've got the news showing on your TV and just listening to it but not watching, then yes you do need a licence.


In the olden days you used to need a radio licence to listen to the radio, but that was abolished a long time ago.

Cornucopia

If you had, say, a Freeview Box connected to a Hifi to play sound only, and no TV, then that wouldn't require a Licence.

Chomeur

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

Do you mean listening on the radio ? If so then you don't need a licence ( assuming it's a standard FM / DAB / whatever radio ). But if you've got the news showing on your TV and just listening to it but not watching, then yes you do need a licence.


In the olden days you used to need a radio licence to listen to the radio, but that was abolished a long time ago.

I was thinking of tv broadcasts which are accessible through the BBC News website.

What's your authority for saying that a licence is required? I would imagine that the relevant legislation refers to "watching".

Cornucopia

Chomeur wrote: »

I was thinking of tv broadcasts which are accessible through the BBC News website.

Which ones? The news clips that play in a small window, and are not branded with a Channel name or with iPlayer, do not require a Licence to view.

What's your authority for saying that a licence is required? I would imagine that the relevant legislation refers to "watching".

The legislation refers to "installation and use".

ayotade

Please do I need tv licence to watch live program on YouTube.