TV Licence article Discussion

cw18

They no longer get told when you buy a TV (or other equipment capable of receiving a signal), so there's no reason to suspect you'd hear anything more from them than you do now.

Cornucopia

oldernonethewiser wrote: »

A useful site for seeing the various missives automatically churned out.

Thanks for linking to it.

They are ridiculously aggressively worded, presumably to scare people, with the attitude of "you are guilty and we know you are" even when you are not.

They are (or appear to be) quite aggressive, though if you examine the wording in detail, the perceived threat often disappears in a puff of logic.

It's one of the difficulties of TV Licensing - coming to the realisation that they don't need to be taken that seriously because a lot of their "threats" are, at best, very general.

Personally, I think it should be illegal/unlawful for a public body to make vague, impersonal threats or demands unless the law requires them to (which in this case, it doesn't). I also think that where a public body uses the threat of an interview under caution, they should be obliged to summarise citizens' rights under caution.

Diego6667

Hi all,


I read the rules and there seems to be a grey area which I would like to seek a 2nd opinion from this forum.


I understood that you need TV license for any live show/event/broadcast online that is also showed on broadcast (TV) channel.


And you don't need license for amazon prime video since it's all content on demands.


But Amazon prime will show some live football games next month. Apparently, those games can only be shown on Amazon prime. There is no Amazon Prime broadcast TV channel....


Does that mean I need TV licence for Amazon Prime for those live football games (even though I don't intent to watch those (I have zero interest in football)) or not?



Thanks for the clarification.

Cornucopia

Diego6667 wrote: »

Hi all,

I read the rules and there seems to be a grey area which I would like to seek a 2nd opinion from this forum.

I understood that you need TV license for any live show/event/broadcast online that is also showed on broadcast (TV) channel.

The starting point is that a Licence is required to watch/record traditional TV Channels as they are broadcast using Satellite, Cable TV or Terrestrial (Freeview). You also need a Licence to live stream those channels via the Internet, and to use BBC iPlayer to watch/download BBC content.

And you don't need license for amazon prime video since it's all content on demands.

But Amazon prime will show some live football games next month. Apparently, those games can only be shown on Amazon prime. There is no Amazon Prime broadcast TV channel....

Does that mean I need TV licence for Amazon Prime for those live football games (even though I don't intent to watch those (I have zero interest in football)) or not?

If your intention is simply to continue using Amazon Prime without ever watching their live sport (they have tennis, as well) then the situation is clear - you do not need a Licence for that. I think if you asked TV Licensing they would agree on that.

For anyone who IS interested in the live sport on Amazon, my view is that a Licence isn't required for that, either, as long as it isn't parallel coverage to a UK TV channel. Even if it was the same event as being carried elsewhere, differences in commentary and graphics could mean that it was deemed different. Ultimately only a Court can decide on this, and I suspect that TV Licensing would say that a Licence is required (even though this doesn't make sense in terms of the legal definition they are working to).

JimmyTheWig

Cornucopia wrote: »

For anyone who IS interested in the live sport on Amazon, my view is that a Licence isn't required for that, either, as long as it isn't parallel coverage to a UK TV channel.

Does it not depend on the definition of a UK TV channel?

Cornucopia

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

Does it not depend on the definition of a UK TV channel?

A UK TV channel is defined as a TV channel broadcast via traditional means that is received near-simultaneously by all members of the public.

TV Licensing differ on this, though they have not published their reasoning. They believe that the law applies to all TV channels, worldwide. How they can realistically enforce that, though, I don't know? I think it is also totally unreasonable to expect someone watching an internet stream to know definitively whether is currently being broadcast somewhere else in the world at the same time.

countrykate

Sorry if I sound thick.

I have a Smart TV - have recently got rid of my virgin media package and told TV Licence that I no longer require a licence.

We genuinely barely watch TV and the kids only watch You Tube and Netflix on it with the occasional DVD. Recently I found a button on the remote control that takes you to the internet - on there are various app like things that I've never seen or heard of before but bbc iplayer is one of them. I don't have an account but when TV Licence call out to check that I don't need a licence will this be a problem?

Do I actually need a licence does anyone know? x

Cornucopia

countrykate wrote: »

I have a Smart TV - have recently got rid of my virgin media package and told TV Licence that I no longer require a licence.

We genuinely barely watch TV...

If you watch/record any UK TV channels at all, or use BBC iPlayer to access BBC programs at all, then you need a Licence at least to cover the times when you are viewing.

... and the kids only watch You Tube and Netflix on it with the occasional DVD.

No Licence required for this.

Recently I found a button on the remote control that takes you to the internet - on there are various app like things that I've never seen or heard of before but bbc iplayer is one of them. I don't have an account but when TV Licence call out to check that I don't need a licence will this be a problem?

Do I actually need a licence does anyone know? x

You do not need a Licence just to own a TV with or without smart functions. You only need a Licence if you use it for TV reception. The full definition is 4 posts above this one.

You do not need to allow TV Licensing into your home. Simply tell them that you are busy, and you wouldn't agree to be interviewed under caution, anyway.

I/we don't condone evasion, though, so please get a Licence if you need one.

[Deleted User]

countrykate wrote: »

I don't have an account but when TV Licence call out to check that I don't need a licence will this be a problem?

It won't be problem, if you don't let them in.

FreeBear

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

It won't be problem, if you don't let them in.

And just as importantly, do not any of their questions at the door.