TV Licence article Discussion

simonrobins

Deleted_User said:

I haven't had my monthly threat-o-gram in the post yet this month. What a shame I was looking forward to which version they were using this month, last month it was the spoof sorry we missed you Royal Mail card.

Disgusting isn't it. If a private company was using these tactics there would be questions in parliament and possibly prosecution.

Having spent 8 weeks in lockdown I have realised that I simply do not watch any live TV or any catch-up on iPlayer so I have used their online form to request cancellation of the TV licence they issued to me a month before my existing licence expires.
If you choose cancellation as the reason for your query it refuses to submit the form asking for further information without giving any explanation as to what information is missing and even though I had answered all the questions. However, if you choose another reason then the form submits without issue.

I shall leave you to draw your own conclusions.

Lewie

Looking forward to my partial/full refund as 'lockdown' has seen a further reduction in 'quality' programmes and an increase in
repeats.

They really shouldn't have attempted Have I Got New For You from respective homes. So lame.

Not sure how long I can hold my breath for!!

cw18

I was supposed to be going to a music festival in July, which has been cancelled because of everything that's going on in the world.    The organisers announced there will be a show this Saturday on YouTube, and I got really excited when they announced it wouldn't start until 7pm - I'd expected it to run from early afternoon, meaning I'd miss at least the first bit due to being at work.  But then it's dawned on me today.....    does this count as LiveTV which means being LLF means I can't watch it anyway?   They've already said it's not going to be available to watch later, so I'm thinking I'm going to have to give it a miss

I rarely venture into the world of YouTube (other than an odd link to something a friend has posted, which is clearly an old recording there to be streamed at will), so hadn't thought about this aspect of it until today......

Edit:   Just had another read of their announcement, and it's also going to be available to watch through FB.   Would that also count as Live TV and require a licence?

Cornucopia

If it's being streamed by the concert promoters exclusively to viewers on social media and/or Youtube then no, it doesn't require a Licence.   

It doesn't matter that it's "Live" because that is a misleading term and has (thankfully) been removed from TVL's latest version of the rules.

The crucial thing is whether it's also being shown on a TV Channel at the same time.   If it was, then it would potentially require a Licence to watch, even on social media or Youtube.

cw18

Thankyou for getting back to me so swiftly
No it's not showing on TV anywhere - just YouTube and FB.   Sounds like I can watch it after all (does a happy bunny dance)

cw18

But I've just been digging round the licence site, and it still says

The law says you need to be covered by a TV Licence to:

• watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, on any channel
• watch or stream programmes live on an online TV service (such as ITV Hub, All 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Sky Go, etc.)
• download or watch any BBC programmes on iPlayer.

So surely this falls under the second point, which implies I would need a licence

Cornucopia

Ah, okay, I thought they'd fixed that nonsense.  Perhaps they put it back?

When they say "live" they mean content that is streamed concurrently with a broadcast channel.   Content that is exclusive to non-broadcast platforms is not included.   I will see if I can find anything official that confirms this.

Watchkeeper

According to the Communications Act 2003 you need a licence to install or use a "television receiver". The Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004 defines a "television receiver" like this:

5 9.—(1) In Part 4 of the Act (licensing of TV reception), “television receiver”
means any apparatus installed or used for the purpose of receiving (whether
by means of wireless telegraphy or otherwise) any television programme
service, whether or not it is installed or used for any other purpose.

"Television programme service" means programmes transmitted on TV (i.e. over the air, as people of a certain age used to say). Since yours is purely an Internet distributed programme you do not need a licence to watch - it's not part of "any television programme service".
Other bits of the legislation make clear that if you watch a programme online at virtually the same time as it's being transmitted over the air then you do need a licence. This obviously doesn't apply in this case. You're good to go.

mrkds

cw18 said:

But I've just been digging round the licence site, and it still says

The law says you need to be covered by a TV Licence to:

• watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, on any channel
• watch or stream programmes live on an online TV service (such as ITV Hub, All 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Sky Go, etc.)
• download or watch any BBC programmes on iPlayer.

So surely this falls under the second point, which implies I would need a licence

Hi. I'm new here. I just started reading this as I am renewing my "I dont need a TV lisence" declaration. This second point i had not seen before and worried me.  I never considered YouTube to be an "online TV service" but is seems TV Lisencing does. So this means that now watching ANY live stream on YouTube requires a TV licence? Does this extend to watching live Facebook broadcasts and other streaming platforms? I have done some googling but have not been able to find any straight answers. 

nickcc

My Wife held our license which expired February, as I’m 75 in September I thought I would see if the free license was available even though the extension is only until August.  When I applied, expecting to find the full cost was the only option, the form advised me to apply as though the free license was still available.  Had the payment request couple of weeks ago for £74 app which I’ve paid.  I’m expecting a further bill for the remainder of the full fee, if the free license is removed, in September.