TV Licence article Discussion

Former_MSE_Becca

Thanks for all your questions guys - I'll try and get answers for them and add them to the article ASAP.

Please keep them coming!

MSE Becca

rogerblack

To clarify what a TV programme is, and what requires a TV licence.
It's a programme broadcast by a UK licensed TV service, watched in realtime.
If you watch live streams of CNN or a US TV channel, it does not count.

Former_MSE_Becca

ferret wrote: »

so for clarification ...

I never watch live TV - I am never around at the right time!

I do download TV Shows and watch them at a later date on a USB key plugged into my TV

My TV is a working TV ... I *could* watch live TV if I chose ... i just don't choose to do so and have not for probably 9-10 months now.

I do have a TV licence. Should I cancel or just not renew? Or do I have to do some disabling of my ability to watch live TV before I can cancel?

Hi ferret, thanks for the question.

Are the shows you're downloading to watch at a later time being shown live on TV at the time you're downloading them? If so, then yes, you would need a licence.

But if, for example, you're downloading things from BBC iPlayer that have already been shown on TV and are now in the "catch-up" section of the service, then no, you don't need a licence.

I hope that helps!

MSE Becca

davendebs

i'm quite surprised at this advice from martin, and find people could get themselves in trouble over it,
they may word things funny, but if you follow this advice it would be up to you to prove you don't receive live broadcasts, you have to not have an aerial or satellite dish, ie the capability of receiving live broadcasts (im assuming you still have a tv to watch your 'non-live' broadcasts here), and even not have internet!! because despite what martin said, live broadcast are available over the internet! for example the legal tvcatchup service is all freeview channels live on your phone/computer/tablet and itv/bbc show football matches and other stuff live on over the net, so i'd tread carefully here before you decide to ditch your licence.

This is a little bit reminiscent of the 80's when if you had a black and white tv, but you had a vcr/satellite you still needed a colour licence because you still received colour signal argument.

ultimately im with everyone else i dont think we should pay it, we pay for the bbc to have radio and tv stations all round the world!! they say its for british citizens but those citizens are not paying the licence! the bbc also makes shows and sells them, just do more of that, show ads and get rid of this stupid tax!

kaya

The article mentions the use of detector van equipment to tell if people are watching tv or not and many people say this equipment doesn't exist, it may interest people to know that on the capita website under the Q&A section it states clearly that nobody has ever been prosecuted in court using detector equipment (freedom of info request) , this is simply because if they were to try to use this evidence for a prosecution they would have to satisfy the defence as to the workings of this equipment and it accuracy, which they cannot do as it doesn't exist ! It's amazing that equipment that has allegedly existed since the 1970's cannot be replicated or the workings of explained 40 years later apart from a few folk repeating the propoganda that was spread around the use of it .
Quite a few people have told me they or a friend have been prosecuted using detector van evidence when In reality the man in the court fibbed to them before they went before the judge and they cracked under the pressure and confessed rather than go in front of a judge. I have approached several electronics engineering companies and asked them if they can make me a device that can tell if people are watching a TV set and the answer is always the same that they wouldn't know how !

mrobsessed

Hi All,

I found this article very interesting as I am looking to cut the bills due to redundancy.

I almost never watch live TV and could easily do without it altogether. I watch iPlayer and 4OD occasionally but generally just watch stuff from DVD or my computer - the TV is used as a computer monitor, which is its main use.

HOWEVER, I DO have a live aerial connected to the TV so I am CAPABLE of getting live broadcasts.

If I cancel my licence and get a visit from a TV License man and he sees my aerial connected TV, is that grounds for me needing a license even if the TV is not being used to show a live transmission when he calls?

I KNOW that I will never be 'caught' watching live TV as I never do, but do I also need to disconnect the TV from the aerial? This seems odd as I could still watch live TV via iPlayer through the computer which would require a license.

The aerial is connected via a long extension to another room and I could easily remove this - will this make me immune to any risk of prosecution?

Is there any way they can prosecute me or compel me to get a license without catching me watching live tv being streamed via the internet or received from the aerial?

For that matter, even if I was caught watching BBC 2 from the aerial how would the TV License man prove it? It's his word against mine.

Many thanks for your help.
Mr O

rizla01

Well. I haven't read all of this article but I owned a property for 3 yrs (Empty) and for 3 yrs received threat after threat that I would get someone come knocking and that is all. Just empty threats - no visits.

Some of these threats were little short of blackmail!

There is no such thing as a detector van.

You are within your rights to insist that no-one from or representing the TV licence authority, comes near your property, let alone disturb your peace OR sends more junk mail thru your letterbox and you can take them to court and sue them if they don't abide by your requests.

Having capable equipment on your premises is not a requirement for a licence - Just USING it in a certain prescribed manner, is.

Unless you tell them that you are watching live TV and unless they spy on your living room with binoculars, they cannot know for sure, so it is entirely up to the honesty (or foolishness) of the householder to pay up or not. :A

adouglasmhor

jodop wrote: »

If I press pause on a BBC show while watching online and then press restart am I still watching live and if not do I need a TV license?

No you are recording a live TV broadcast and for that you need a TV license.

ferret

MSE_Becca wrote: »

Hi ferret, thanks for the question.

Are the shows you're downloading to watch at a later time being shown live on TV at the time you're downloading them? If so, then yes, you would need a licence.

But if, for example, you're downloading things from BBC iPlayer that have already been shown on TV and are now in the "catch-up" section of the service, then no, you don't need a licence.

I hope that helps!

MSE Becca

No -- typically these will be a few days / weeks after they have broadcast...and they are from other sources than iPlayer but they are predominently shows that were originally broadcast on BBC, ITV or CH4.

I guess my remaining question revolves around capability - I always thought that if you had equipment capable of receiving live tv - even if not watching it - you had to pay (see the colour VCR vs B&W TV debate)

Former_MSE_Becca

ferret wrote: »

No -- typically these will be a few days / weeks after they have broadcast...and they are from other sources than iPlayer but they are predominently shows that were broadcast on BBC, ITV or CH4

Then you shouldn't need a licence

HTH,
MSE Becca