A random question on TV licencing…

[CharlieB]

…and I know the answer will be found in here somewhere.

Settle a discussion at work for me, please.
Is it true that if you own a TV, you need a licence, no exceptions. It's just that I've just been told that if you use a TV exclusively for non-live viewing (i.e.DVDs, etc.) you don't need a licence, and I don't quite believe it. It's not like it's something that could be policed effectively.
The TV licencing website isn't at all clear on it.

 

[marinyork]

It used to be you didn't need one in that case, but it has led to many years of disinformation and arguing in real life/internet forums where people have been harassed and treated roughly despite of this.

TV licensing has been deliberately ambiguous for years because they'd lose huge amounts of revenue in just the same way that if Sky were crystal clear about what was free and not they'd probably lose 3 million subscribers.

 

[coffeejo]

I don't/can't watch "live" TV - mine plays DVDs and is hooked up to the xbox - and although it took several months of letters and phone calls back and forth, I no longer get pestered for a licence.

 

[srw]

A reminder of the law​

The law states that you need to be covered by a TV Licence if you watch or record television programmes, on any device, as they're being shown on TV. This includes TVs, computers, mobile phones, games consoles, digital boxes and Blu-ray/DVD/VHS recorders.
You don't need a licence if you don't use any of these devices to watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV - for example, if you use your TV only to watch DVDs or play video games, or you only watch ‘catch up’ services like BBC iPlayer or 4oD.

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/what-if-a-tv-licence-is-not-needed-top12/

Seems reasonably clear, though I expect they'd treat you as a target if you claimed not to use a TV to watch live brodcasts.

 

[betty swollocks]

See here.
it says:-
'The law states that you need to be covered by a TV Licence if you watch or record television programmes, on any device, as they're being shown on TV. This includes TVs, computers, mobile phones, games consoles, digital boxes and Blu-ray/DVD/VHS recorders.
You don't need a licence if you don't use any of these devices to watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV - for example, if you use your TV only to watch DVDs or play video games, or you only watch ‘catch up’ services like BBC iPlayer or 4oD.'

 

[RaRa]

I've been wondering about the iPlayer. It's not live so can you in theory still watch the programs without needing a licence?

 

[betty swollocks]

Srw got there seconds before I did

 

[marinyork]

I've been wondering about the iPlayer. It's not live so can you in theory still watch the programs without needing a licence?

Indeed, although there has been a movement to either change that or charge for its use and other similar things.

 

[Bluenite]

If your TV can not pick up broadcasts, then you don't need one. I do not have a TV i can't see the point as i get better stuff on the net for free.

 

[benb]

So if you inserted a device that slowed the broadcast signal down by a few seconds, you wouldn't need one, as you're no longer watching programmes "As they're being shown on TV"

 

[thnurg]

Indeed, although there has been a movement to either change that or charge for its use and other similar things.

You can watch Catch up programmes without a license, but need one of you want to watch live TV via iplayer.

 

[thnurg]

So if you inserted a device that slowed the broadcast signal down by a few seconds, you wouldn't need one, as you're no longer watching programmes "As they're being shown on TV"

It's called a Freeview receiver (or in some cases a DAB radio).

 

[User482]

…and I know the answer will be found in here somewhere.

Settle a discussion at work for me, please.
Is it true that if you own a TV, you need a licence, no exceptions. It's just that I've just been told that if you use a TV exclusively for non-live viewing (i.e.DVDs, etc.) you don't need a licence, and I don't quite believe it. It's not like it's something that could be policed effectively.
The TV licencing website isn't at all clear on it.

Some friends of mine kept their tv, but removed the aerial (cut it off at the wall IIRC), as they only watch DVDs and iplayer. Apparently the TV licensing people were quite happy with the arrangement.

 

[marinyork]

You can watch Catch up programmes without a license, but need one of you want to watch live TV via iplayer.

Yes, but as I've said there is a movement from high within the BBC to change to charging for iPlayer and/or needing a license for many more things than you do at the moment (which is not the case now).

 

[deckertim]

They will have to change this soon. Live TV is becoming more and more blurred with what is available online via catch up services. My 2 youngest (15 and 17) rarely watch TV, they just watch stuff on the PC, they don't even see there being a difference really. BBC are going to start seeing their revenue source falling considerably as people wise up to this.