Discussion
The rule surround the TV licence are weird and completely unenforceable. They can basically be boiled down to: you may not watch or record any program while it is being broadcast at the time (anywhere, by anyone). Thus it's perfectly legal to watch a DvD of a film... unless it happens to be being broadcast in Azerbaijan at the time, in which case it's not.
The way it's usually stated and in practice enforced is as: "you may not watch or record broadcasts", which is rather easier to stick to.
The way it's usually stated and in practice enforced is as: "you may not watch or record broadcasts", which is rather easier to stick to.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 19th February 15:33
2013BRM said:
Thanks, I can still use catchup or streaming using a box though?
Absolutely, provided it's not a live broadcast (the key point).Netflix, Amazon Video, 4OD, heck even BBC iPlayer are all completely fine provided they're not live broadcast.
We ditched our TV licence a couple of months ago in favour of our Netflix subscription. It's cheaper and the quality of content is greater in our opinion.
Oh, and TV licence inspectors have absolutely no powers of entry, search or otherwise without a court order. I used to get the letters every month a few years ago when I lived alone. The manner and language in which they 'enforce' is a bloody disgrace.
kambites said:
The rule surround the TV licence are weird and completely unenforceable. They can basically be boiled down to: you may not watch or record any program while it is being broadcast at the time (anywhere, by anyone). Thus it's perfectly legal to watch a DvD of a film... unless it happens to be being broadcast in Azerbaijan at the time, in which case it's not.
The way it's usually stated and in practice enforced is as: "you may not watch or record broadcasts", which is rather easier to stick to.
This is trueThe way it's usually stated and in practice enforced is as: "you may not watch or record broadcasts", which is rather easier to stick to.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 19th February 15:33
Even watching live transmitted TV on a smartphone needs a licence. Watching stuff on iplayer (unless live) or the other catch up services doesn't need a licence.And you have to give your name and address when you buy a TV so Capita can add it to their database - 10 Downing Street apparently has several 10s of thousands of TVs.
Time it went.
michael gould said:
yep ....dont turn your TV on...
Guff.OP, you can watch anything as long as it's not whilst it's being broadcast. You cannot watch or record a live signal, that's it.
Anything else is fine including streaming services such as Netflix, iPlayer, 4oD etc. There are lots of devices you can use to connect to your WiFi and stream from the net.
I went licence-free around 3-4 years ago and haven't missed it at all. Capita send threatening-sounding letters once a month but I ignore them (there is no legal requirement for me to have to engage with them so I don't).
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Do I need a TV Licence if I don’t watch the BBC?Yes, even if you don’t watch the BBC you need to be covered by a TV Licence if you watch or record live TV.
‘Live TV’ means any programme you watch or record at the same time as it’s being shown on TV or an online TV service.
If you only ever watch ‘on demand’ programmes, you don’t need a TV Licence. On demand includes catch-up TV, streaming or downloading programmes after they’ve been shown on live TV, or programmes available online before being shown on TV.
Funk said:
michael gould said:
yep ....dont turn your TV on...
Guff.OP, you can watch anything as long as it's not whilst it's being broadcast. You cannot watch or record a live signal, that's it.
Anything else is fine including streaming services such as Netflix, iPlayer, 4oD etc. There are lots of devices you can use to connect to your WiFi and stream from the net.
I went licence-free around 3-4 years ago and haven't missed it at all. Capita send threatening-sounding letters once a month but I ignore them (there is no legal requirement for me to have to engage with them so I don't).
You see I'm one of those who doesn't mind paying it, to have advert free TV. Indeed some outstanding TV in fact.
Look at the state of itv, ch 5. Ever watched European or American TV ? It's dreadful !
What about the radio ? You never listen to radio 2 or 4 ?
This will be lost on a young generation , but to listen to never heard before " hancocks" over Christmas was easily worth £12 a mth.
Hey ho, but I'd hate not to have the bbc and just see the dross produced for cable TV.
Look at the state of itv, ch 5. Ever watched European or American TV ? It's dreadful !
What about the radio ? You never listen to radio 2 or 4 ?
This will be lost on a young generation , but to listen to never heard before " hancocks" over Christmas was easily worth £12 a mth.
Hey ho, but I'd hate not to have the bbc and just see the dross produced for cable TV.
austinsmirk said:
You see I'm one of those who doesn't mind paying it, to have advert free TV. Indeed some outstanding TV in fact.
Look at the state of itv, ch 5. Ever watched European or American TV ? It's dreadful !
What about the radio ? You never listen to radio 2 or 4 ?
This will be lost on a young generation , but to listen to never heard before " hancocks" over Christmas was easily worth £12 a mth.
Hey ho, but I'd hate not to have the bbc and just see the dross produced for cable TV.
You can get a year subscription to Netflix and Amazon Instant video for the price of a tv licence, no adverts either.Look at the state of itv, ch 5. Ever watched European or American TV ? It's dreadful !
What about the radio ? You never listen to radio 2 or 4 ?
This will be lost on a young generation , but to listen to never heard before " hancocks" over Christmas was easily worth £12 a mth.
Hey ho, but I'd hate not to have the bbc and just see the dross produced for cable TV.
We don't have a licence, don't see the point in one anymore with the other options available.
2013BRM said:
Finally had my fill of the way the BBC behaves and want to stop supporting them, can anyone tell me what I am allowed to use to watch films, old documentaries etc?
You can watch anything you want as long as you do not watch it as it is broadcast. So this prohibits use of cable TV, Sky etc
But you can use catchup services, netflix, now tv, blink etc.
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