No TV licence. How would they know you're watching live TV?
Discussion
An increasing number of people I know are cancelling their TV licence. As I understand it, this is fine as long as you don't watch BBC TV either live or on iPlayer, or any other channel as it is broadcast live, but online catch-up is fine for non-BBC channels.
Unless you're streaming TV live and, as such, leaving a data trail to say what you were connected to and when, how would they know? Surely you could watch TV live on a non-smart TV and noone would be able to tell. After all, viewing figures are ascertained by monitoring a sample group - they can't actually tell what everyone is watching at any given time.
Unless you're streaming TV live and, as such, leaving a data trail to say what you were connected to and when, how would they know? Surely you could watch TV live on a non-smart TV and noone would be able to tell. After all, viewing figures are ascertained by monitoring a sample group - they can't actually tell what everyone is watching at any given time.
Given if you have a PC and the ability to navigate to iPlayer, then technically you have the means to watch "live TV".
So, if you have a PC and an internet connection you should have to have a licence.
I cancelled mine and file the silly letters from the company they task to "collect on their behalf" in the bin.
So, if you have a PC and an internet connection you should have to have a licence.
I cancelled mine and file the silly letters from the company they task to "collect on their behalf" in the bin.
I had some old git visit my establishment because I refused to update my not having a license. He told me that they still operate TV detector vans 
I told him good luck - if they can sniff a signal through a coaxially covered cable modem then I will happily pay for one
Corrupt monopoly that steals from the elderly and promotes a vile institution.
I told him good luck - if they can sniff a signal through a coaxially covered cable modem then I will happily pay for one
Corrupt monopoly that steals from the elderly and promotes a vile institution.
The Black Belt Barrister has a view videos around this topic 
https://www.youtube.com/@BlackBeltBarrister
https://www.youtube.com/@BlackBeltBarrister
CrutyRammers said:
Well, they wouldn't know. Never have been able to. That's why they enforce it through having the ability to watch live tv, rather than actually doing it.
Anachronism is anachronistic.
I think they rely more on people admitting they are watching live TV rather than actually catching them. Having the ability to do something is a lot differnt to someone actually doing it. Anachronism is anachronistic.
LordFlathead said:
I had some old git visit my establishment because I refused to update my not having a license. He told me that they still operate TV detector vans
I told him good luck - if they can sniff a signal through a coaxially covered cable modem then I will happily pay for one
Corrupt monopoly that steals from the elderly and promotes a vile institution.
Vile institution?I told him good luck - if they can sniff a signal through a coaxially covered cable modem then I will happily pay for one
Corrupt monopoly that steals from the elderly and promotes a vile institution.
What an odd thing to say
steveo3002 said:
i think they hope to catch you on the hop , answer the door to them while telly is on in the background , wedge foot in door and talk you into admitting it
its high time it all stopped ,give those that pay it some access code or card
Remember reading that ~70% of people who get done for no licence are women. its high time it all stopped ,give those that pay it some access code or card
Guy knocks on the door and asks to come in to verify you don't need a licence. Of course you're entitled to tell him to do one - he has no right to enter your house. Women are naturally more polite (gullible?) so she lets him in, he sees the TV and she's busted. A bloke wouldn't let him in.
In the bigger picture why wouldn't the BBC just go subscription? 15 quid a month is not unreasonable as a choice then they'd save the money they spend on detecting licence dodgers. Plus they wouldn't have to keep government in fear of the licence being abolished.
I don't have a licence. Haven't had one for a decade or so at this point.
However, I genuinely don't watch any kind of broadcast TV. Netflix (although increasingly less so) and Amazon Prime are enough for me. I simply don't have the time to sit down in front of a TV set for any length of time.
Due the above I have refused to sign up for BBC iplayer - as in, I refuse to provide the BBC with my email address. But now, this means I can't listen to BBC Radio by any digital means other than DAB and its terrible compression. BBC Sounds now needs an account to work and the BCC withdrew all its programmes off RadioPlayer (which it helped create!) a few months back.
So, now, the only BBC content I get is random bits of Radio 4 in the car. No great loss.
However, I genuinely don't watch any kind of broadcast TV. Netflix (although increasingly less so) and Amazon Prime are enough for me. I simply don't have the time to sit down in front of a TV set for any length of time.
Due the above I have refused to sign up for BBC iplayer - as in, I refuse to provide the BBC with my email address. But now, this means I can't listen to BBC Radio by any digital means other than DAB and its terrible compression. BBC Sounds now needs an account to work and the BCC withdrew all its programmes off RadioPlayer (which it helped create!) a few months back.
So, now, the only BBC content I get is random bits of Radio 4 in the car. No great loss.
Wacky Racer said:
I can't see what the fuss is about, it's 3 quid a week ffs!
The alternative is to have adverts like ITV, which would not bother me tbh
How else are they going to fund some of their excellent programmes?
.
Exactly this. It is stealing without one and eventually the business model would crash and we lose the content…or get adverts galore.The alternative is to have adverts like ITV, which would not bother me tbh
How else are they going to fund some of their excellent programmes?
.
dxg said:
Due the above I have refused to sign up for BBC iplayer - as in, I refuse to provide the BBC with my email address. But now, this means I can't listen to BBC Radio by any digital means other than DAB and its terrible compression. BBC Sounds now needs an account to work and the BCC withdrew all its programmes off RadioPlayer (which it helped create!) a few months back.
Not sure quite what the issue with the email address is, but any number of ways to provide a “burner” email. Caddyshack said:
Exactly this. It is stealing without one and eventually the business model would crash and we lose the content…or get adverts galore.
But times have changed, the way i see it i don’t like or watch bbc content, much like i don't watch disney+ hence why i don’t pay for Disney and i don't have a licence. I think most people who do not have a TV licence these days probably aren’t stealing due to so much available content on other streaming platforms.
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