UK TV Play

[737 FLF]

Is it legal to watch UKTV Play without a TV licence?

[Puddenchucker]

Provided you're not watching or recording live broadcasts I don't think a licence is required.
(I stand to be corrected)

From: http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one...

TV Licencing said:

You don’t need a TV Licence if you:

never watch or record programmes on any channel as they’re being shown on TV or live on an online TV service, and
never download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand.

[Scrump]

You wouldn't need one for the on demand viewing but would for the normal broadcast channel viewing (is my understanding).

[matjk]

The rules have changed , IF you watch any BBC programmes you need a licence , it’s not well worded but UK Play TV is piggy backing of iPlayer for bbc content , so you need a licence

[rscott]

matjk said:

The rules have changed , IF you watch any BBC programmes you need a licence , it’s not well worded but UK Play TV is piggy backing of iPlayer for bbc content , so you need a licence

Are you sure about that? UKTV will have licensed the content from the BBC, just as Netflix do. It's streamed via UKTV's own systems, not the iPlayer.

So surely you need a license if you watch BBC content they've licensed to Netflix?

[Kraken]

Rather than asking a bunch of random people on a motoring forum surely the sensible thing is to call TV licensing and ask them?

Unless you're in the habit of going to the florists to ask them what is the best cut of beef of course.

[geeks]

Kraken said:

Rather than asking a bunch of random people on a motoring forum surely the sensible thing is to call TV licensing and ask them?

Unless you're in the habit of going to the florists to ask them what is the best cut of beef of course.

Given my mum was a chef before becoming a florist that would have been a possibility for me at one time

[matjk]

Changing my mind , UKTV is not showing current BBC programmes so I think you’re fine , I misunderstood what UKTV play is , thought it was like now TV , nothing on google I can find says either way but I my guess is it’s like Net Flicks so no licence required

[Gareth79]

The wording says you need a licence for "an on-demand programme service which is provided by the BBC", so it's not the content of the programmes that matters, but who provides the service.

[Telephonic]

So I've just followed the advice of someone on here and contacted TV licensing. The bloke seemed more interested in talking about whether I need a license to use iPlayer/ All4/ other catch-up programs or live TV in general, all of which I already researched before cancelling my license originally so wasn't interested in. I had to stop him talking over me a few times to tell him I already knew what the rules were there and I was just interested in UKTVplay as it is clearly showing lots of BBC shows but it isn't the iPlayer. In a nutshell he said he didn't really know, but he'd lean towards not needing one for the app in question.

I think the person that said that they license content from the BBC in the same way Netflix etc do thus not requiring the user to have a license is probably correct. This is backed up by the fact that there are ads on the app like every other catch-up app that isn't iPlayer.

Long story short, you (probably) don't need a license to use the app.

[grumpyscot]

matjk said:

Changing my mind , UKTV is not showing current BBC programmes so I think you’re fine , I misunderstood what UKTV play is , thought it was like now TV , nothing on google I can find says either way but I my guess is it’s like Net Flicks so no licence required

I heard that UKTV Grroup was actually owned by the BBC. Strange, as it shows commercials, and ITV etc progs

[LemonParty]

grumpyscot said:

I heard that UKTV Grroup was actually owned by the BBC. Strange, as it shows commercials, and ITV etc progs

UKTV Group is a part of BBC Worldwide, which is the commercial arm of the BBC.

[cologne2792]

LemonParty said:

grumpyscot said:

I heard that UKTV Grroup was actually owned by the BBC. Strange, as it shows commercials, and ITV etc progs

UKTV Group is a part of BBC Worldwide, which is the commercial arm of the BBC.

I was thinking that. So presumably you don't need a licence as it's independently funded by advertising?

[jondude]

Telephonic said:

So I've just followed the advice of someone on here and contacted TV licensing. The bloke seemed more interested in talking about whether I need a license to use iPlayer/ All4/ other catch-up programs or live TV in general, all of which I already researched before cancelling my license originally so wasn't interested in. I had to stop him talking over me a few times to tell him I already knew what the rules were there and I was just interested in UKTVplay as it is clearly showing lots of BBC shows but it isn't the iPlayer. In a nutshell he said he didn't really know, but he'd lean towards not needing one for the app in question.

I think the person that said that they license content from the BBC in the same way Netflix etc do thus not requiring the user to have a license is probably correct. This is backed up by the fact that there are ads on the app like every other catch-up app that isn't iPlayer.

Long story short, you (probably) don't need a license to use the app.

Was going to advise you not to call for this reason - if you gave your personal details then decent chances one of the Capita lads will be around soon, or letters warning you soon will be lynched falling on your doormat.

It is becoming more and more difficult for the BBC. The law is if the broadcast is not live, you do not need a licence. So everyone started getting Netflix and Amazon.

Perfectly fine, no licence needed.

BUT....Amazon now has live sport on it. Meaning they have opened a grey area where you now are subscribing to an outlet that runs content needing a licence but it is within most content not needing a licence. So Capita/the BBC has to catch you watching the tennis on Amazon but Amazon get the benefits of selling a product with live sport.

All it will take is for Am or Net to work out how to broadcast the news/current affairs and the BBC is done for.