How does the UK TV license apply to non-BBC live TV??
Discussion
ceesvdelst said:
youtube is not television, so it is perfectly legal to watch it without a licence. it's a website, privately owned and funded and not needing a broadcast device to be shown.
Iplayer is also perilously close to being legal as the BBC cannot really pursue anybody due to not being ale to legally get your IP address via data protection I think? but that one was pushed through a few years ago very quietly.
Netflix is not television, neither is Amazon Prime, none of these are covered by the tv licence, they are entirely separate. Even if shown on your home telly.
If you take it that far you could in theory be done for listening to Radio 2 in your car if you have not paid a licence, that one always seems to pass people by, but radio is also covered yet you never hear any prosecutions or noise from the goons about that kind of thing.
Ok quite a lot wrong there. Firstly the radio licence was abolished in the 1970sIplayer is also perilously close to being legal as the BBC cannot really pursue anybody due to not being ale to legally get your IP address via data protection I think? but that one was pushed through a few years ago very quietly.
Netflix is not television, neither is Amazon Prime, none of these are covered by the tv licence, they are entirely separate. Even if shown on your home telly.
If you take it that far you could in theory be done for listening to Radio 2 in your car if you have not paid a licence, that one always seems to pass people by, but radio is also covered yet you never hear any prosecutions or noise from the goons about that kind of thing.
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ102
Netflix isn't television, but Amazon prime shows live football and tennis. Is that television? It's certainly presented like such.
You tube? Is that television? It carries live Sky News, which you surely need a licence to watch?
ceesvdelst said:
If you take it that far you could in theory be done for listening to Radio 2 in your car if you have not paid a licence, that one always seems to pass people by, but radio is also covered yet you never hear any prosecutions or noise from the goons about that kind of thing.
It mainly passes people by that you need a TV license to listen to the radio for one simple reason: Because you don't.https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ102
My bad for the radio thing. but if you think about it the licence fee does still actually fund BBC radio, so really if you are not paying for it, should you be able to receive it as it is being transmitted as per the tv ruling? It's the same thing really.
But for the streaming services, yes you are watching tv as it is being shown, but for some reason the rules do not apply there. These companies like youtube, Amazon are paying the hosts to show these shows and using advertising to fund them, unlike the BBC. Is that why it is OK?
Is it maybe not OK, Netflix et al are perfectly legal to watch on any device anywhere, but those shows are not being shown, they are streamed, much like stuff on youtube or Amazon who also show stuff that is live, it is a different medium, hence the hullabaloo over the licence fee now not really being fit for purpose.
Is ANY television legal to watch without a licence fee then? Are people saying watching SKYnews on youtube is illegal, it's a website, commercially funding itself and that company is paying youtube to be on there?
But for the streaming services, yes you are watching tv as it is being shown, but for some reason the rules do not apply there. These companies like youtube, Amazon are paying the hosts to show these shows and using advertising to fund them, unlike the BBC. Is that why it is OK?
Is it maybe not OK, Netflix et al are perfectly legal to watch on any device anywhere, but those shows are not being shown, they are streamed, much like stuff on youtube or Amazon who also show stuff that is live, it is a different medium, hence the hullabaloo over the licence fee now not really being fit for purpose.
Is ANY television legal to watch without a licence fee then? Are people saying watching SKYnews on youtube is illegal, it's a website, commercially funding itself and that company is paying youtube to be on there?
ceesvdelst said:
My bad for the radio thing. but if you think about it the licence fee does still actually fund BBC radio, so really if you are not paying for it, should you be able to receive it as it is being transmitted as per the tv ruling? It's the same thing really.
But for the streaming services, yes you are watching tv as it is being shown, but for some reason the rules do not apply there. These companies like youtube, Amazon are paying the hosts to show these shows and using advertising to fund them, unlike the BBC. Is that why it is OK?
Is it maybe not OK, Netflix et al are perfectly legal to watch on any device anywhere, but those shows are not being shown, they are streamed, much like stuff on youtube or Amazon who also show stuff that is live, it is a different medium, hence the hullabaloo over the licence fee now not really being fit for purpose.
Is ANY television legal to watch without a licence fee then? Are people saying watching SKYnews on youtube is illegal, it's a website, commercially funding itself and that company is paying youtube to be on there?
The law says you need to be covered by a TV Licence to:But for the streaming services, yes you are watching tv as it is being shown, but for some reason the rules do not apply there. These companies like youtube, Amazon are paying the hosts to show these shows and using advertising to fund them, unlike the BBC. Is that why it is OK?
Is it maybe not OK, Netflix et al are perfectly legal to watch on any device anywhere, but those shows are not being shown, they are streamed, much like stuff on youtube or Amazon who also show stuff that is live, it is a different medium, hence the hullabaloo over the licence fee now not really being fit for purpose.
Is ANY television legal to watch without a licence fee then? Are people saying watching SKYnews on youtube is illegal, it's a website, commercially funding itself and that company is paying youtube to be on there?
watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, on any channel
watch or stream programmes live on an online TV service (such as ITV Hub, All 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Sky Go, etc.)
download or watch any BBC programmes on iPlayer.
It's just the law. You cannot try to apply common sense or logic.
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Roofless Toothless said:
I really can't understand all this whinging about the BBC and the licence fee.
I get more than my money's worth out of BBC radio alone. The television is all bunce to me.
Exactly, it's shirt buttons and top value. Some folk just like a good moan I get more than my money's worth out of BBC radio alone. The television is all bunce to me.
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
The law says you need to be covered by a TV Licence to:
watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, on any channel
watch or stream programmes live on an online TV service (such as ITV Hub, All 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Sky Go, etc.)
download or watch any BBC programmes on iPlayer.
It's just the law. You cannot try to apply common sense or logic.
So you *do* need a licence to watch any live youtube streams?watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, on any channel
watch or stream programmes live on an online TV service (such as ITV Hub, All 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Sky Go, etc.)
download or watch any BBC programmes on iPlayer.
It's just the law. You cannot try to apply common sense or logic.
If you watch Amazon footy live you need a licence, site below says any live in the UK.
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-on...
What you actually do about is up to you.
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-on...
What you actually do about is up to you.
speedyguy said:
Artykay said:
I stopped watching TV so stopped paying. Phoned and told them I didn't need a licence and to stop sending s
tty letters. Amazingly they did.
Who do I need to contact to tell them I don't need their services ?tty letters. Amazingly they did. Should I contact all the phone providers to tell them I don't need their services as "Three" provide mine.
Should I contact Apple to tell them I don't need their services as I am on Android.
The BBC and its funding model are archaic crap that need sending into the bin of history.
The apple/three thing is different, how can you get the service without paying for it?
I'm amazed anybody could get done for it nowadays as they have to prove you have offended which seems impossible unless you grass yourself up.
If I have a Freeview/smart TV/PC/Tablet/phone I can legally listen to the radio but not live TV apart from S4C on Iplayer I believe.
If they come round to have a look around my house I will treat them like any stranger at the door, I wouldn't invite them in even thought I don't watch TV. None of their business. They should only be able to get a warrant with evidence I have been watching TV so that's impossible.
You could easily watch as much live TV as you wanted and there's nothing they can do but:
"Of the 184,595 people across the UK charged with non-payment of the TV Licence by Capita TV Licensing, 21,300 were found not guilty – and 90 people were jailed for failing to pay court-issued fines. The figure for charges includes out-of-court disposals." - The Register 2017.
How they get caught is beyond me.
speedyguy said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Roofless Toothless said:
I really can't understand all this whinging about the BBC and the licence fee.
I get more than my money's worth out of BBC radio alone. The television is all bunce to me.
Exactly, it's shirt buttons and top value. Some folk just like a good moan I get more than my money's worth out of BBC radio alone. The television is all bunce to me.
Who pays for a TV licence when they don't watch live TV? Parents for the kids?
Use it pay, don't don't seems reasonable.
I don't like TVL's tactics and threats though, that's why I stopped paying, I never watched it anyway - just paid.
Considering the services the BBC and others provide I think it's good VFM.
Edited by Artykay on Friday 24th January 15:08
Yeah same. I'd pay it just for the Radio content, I listen to lot more BBC radio than I do their TV output.
Stopped paying in part due to theirs and Capita's bully boy tactics to enforce payment.
That fact I have to go to the pub if I want to watch their live sport (vanishingly rare these days) is a small price to pay.
They might as well just rename it a media license and charge everyone.
Stopped paying in part due to theirs and Capita's bully boy tactics to enforce payment.
That fact I have to go to the pub if I want to watch their live sport (vanishingly rare these days) is a small price to pay.
They might as well just rename it a media license and charge everyone.
ChocolateFrog said:
Yeah same. I'd pay it just for the Radio content, I listen to lot more BBC radio than I do their TV output.
Stopped paying in part due to theirs and Capita's bully boy tactics to enforce payment.
That fact I have to go to the pub if I want to watch their live sport (vanishingly rare these days) is a small price to pay.
Daft isn't it you can watch "licenced" tv elsewhere as an unlicensed person. Unless of course you have a personal device plugged in at the "licenced persons premises", then you can't watch "live" tv on it.Stopped paying in part due to theirs and Capita's bully boy tactics to enforce payment.
That fact I have to go to the pub if I want to watch their live sport (vanishingly rare these days) is a small price to pay.
But a licenced person can't watch at an "unlicensed premises".
Are they trying to licence the premises, person or device ? Absolute tossers of the highest order, typical BBC.
ChocolateFrog said:
They might as well just rename it a media license and charge everyone.
Please don't give them ideas. Far simpler to make the BBC a subscription service.
I think it will change, charging the over 75's was a huge PR boo boo and has opened the Beeb up to a lot more prying eyes into how it's funded and why they charge what they do. IN comparison with other streaming sites.
I agree it's a great service, I would personally pay a website sub, it's where I go for numerous news intake, no ads no stopping you use adblocker like most modern news sites.
But its payment model is utterly out of date, and they don't want to change it for obvious reasons, it creates vast income. Plus the bad publicity the goons give BBC and Capita is not great, and the lies about detector vans etc.
If you look beyond the obvious it is a scam and always has been, if you don't mind paying it fair enough, but simply calling everyone else thief's or tight looks way before the point I am afraid.
I agree it's a great service, I would personally pay a website sub, it's where I go for numerous news intake, no ads no stopping you use adblocker like most modern news sites.
But its payment model is utterly out of date, and they don't want to change it for obvious reasons, it creates vast income. Plus the bad publicity the goons give BBC and Capita is not great, and the lies about detector vans etc.
If you look beyond the obvious it is a scam and always has been, if you don't mind paying it fair enough, but simply calling everyone else thief's or tight looks way before the point I am afraid.
ceesvdelst said:
I think it will change, charging the over 75's was a huge PR boo boo and has opened the Beeb up to a lot more prying eyes into how it's funded and why they charge what they do. IN comparison with other streaming sites.
I agree it's a great service, I would personally pay a website sub, it's where I go for numerous news intake, no ads no stopping you use adblocker like most modern news sites.
But its payment model is utterly out of date, and they don't want to change it for obvious reasons, it creates vast income. Plus the bad publicity the goons give BBC and Capita is not great, and the lies about detector vans etc.
If you look beyond the obvious it is a scam and always has been, if you don't mind paying it fair enough, but simply calling everyone else thief's or tight looks way before the point I am afraid.
Pensioner thing was a government cockup. BBC were put in a bad place, think it shows the margins they work to.I agree it's a great service, I would personally pay a website sub, it's where I go for numerous news intake, no ads no stopping you use adblocker like most modern news sites.
But its payment model is utterly out of date, and they don't want to change it for obvious reasons, it creates vast income. Plus the bad publicity the goons give BBC and Capita is not great, and the lies about detector vans etc.
If you look beyond the obvious it is a scam and always has been, if you don't mind paying it fair enough, but simply calling everyone else thief's or tight looks way before the point I am afraid.
Going forward it will need a rethink. German model looks good.
Another thought, the loot is garnered by the BBC and given to the government as per the charter. The Government then funds the BBC. If they cull the BBC, government is not going to give up a few billion in subs. You will still be paying for something, just now it will be called something else.
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