Hardware allowing parents BBC/TV license free viewing
Discussion
Hi all
My parents have survived long enough last year to get free TV license. That entitlement is now being removed by the change in rules and they are loathed to pay for the service the BBC provides. Looking in to it I see that (apart from BBC) most of the programs they watch are all available to view as on-demand streams. However they haven't got Smart TVs. Can anyone recommend a device to plug into a TV to allow it to receive streams via Wifi. I thought that either the Amazon Fire Stick or Roku would do, however looking into them neither seem to work with Dplay for Quest etc. There does seem to be a plethora of chinese boxes that could would play a stream from the internet into HDMI, however as it is for my parents I need a device that I could guarantee a simple interface for them to negotiate and also reliability. Can anyone recommend a suitable device?
Have I missed anything that is available, or am I being unrealistic in my expectations?
Thanks
Todd
My parents have survived long enough last year to get free TV license. That entitlement is now being removed by the change in rules and they are loathed to pay for the service the BBC provides. Looking in to it I see that (apart from BBC) most of the programs they watch are all available to view as on-demand streams. However they haven't got Smart TVs. Can anyone recommend a device to plug into a TV to allow it to receive streams via Wifi. I thought that either the Amazon Fire Stick or Roku would do, however looking into them neither seem to work with Dplay for Quest etc. There does seem to be a plethora of chinese boxes that could would play a stream from the internet into HDMI, however as it is for my parents I need a device that I could guarantee a simple interface for them to negotiate and also reliability. Can anyone recommend a suitable device?
Have I missed anything that is available, or am I being unrealistic in my expectations?
Thanks
Todd
niva441 said:
No they have a very limited technical sophistication or interest (they get excited by Tipping Point). So just turn the TV on and watch something/anything. I did get them a PVR but it was never used.
In that case they'll struggle with a streaming box of almost any type. There are very few user interfaces that are as simple to use as the Freeview EPG. The TV license is NOT to watch the BBC programmes, it is to watch ANY programmes, so without it they can't legally watch Tipping Point!
If they were technically minded then you might be able to get something working, but if they are not they will hate it.
Just pay the license fee, you know it makes sense.
If they were technically minded then you might be able to get something working, but if they are not they will hate it.
Just pay the license fee, you know it makes sense.
pcameron said:
The TV license is NOT to watch the BBC programmes, it is to watch ANY programmes, so without it they can't legally watch Tipping Point!
If they were technically minded then you might be able to get something working, but if they are not they will hate it.
Just pay the license fee, you know it makes sense.
The original post says that they want to watch it via streaming rather than live. You can stream ITV player without a TV license.If they were technically minded then you might be able to get something working, but if they are not they will hate it.
Just pay the license fee, you know it makes sense.
i4got said:
pcameron said:
The TV license is NOT to watch the BBC programmes, it is to watch ANY programmes, so without it they can't legally watch Tipping Point!
If they were technically minded then you might be able to get something working, but if they are not they will hate it.
Just pay the license fee, you know it makes sense.
The original post says that they want to watch it via streaming rather than live. You can stream ITV player without a TV license.If they were technically minded then you might be able to get something working, but if they are not they will hate it.
Just pay the license fee, you know it makes sense.
i4got said:
pcameron said:
The TV license is NOT to watch the BBC programmes, it is to watch ANY programmes, so without it they can't legally watch Tipping Point!
If they were technically minded then you might be able to get something working, but if they are not they will hate it.
Just pay the license fee, you know it makes sense.
The original post says that they want to watch it via streaming rather than live. You can stream ITV player without a TV license.If they were technically minded then you might be able to get something working, but if they are not they will hate it.
Just pay the license fee, you know it makes sense.
sunbeam alpine said:
i4got said:
pcameron said:
The TV license is NOT to watch the BBC programmes, it is to watch ANY programmes, so without it they can't legally watch Tipping Point!
If they were technically minded then you might be able to get something working, but if they are not they will hate it.
Just pay the license fee, you know it makes sense.
The original post says that they want to watch it via streaming rather than live. You can stream ITV player without a TV license.If they were technically minded then you might be able to get something working, but if they are not they will hate it.
Just pay the license fee, you know it makes sense.
"Have you pressed the AV button and used the streaming device remote control to select your show"
"Which is the AV button"
"The one on the top right"
"There isn't one there"
"At the top"
"No there isn't"
"Are you holding it the right way up"
All from personal experience...
Yes I'd like to disagree, but I think you have foretold my potential future. Which is why I was asking in forlorn hope for a simple device. You never know, once they get the letter from TV licensing to say they no longer qualify and I disconnect aerial, they have be tremendously incentivised to learn. Or perhaps not.
The Fire Stick and Roku were looking good as I could hide the original TV remote, leaving just one to use, but for some reason those devices don't want to co-operate with Dplay, otherwise it would have been job done (until the questions started!).
The Fire Stick and Roku were looking good as I could hide the original TV remote, leaving just one to use, but for some reason those devices don't want to co-operate with Dplay, otherwise it would have been job done (until the questions started!).
Edited by niva441 on Saturday 1st August 18:29
hucumber said:
Would it not just be easier to get them a smart tv? My in laws have just got one and they are pretty old, but the interface is so simple you couldn't get it wrong if you tried
App support on most smart TVs is so poor it would be cheaper to buy a licence than keep scrapping TVs. Argos do a Hisense smart tv with Roku built in, it’s actually a decent tv and easy to use interface.
I helped set up it up for a friends elderly parents who also don’t watch any live tv so no need for a licensing fee,
Very simple interface, after 15 minutes they were wizz kids at navigating and finding on demand shows (UK play tv is popular!).
They have already saved 2 years of £154, almost paid for the tv.
Don’t be daft and pay for a license fee if your not watching live tv or the BBC I player.
The guidance is clear, having the ability to watch live tv is not a crime.
Now tv stick or roku stick is also a good option
On a wider point, really is time for the BBC to join the 21st century and go on a subscription model. Most people have smart TVs or secondary devices to obtain smart tv.
I would happily dip into it when there was something worth watching and pay, like I do with sky sports, bt sport, Netflix, etc.
I helped set up it up for a friends elderly parents who also don’t watch any live tv so no need for a licensing fee,
Very simple interface, after 15 minutes they were wizz kids at navigating and finding on demand shows (UK play tv is popular!).
They have already saved 2 years of £154, almost paid for the tv.
Don’t be daft and pay for a license fee if your not watching live tv or the BBC I player.
The guidance is clear, having the ability to watch live tv is not a crime.
Now tv stick or roku stick is also a good option
On a wider point, really is time for the BBC to join the 21st century and go on a subscription model. Most people have smart TVs or secondary devices to obtain smart tv.
I would happily dip into it when there was something worth watching and pay, like I do with sky sports, bt sport, Netflix, etc.
Edited by ACCYSTAN on Sunday 2nd August 13:40
ACCYSTAN said:
On a wider point, really is time for the BBC to join the 21st century and go on a subscription model. Most people have smart TVs or secondary devices to obtain smart tv.
I would happily dip into it when there was something worth watching and pay, like I do with sky sports, bt sport, Netflix, etc.
Can’t see many people wanting to pay the £1,000 a year subscription fee for BBC TV, rising to £10,000 in year two, and even higher after that.I would happily dip into it when there was something worth watching and pay, like I do with sky sports, bt sport, Netflix, etc.
Edited by ACCYSTAN on Sunday 2nd August 13:40
You are not allowed to view BBC programming - via any method - without a licence.
A TV licence is required if you watch or record live TV - whether this is via freeview, freesat, or streaming service.
If you only ever watch pre-recorded via a non-BBC service, or from tape/DVD, then you do not. Be careful of other online service that stream live programming as that's covered by the licence too.
A TV licence is required if you watch or record live TV - whether this is via freeview, freesat, or streaming service.
If you only ever watch pre-recorded via a non-BBC service, or from tape/DVD, then you do not. Be careful of other online service that stream live programming as that's covered by the licence too.
TV Licensing 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.
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