tv license and pc tv cards

[Rob_T]

suppose i don't have a tv at home, just a computer. suppose the computer has a tv card installed. suppose my monitor is a 42 inch plasma screen.

do i need a tv license? i don't actually own a tv... what the ruling on this?

[john_p]

Yes, you do. But it's not illegal if you don't tell anyone.

[randlemarcus]

Its a device capable of receiving transmissions on the wavelengths that TVsignals are broadcast on, therefore you do need a license.

On the other hand, if you remove the TV card, and just use the BBC watch again type features, then would you need a license? If the Beeb has a user license that says only TV license holders can use the features, then transfer the question to bit torrent type TV.

M

[GlenMH]

There was an article about this recently in one of the computer mags. The picture gets even more confusing if you have a laptop:

If you use the laptop at home to watch tv and have a licence, you are covered by your existing licence.
If you use the laptop on battery power outside of your home, you are covered by your existing licence.
If you use the laptop but plug it in to the mains supply anywhere else, you need a second licence - where is the sense in that???

Glen

[pdV6]

GlenMH said:

If you use the laptop but plug it in to the mains supply anywhere else, you need a second licence - where is the sense in that???

Mad, innit? Its just an extension of "portable telly" rules, though; run 'em off a battery and you're ok on your home licence, plug it into the mains and that address needs a licence.

[tinman0]

pdV6 said:

GlenMH said: If you use the laptop but plug it in to the mains supply anywhere else, you need a second licence - where is the sense in that??? Mad, innit? Its just an extension of "portable telly" rules, though; run 'em off a battery and you're ok on your home licence, plug it into the mains and that address needs a licence.

with the laptops its mad, but with portable tvs its not that mad - you could have some pikey who owns 500 tvs and lends them to his friends and as long as he has a tv licence, then all 500 tvs are covered at other locations.

[pdV6]

Yeah I know - I was just pointing out that for the purposes of a TV licence, a laptop is treated in the same way as a portable TV, which kinda makes sense.

[KITT]

What about in-car TVs?

[pdV6]

KITT said:

What about in-car TVs?

Runs off the car battery, so probably covered by your home licence.

[Eric Mc]

LICENCE

[puggit]

Don't forget the law has changed so that when a UK company sells a PC TV card they must take your details.

Of course, like numberplates, it doesn't matter and you can buy them from abroad

[r988]

Eric Mc said:

LICENCE

sometimes you just have to give up

[esselte]

Bloomin' marvelous innit? We pay for the BBC through the licence and what do they do? use some of the cash to set up web sites which can be viewed from anywhere in the world sans licence.

[XM5ER]

GlenMH said:

If you use the laptop but plug it in to the mains supply anywhere else, you need a second licence - where is the sense in that??? Glen

And the TV licencing agency will need a feckin clairvoyant to catch you.