Iplayer on Ipad/Android and licence fee implications
Discussion
I was pondering that with the roll-out of the BBC's Iplayer on mobile devices, and it's ability to stream live TV, does this represent a shift in policy by TV Licencing?
Previously, on the one occasion I streamed a live broadcast (F1 Qualifying) whilst at work, I received, in short order, a letter from TVL demanding the purchase of a TV Licence for the work premises. Presumably this will now not apply if I watch streamed live TV on my android phone whilst at work, or is it a case of 'watch this space' for a future blanket telephone line/internet levy?
Previously, on the one occasion I streamed a live broadcast (F1 Qualifying) whilst at work, I received, in short order, a letter from TVL demanding the purchase of a TV Licence for the work premises. Presumably this will now not apply if I watch streamed live TV on my android phone whilst at work, or is it a case of 'watch this space' for a future blanket telephone line/internet levy?
As far as I know the licence applies regardless of transmission "medium" but it's only live broadcasts that are licenced. Watching prerecorded stuff (eg iPlayer) does not require it.
I suspect as time goes on the lines between freeview and freesat and Internet are going to blur even more and consumer TVs will take content from a variety of sources.
I suspect as time goes on the lines between freeview and freesat and Internet are going to blur even more and consumer TVs will take content from a variety of sources.
The way that it is supposed to work is that the consumer of the programming (TV or radio) must have a TV license. Since its almost always for personal consumption (i.e. mobile or PC viewing) its for one person, the owner usually. Therefore you as an individual must have a TV license.
If you view your iPlayer at work, thats fine, as long as you have a TV license from home. However, address information is shared between iPlayer and the TV licensing people and they will send out letters accordingly. Its an automated system and not threatening (I hope), so the work office does not need a license.
Students try to get around this by dropping the TV from their digs and just using iPlayer - which wont work, because you still need the license! Hence the letters. And the iPlayer system blocks content outside of the UK, but there are ways around that if you really want to view it.
If you view your iPlayer at work, thats fine, as long as you have a TV license from home. However, address information is shared between iPlayer and the TV licensing people and they will send out letters accordingly. Its an automated system and not threatening (I hope), so the work office does not need a license.
Students try to get around this by dropping the TV from their digs and just using iPlayer - which wont work, because you still need the license! Hence the letters. And the iPlayer system blocks content outside of the UK, but there are ways around that if you really want to view it.
boredofmyoldname said:
I was wondering the same, especially with things like TV catch up which streams a delayed free view service and the illegal streaming of sky TV etc. is TV subscription and paying a licence fee necessary at all?
Yes - you wanna watch BBC programmes - yes you need a license (somewhere)No - you wanna watch ITV, C5 or C4 programmes - advertiser supported
Yes - you wanna watch Sky or pay channels - you need to have a legitimate service
Simple.
arun1uk said:
They had the same debate when Digital TV tuners were installed in cars. The guidance was that as long as you have a TV licence at home, then you are covered for your car. I guess the same applies to mobile devices, however, how they monitor this is another matter...
I've wondered about tv in cars before, what happens with a company/ chauffeur car? Who should have a tv licence?Shaw Tarse said:
I've wondered about tv in cars before, what happens with a company/ chauffeur car? Who should have a tv licence?
Owner of the vehicle, I'd imagine.I doubt they'll try to hard with iPad users when they can just assume every house in the UK has a telly and make people pay. It's been done a few times on here before where someone doesn't have a TV and had to prove it.
GBGaffer said:
john_p said:
As far as I know the licence applies regardless of transmission "medium" but it's only live broadcasts that are licenced. Watching prerecorded stuff (eg iPlayer) does not require it.
The iplayer app permits viewing of 'live' tv so does need a licence."If you are watching live content (e.g. a programme as it is being shown on BBC1 or BBC News) you will need a TV Licence. If you are using the BBC iPlayer to watch programmes on-demand i.e. after they have been shown, you do not need a TV Licence."
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/about/foi-legal-frame...
john_p said:
This isn't what TV Licencing say -
"If you are watching live content (e.g. a programme as it is being shown on BBC1 or BBC News) you will need a TV Licence. If you are using the BBC iPlayer to watch programmes on-demand i.e. after they have been shown, you do not need a TV Licence."
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/about/foi-legal-frame...
That's for on-demand programmes (i.e. programmes that have already been broadcast). iPlayer also streams live broadcasts of what is on television right now. Hence you don't need a licence for watching the former on iPlayer but you do if watching the latter on iPlayer."If you are watching live content (e.g. a programme as it is being shown on BBC1 or BBC News) you will need a TV Licence. If you are using the BBC iPlayer to watch programmes on-demand i.e. after they have been shown, you do not need a TV Licence."
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/about/foi-legal-frame...
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