3 ms·
You might think these vans were crazy then, what's more crazy today is how they continue to force their opt-out licensing upon everyone like it's still 1946 and
by tomxor 7y ago
You might think these vans were crazy then, what's more crazy today is how they continue to force their opt-out licensing upon everyone like it's still 1946 and they are the only broadcasters in town.
If you live in the UK and own a TV you must pay the BBC whether you want the BBC or not!
I'm one of the minority who don't own a TV in the UK and even then they make it their business to inform me every two years about all the different ways they can invade my home, fine me extortionate sums and send me to prison for the crime of being caught owning television signal receiving equipment without paying them.
Given how nasty all the smart TVs are these days, when I eventually want such luxuries I plan to eventually get a huge monitor and just play netflix or whatever on it... it would be interesting to see their response to that.
- djmobley 7y agoTo be clear, a licence is required to watch live TV on any channel, not just the BBC.
- tomxor 7y agoI wonder how they define "live TV"? If i watch a live video stream over the internet does it count? I suspect they basically mean the reception of any terrestrial RF TV signal not really caring about it being live, but due to not wanting to go to the trouble of differentiating between BBC and freeview?
- stordoff 7y agoIt would count - the definition is deliberately broad ("by any means"): > In this regulation, any reference to receiving a television programme service includes a reference to receiving by any means any programme included in that service, where that programme is received at the same time (or virtually the same time) as it is received by members of the public by virtue of its being broadcast or distributed as part of that service. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2004/692/regulation/9/made http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2004/692/regulation/9/mad...
- LandR 7y agohttps://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ104 https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ104 If you are only watching Netflix / Amazon etc on Demand programs you do not need a TV licence.
- amaccuish 7y ago> "If you live in the UK and own a TV you must pay the BBC whether you want the BBC or not!" This isn't true.
- tomxor 7y ago> You need a TV Licence to watch or record live TV, no matter where it is broadcast or distributed from. This includes satellite or online streamed programmes from outside the UK or Channel Islands, such as sporting events and foreign shows. https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ16 https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ16 > If you’re watching live TV, you need to be covered by a TV Licence: [...] for all channels, not just the BBC https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ95 https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ95 In the UK you pay the BBC for not watching the BBC.
- amaccuish 7y agoYes. I was replying to your comment ("If you live in the UK and own a TV you must pay the BBC whether you want the BBC or not!") that suggested that merely owning a TV meant you have to pay the license fee. > If you’re watching live TV, you need to be covered by a TV Licence: [...] for all channels, not just the BBC Is this not because part of the license fee goes to the upkeep of the transmitters and other infrastructure which all terrestrially broadcast channels use?
- noneeeed 7y agoThat is partly true, but I think it's mostly so that you can't just claim you only only watch reruns of Family Guy on E4 and therefore shouldn't have to pay.
- UK-Al05 7y agoFor most people it is though. They don't want to take the risk even if they don't use a TV...
- amaccuish 7y ago