4 ms·

> You can watch as much as you like on Youtube or Netflix or whatever without paying it. Careful here because there is live TV on Youtube and a valid licence i

> You can watch as much as you like on Youtube or Netflix or whatever without paying it. Careful here because there is live TV on Youtube and a valid licence is required to watch that. There are also live shows on Netflix, which may count as "live TV programmes" so requiring a licence.

IAmBroom 8mo ago
You're moving the goalposts. Watching non-live BBC programmes in the UK legally requires a license fee. The same is not true of Netflix.
- nailer 8mo ago
  The way it’s worded it is that any thing that could be deemed “live TV” is liable for the tax regardless of who produced the content.
  - PaulDavisThe1st 8mo ago
    Are you suggesting that there's significant ambiguity about what "live TV" means?
    - nailer 8mo ago
      Yes. TNT shows live TV for example, last I checked they were produced by the UFC rather than BBC.
      - PaulDavisThe1st 8mo ago
        The UK law is specifically designed to cover this. It's not some weird thing. Any "live TV" requires a license even if you watch it via streaming services.
        nailer 8mo ago
        If the law intends this, this is specifically a very weird thing. Why would the law intend to make people pay the BBC to watch UFC?
        mytailorisrich 8mo ago
        The law did not really intend this as it was written when "live TV" meant sitting in front of an actual TV. Since then it has been interpreted as covering everything, I think to protect revenues and deter even more people from ditching their TV licence.
- mytailorisrich 8mo ago
  > Watching non-live BBC programmes in the UK legally requires a license fee. The same is not true of Netflix. Agreed but this is not what I commented on (no goalpost moved...)
graemep 8mo ago
It has to be television. So i think it depends on the particular live stream you watch - e.g. one that is also on a TV channel at the same time. https://www.gov.uk/find-licences/tv-licence https://www.gov.uk/find-licences/tv-licence https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ33 https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ33 The example given by TV licensing is Sky News. it has to be part of a "television programme" https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/part/4 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/part/4
- mytailorisrich 8mo ago
  Yes, you highlight that a TV livence may be required for some content on Youtube. It is apparently also required for some content (live) on Netflix [1]. For example it seems that WWE Raw, which is live and on Netflix is deemed "live TV" [1]: "Services include YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Now, Sky Go, BBC iPlayer, ITVX and more. Live TV or events can include: Champions League matches or live channels on Amazon Prime Video WWE or NFL events on Netflix News or sports channels on YouTube" It's a bit of a mess... [1] https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/watching-live-online-and-on-mobile https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/w...

IAmBroom 8mo ago

You're moving the goalposts. Watching non-live BBC programmes in the UK legally requires a license fee. The same is not true of Netflix.

nailer 8mo ago
The way it’s worded it is that any thing that could be deemed “live TV” is liable for the tax regardless of who produced the content.
- PaulDavisThe1st 8mo ago
  Are you suggesting that there's significant ambiguity about what "live TV" means?
  - nailer 8mo ago
    Yes. TNT shows live TV for example, last I checked they were produced by the UFC rather than BBC.
    - PaulDavisThe1st 8mo ago
      The UK law is specifically designed to cover this. It's not some weird thing. Any "live TV" requires a license even if you watch it via streaming services.
      - nailer 8mo ago
        If the law intends this, this is specifically a very weird thing. Why would the law intend to make people pay the BBC to watch UFC?
        mytailorisrich 8mo ago
        The law did not really intend this as it was written when "live TV" meant sitting in front of an actual TV. Since then it has been interpreted as covering everything, I think to protect revenues and deter even more people from ditching their TV licence.
mytailorisrich 8mo ago
> Watching non-live BBC programmes in the UK legally requires a license fee. The same is not true of Netflix. Agreed but this is not what I commented on (no goalpost moved...)

graemep 8mo ago

It has to be television. So i think it depends on the particular live stream you watch - e.g. one that is also on a TV channel at the same time. https://www.gov.uk/find-licences/tv-licence https://www.gov.uk/find-licences/tv-licence https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ33 https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ33 The example given by TV licensing is Sky News. it has to be part of a "television programme" https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/part/4 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/part/4

mytailorisrich 8mo ago
Yes, you highlight that a TV livence may be required for some content on Youtube. It is apparently also required for some content (live) on Netflix [1]. For example it seems that WWE Raw, which is live and on Netflix is deemed "live TV" [1]: "Services include YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Now, Sky Go, BBC iPlayer, ITVX and more. Live TV or events can include: Champions League matches or live channels on Amazon Prime Video WWE or NFL events on Netflix News or sports channels on YouTube" It's a bit of a mess... [1] https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/watching-live-online-and-on-mobile https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/w...