TV Licence.

[sten_super]

no... im confused. it says you *do* need a licence to record. oh well, the missus pays, so wont worry about it.

You would need a TV license because you are recording direct from live TV. However watching non-live stuff on the iPlayer does not involve any use of live TV so is legit without a license.

I have absolutely no problem with paying for a TV license; I get a great amount of high quality TV and radio coverage for the money and I bloody love not having to spend endless time watching crap adverts.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Personally think it is money well spent, BBC produces the best TV ever

I have no problem with the license - I can't agree with this statement though. These days they produce very little of any quality, Science & Nature progs are the exception. There is so little watchable on BBC1 now, apart from sport (and really, only F1) I think there is nothing I would turn to it for. BBC2 fares a little better, but not much.

Not worth complaining about repeats, it's just the way of things now as they can't afford to fill the air-time with new material (but it really necessary to repeat top gear 3 times in a week ?)

Can't say I listen to the radio, except when I'm in the car.

All in all, BBC1 expecially, is just dumbed-down soap dross, so-called talent shows and house makeovers. I don't even watch the news on the beeb now, and far prefer Channel 4 news and even Sky News.

 

[itszamora]

Personally think it is money well spent, BBC produces the best TV ever

I wonder whether those that dodge paying it when they should would be happy with no BBC TV, no BBC radio (so no Albion commentaries then), no BBC website, and with nothing but commercial TV available to watch. Incidentally, ITV and Channel 4 actually take a bit of the license fee too for public service broadcasting.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

I wonder whether those that dodge paying it when they should would be happy with no BBC TV, no BBC radio (so no Albion commentaries then), no BBC website, and with nothing but commercial TV available to watch. Incidentally, ITV and Channel 4 actually take a bit of the license fee too for public service broadcasting.

It's a good question. As I said, personally I don't mind paying, I was just questioning the quality. The things I use the BBC for would probably be taken up by the private sector, if the beeb disappeared - I'm sure the Albions commentary would get done one way or another, assuming the take-up was ecomonically viable for a company (maybe it wouldn't be for a lower division footie team, who knows).

 

[Willow]

It's a good question. As I said, personally I don't mind paying, I was just questioning the quality. The things I use the BBC for would probably be taken up by the private sector, if the beeb disappeared - I'm sure the Albions commentary would get done one way or another, assuming the take-up was ecomonically viable for a company (maybe it wouldn't be for a lower division footie team, who knows).

Have you never watched BBC4, Dicky? Worth the licence fee, alone. And all advert free. I have lived in New Zealand, where commercial television rules the roost, and it is all but unwatchable.

Beach Hut is right. The BBC is excellent value for money, and something to be cherished.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Have you never watched BBC4, Dicky? Worth the licence fee, alone. And all advert free. I have lived in New Zealand, where commercial television rules the roost, and it is all but unwatchable.

Beach Hut is right. The BBC is excellent value for money, and something to be cherished.

Hmm, I'm just trying to think what might be on there that I would watch. I try to catch "The Sky at Night" if that's on there, but that half an hour a month - one slight problem I have with BBC3/BBC4 is that I don't feel they have an individual "identity" as such, so couldn't tell you what's on there.

Having said that, if you are highlighting BBC4 as the best they have to offer, doesn't that say something ? A channel of (I think) manily repeats, that only broadcasts for a few hours a day.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

a device that is capable is the term i believe. theres a sneaky little use of "live" in there, if you use a VCR, DVD player, sky box like device and watch playback only, or your PC has a TV tuner you still require a licence.

A TV has to be detuned to avoid being prosecuted on a technicality.

 

[Easy 10]

I'd pay the lience fee just for the advert-free Family Guy tbh.

 

[Willow]

Hmm, I'm just trying to think what might be on there that I would watch. I try to catch "The Sky at Night" if that's on there, but that half an hour a month - one slight problem I have with BBC3/BBC4 is that I don't feel they have an individual "identity" as such, so couldn't tell you what's on there.

Having said that, if you are highlighting BBC4 as the best they have to offer, doesn't that say something ? A channel of (I think) manily repeats, that only broadcasts for a few hours a day.

BBC3 is for the kids, leave that one well alone. BBC4 has some fantastic music documentaries, usually on a Friday night. Country music last week, Plastic Ono Band the week before, Prog Rock this week.

 

[Starry]

Wouldn't it have just been easier to let her in to check then if you have nothing to hide and save all the unncessary hassle ?

no, i am not in the habit of inviting people who have no business being on my property into my house to snoop around. making a few phone calls and returning some letters to sender is no hassle really.

 

[Storer68]

It’s against the law to watch or record TV programmes as they're being shown on TV without a valid licence. This includes the use of devices such as a TV, computer, mobile phone, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder.

Watching TV without a valid licence is a criminal offence. This can lead to prosecution, a court appearance and a fine of up to £1,000 (not including legal costs). The exceptions are in Guernsey where the maximum fine is £2,000 and Jersey it is £500


As new technology makes it possible to watch TV on more devices than ever you need to make sure that you remain properly licensed.

If you watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV you must, by law, be covered by a TV Licence, no matter what device you're using
Many TV channels are now available to watch over the internet. If you’re watching programmes on a computer or laptop as they're being shown on TV, then you need a TV Licence. However, you don’t need to be covered by a licence if you’re only using ‘on-demand’ services to watch programmes after they have been shown on TV. So, you need a licence to watch any channel live online, but you wouldn’t need one to use BBC iPlayer to catch up on an episode of a programme you missed, for example.
Just as with any other device, if you’re watching programmes as they’re being shown on TV on a phone or any other mobile device, you need to be covered by a licence. If you're covered by a valid licence at the address where you live, you'll be licensed to use any device powered solely by its own internal batteries outside the home too.
If you use Sky+, Playstation or any other games console or a digital TV recorder to watch or record programmes as they're being shown on TV, you need to be covered by a TV Licence. This is also the case if you use a DVD/VHS recorder.

If you only use your digital box to produce sounds (i.e. you don't use it to display programmes), then you don't need a TV Licence.

 

[beorhthelm]

wierd double post

 

[beorhthelm]

really it should be changed to a "broadcast licence".

unless one wants to see it removed all together, with BBC closed down, privatised or paid for from general taxation.