TV Licence required because i have a computer?

Keltik THC · 18 Nov 2009 at 22:32

Hi Guys,

I'm moving to a new house on my own, my housemate paid for the TV license as i dont really watch it.. spend all my time on computers really.

I was under the impression you only needed a license if you had a arial/sky dish.

So my new house, i was not going to fit one to avoid the punitive levy inficted by the BBC.

But my freind at work advised me the laws changed, even if you have a computer and and internet connection you have to pay for a licence?

Check it out here:

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/

But my understanding is that as it says i would need a license if i watch programs that are being broadcast on CONVENTIONAL UK TV at the exact same time.

So, say i watch Sky through my Xbox 360, those channels are not being broadcast on conventional UK TV, or if i watch Channel 4 OD or BBC iPlayer, again not being broadcast at the same time.

I just wondered if anyone knew any further info on this, because it seems to me that you only have to have a license if your PC has a TV Tuner card and is recieving TV as its being broadcast on conventional channels in the UK? which again would mean you have an ariel.

So my guess is that i can avoid paying this?

i guess ill wait and see when the TV licensing guy comes around and sees all my monitors (a couple of 24" and one 50" plasma) and laughs his butt off when i tell him i dont require a license?

ethan · 18 Nov 2009 at 22:35

It appears obvious really-only if you watch live tv-as I understand it.

Django x2 · 18 Nov 2009 at 22:36

No, you don't need a licence. Only if you watch TV that is aired live (basically).

lord filbuster · 18 Nov 2009 at 22:36

The only time you have to pay is if you watch or record programs as they are being broadcast. Iplayer and everything like it don't require a license, unless you watch the live broadcast on it. You can have as many tvs and monitors as you like, even if they are capable of watching tv, provided you don't use them to watch tv. Also, Why the hell would you let the tv licensing guy inside the house?

jak731 · 18 Nov 2009 at 22:37

Should be fine, technically you can't watch bbc news 24 on the bbc news website, but how are they ever going to know if you do?

alex24 · 18 Nov 2009 at 22:38

So you want to get out of paying for the privilege to watch BBC tv shows that everyone else has to pay for?

If you watch live BBC iplayer, you need to have a licence. Other channels is probably OK since they make their money by advertising. Not to say that you won't get caught mind, but that's pretty stingy of you.

Glaucus · 18 Nov 2009 at 22:39

Keltik THC said:
So, say i watch Sky through my Xbox 360, those channels are not being broadcast on conventional UK TV, or if i watch Channel 4 OD or BBC iPlayer, again not being broadcast at the same time.

?

How does sky through eh xbox work? is it the same time as would be with a normal sky box? if so you would need a license.

iplayer and 4od you do not need a license UNLESS you watch live broadcasts Through those services.

Keltik THC · 18 Nov 2009 at 22:39

i obviously wont let him in my house but depending when he comes he would be a retarted TV licence enforcer to see the 50" plasma through the window.

I can watch certain channels through sky 360 player though, its not conventional TV and its live... well you could argue theirs a delay due to the buffering/conversion etc... thats the main thing i think they may say is applicable under the tax.

AtreuS · 18 Nov 2009 at 22:40

From the web site

"You need to be covered by a valid TV Licence if you watch or record TV as it's being broadcast. This includes the use of devices such as a computer, laptop, mobile phone or DVD/video recorder. "

Ive bolded the important bit

If you use your equipment to watch TV as its being broadcast then you need a license, if not you dont.

The license people just assume that everyone needs one and work on that assumption, to actually have a case for prosecuting you they would have to actually find you watching TV and provide that evidence to a court.

Glaucus · 18 Nov 2009 at 22:40

Keltik THC said:
i obviously wont let him in my house but depending when he comes he would be a retarted TV licence enforcer to see the 50" plasma through the window.

I can watch certain channels through sky 360 player though, its not conventional TV and its live... well you could argue theirs a delay due to the buffering/conversion etc... thats the main thing i think they may say is applicable under the tax.

doesn't matter about conventional, if it's live you need a license. So if you use that service you need a license.

Keltik THC · 18 Nov 2009 at 22:42

alexhull24 said:
So you want to get out of paying for the privilege to watch BBC tv shows that everyone else has to pay for?

If you watch live BBC iplayer, you need to have a licence. Other channels is probably OK since they make their money by advertising. Not to say that you won't get caught mind, but that's pretty stingy of you.

i cant remember the last time i watched BBC, i have never been to iplayer never needed to.

Ive used Channel 4 OD though.

as i say my main question is actually related to Sky on my Xbox.

AcidHell2 said:
How does sky through eh xbox work? is it the same time as would be with a normal sky box? if so you would need a license.

You either put in you Sky card code or you can pay sky to recieve it on your 360, 30 channels, on-demand content.

Its not the full sky package by any means, but is good non-the less... you can also watch programs with your freinds online with audio, should be good for sports matches.

If you dont know MS launched a massive update the other day, you now get Last.FM, simply type in a genre or an artist and it plays their library in the background whilst shuffling through pictures of them. Zune HD, watch 1080 films with your freinds, Sky Player, Twitter & Facebook etc..etc.. it truly is becoming a media center in my opinion (finally).

edit: well i guess sky on the 360 covers it, although theres a delay and its not the same quality due to bandwidth, highest you can get is about 800mb per hour, but i cant imagine that they would accept that as an argument towards it not being TV as its broadcast.

kylew · 18 Nov 2009 at 22:42

As far as I know though, they want to introduce a TV license fee for though who own PCs and have an internet connection.

.Lethal · 18 Nov 2009 at 22:43

Keltik THC said:
I was under the impression you only needed a license if you had a arial/sky dish.

Rules changed, as you have been told yourself.

Stop trying to deny what is fact, you need a TV Licence end of.

If you watch any sort of media be it over the PC, xbox or playstation and is from the BBC, Sky or any terestrial station you must have a TV Licence.

AtreuS · 18 Nov 2009 at 22:46

.Lethal said:
For god sake stop trying to deny what is fact, you need a TV Licence end of.

If you watch any sort of media be it over the PC, xbox or playstation and is from the BBC, Sky or any terestrial station you must have a TV Licence.

Only if its LIVE content... if its not live ( if it not being shown on the TV right now ) then you dont. Ive not got the xbox sky thing so i dunno exactly how it works, or if its showing you live sky TV with adverts and all. If it shows exactly what a sky customer would get through the dish at the same time then you need a license of course.

Glaucus · 18 Nov 2009 at 22:48

.Lethal said:
Rules changed, as you have been told yourself.

Stop trying to deny what is fact, you need a TV Licence end of.

If you watch any sort of media be it over the PC, xbox or playstation and is from the BBC, Sky or any terestrial station you must have a TV Licence.

No you don't, only if it is live ie same time as conventional TV, so f1 on bbc, itv website, xbox sky would all classify as live.

.Lethal · 18 Nov 2009 at 22:49

AtreuS said:
Only if its LIVE content... if its not live ( if it not being shown on the TV right now ) then you dont. Ive not got the xbox sky thing so i dunno exactly how it works, or if its showing you live sky TV with adverts and all.

OK just checked myself and this does seem to be the case.

Whether people obey this rule is another thing.

Keltik THC · 18 Nov 2009 at 22:52

.Lethal said:
Rules changed, as you have been told yourself.

Stop trying to deny what is fact, you need a TV Licence end of.

If you watch any sort of media be it over the PC, xbox or playstation and is from the BBC, Sky or any terestrial station you must have a TV Licence.

calm dow man, i was just asking for clarification. I probably wont continue to watch sky on my 360 then.

Its not that i have a problem paying for a service guys, its the fact i dont watch much TV at all, and to pay for the TV license, like 150 quid a year, plus the sky fee for something i watch rarely id rather do other things.

edit: i cant remember the last time something good was on terrestrial TV anyway, my point is why pay 150+ quid a year when id rather just buy the DVDs and watch stuff like The Wire than pay to get coronation street, hollyoaks, eastenders, the bill, emerdale, x factor etc...etc...?

alex24 · 18 Nov 2009 at 22:59

We're just bitter because it costs so much!

I don't mind paying it, but it would be nice if you could opt out from those channels it funds if you don't want to watch them. Perhaps you could get a card or something like top-up TV, so you can only access when you've bought a licence. They'll never change it though - it makes loads of money because it's just easier to pay in the end. They even pestered me when I had a TV delivered from an online store, they must keep track of TV sales.

It seems like classic British thinking - 'everyone has a right to view these channels without adverts. Oh, but you have to pay £150 for the privilege.'

Keltik THC · 18 Nov 2009 at 23:03

omg, check this out:

BBC said:
Telling us that you don't need a TV Licence

We've made it even easier for you to tell us that you don't need a TV Licence. Just enter your details in the online declaration form.

If you think that you've already told us you don't need a licence, but would like to check your status with us, please fill in the online check form.
After you send us your declaration

When we receive your declaration, we'll send you a letter confirming the next steps. These are:

* We will send a TV Licensing officer to your address to confirm the situation. This is because when we visit people who have told us they don't need a licence, a quarter of those we contact do, in fact, need one.
* Once our officer has confirmed that you don't need a licence, your address will not be contacted again for at least three years.
* After the three-year period, we will contact you to confirm that you still live at the address, and that your situation hasn't changed.
* If, during a visit, we find that you do in fact need a licence, you'll need to pay the full licence fee. Please note that you may also face prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/what-if-a-tv-licence-is-not-needed-top12/

wow, so like by law anyone who buys a house who doesnt own a TV license must have a public inspector round to investigate if you can infact recieve live TV or not every 3 years?

HangTime · 18 Nov 2009 at 23:07

jak731 said:
Should be fine, technically you can't watch bbc news 24 on the bbc news website, but how are they ever going to know if you do?

Actually in theory (not necessarily from a legal perspective) it should be easier to know if someone is streaming live TV via the internet as opposed to watching via a standard TV with indoor aerial. They could track IP addresses and contact ISPs to ascertain what address the IP comes from, obviously there could be people using proxies etc but there is at least an audit trail that could be followed, unlike just watching standard terrestrial TV.

In my opinion the BBC should make the iPlayer only accessible to License fee payers anyway, have some of login tied to your license. Obviously you'd have to allow multiple connections but they could probably use retrospective data analysis to put up potentially fraudulent trends (say 3 or more different ip addresses using it simultaneously)