TV Licence Super Thread

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String said:
I just saw this edit, once again I'm having to point out that you think you just solved the licence problem when in reality you've only thought about iPlayer. And I've never had to enter my license code in to watch iplayer, this is a new thing? :confused:
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Perhaps I wasn't clear. I mean apply the same system as Iplayer to unlock the live TV channels for everything else. Most people have smart TV's or setup box's that can handle that. The core problem is you can watch the channels without a licence. Why not setup the channels to not unlock unless you type in the licence and they they stay unlocked until you renew. Any modern TV, sky box e.c.t could handle that.

As for when it started with Iplayer I am not entirely sure. I thought it was a few years back. You have to enter your licence to watch it but once done it stays unlocked.
 
Pottsey said:
Its not a weak argument there is a difference in paying tax to an essential service even if other people use it and I don’t and paying tax towards a none essential service I will never use.
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Dude, to you it isn't essential but to many others it is. You're seeing the world through your own narrow viewpoint and if every service was viewed this way then we'd have nothing. That's why taxation is unpopular initially, but once in place is seldom challenged in favour of a subscription model.

Anyway, thanks for the links I'll get a look.
 
Pottsey said:
Perhaps I wasn't clear. I mean apply the same system to unlock the live TV channels. The core problem is you can watch the channels without a licence. Why not setup the channels to not unlock unless you type in the licence and they they stay unlocked until you renew.

As for when it started with Iplayer I am not entirely sure. I thought it was a few years back. You have to enter your licence to watch it but once done it stays unlocked.
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I'm sorry, it's getting too tedious having to constantly point this out. For the last time: the BBC is not just about TV shows.
 
Pottsey said:
Perhaps I wasn't clear. I mean apply the same system as Iplayer to unlock the live TV channels for everything else. Most people have smart TV's or setup box's that can handle that. The core problem is you can watch the channels without a licence. Why not setup the channels to not unlock unless you type in the licence and they they stay unlocked until you renew. Any modern TV, sky box e.c.t could handle that.

As for when it started with Iplayer I am not entirely sure. I thought it was a few years back. You have to enter your licence to watch it but once done it stays unlocked.
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You definitely don’t have to enter license details to watch iplayer :confused:

You also can’t lock the channels as you suggest, some of the people who actually value the channels and regularly watch them for company are people such as my near 90yo grandmother. Her kitchen TV is a CRT with “integrated digital tuner” actually labelled on the front for example, I really don’t think it would be fair to effectively disabled lots of equipment owned by older people like that :)
 
And you are wrong again, its not essential period to most people asides some old house bound person has it on as their only link to outside world and for companionship they get a free license over 75 (well did then it was taken off but back soon on AFAIK. I signed the petition)

To use iPlayer now (my mother had to ask me to do this) you enter your Postcode and a few details AFAIR but I think it may have changed since she got the TIVO V6's, it will be on their site for anyone to read.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/faqs/signing-in
 
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String said:
Dude, to you it isn't essential but to many others it is. You're seeing the world through your own narrow viewpoint and if every service was viewed this way then we'd have nothing. That's why taxation is unpopular initially, but once in place is seldom challenged in favour of a subscription model.

Anyway, thanks for the links I'll get a look.
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I would argue you are doing the same. You view an unimportant, unessential service that is getting more irrelevant each year as something everyone should pay towards. Which is just wrong and I cannot think of a single thing BBC do that really matters. They have fallen behind in everything that matters. Which was one of the reasons I stopped using there service as the image quality, sound quality and well everything had pretty much fallen behind.

We are not viewing every service like that. If it’s an essential service that benefits everyone then include it into tax. But the BBC is not a essential service at its core its an entertainment service that does a few other minor things and does not benefit everyone so it shouldn’t be taxed. BBC is more like a car and you wouldn’t make people without car’s pay car tax.


Jez said:
“You also can’t lock the channels as you suggest, some of the people who actually value the channels and regularly watch them for company are people such as my near 90yo grandmother. Her kitchen TV is a CRT with “integrated digital tuner” actually labelled on the front for example, I really don’t think it would be fair to effectively disabled lots of equipment owned by older people like that
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Those devices make a tiny % of the population, are no longer made and are getting more rare by the year. Just ignore them and allow them to work and the problem will solve itself over time as the device dies of old age. It doesn’t really what if the few rare CRT’s get away without a licence key, it would still solve the bulk of the problem. Most TV and set top box's required you to activate them so just link in the activation with the code to unlock the channels if you have a licence.
 
Pottsey said:
I would argue you are doing the same. You view an unimportant, unessential service that is getting more irrelevant each year as something everyone should pay towards. Which is just wrong and I cannot think of a single thing BBC do that really matters. They have fallen behind in everything that matters. Which was one of the reasons I stopped using there service as the image quality, sound quality and well everything had pretty much fallen behind.
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Again, your entire argument framed against the quality of EastEnders and the like. It's so ill informed, like the myth you just repeated about entering a licence code to watch iplayer.

To top it off, the video you linked has a Daily Mail logo emblazoned all over it. The first rule of evidence review; check the source and do they have a vested interest.

The Daily Mail. :p
 
Wizzfizz said:
Never had to do this
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Are you sure someone else didn’t do it? Just looked it up and BBC started enforcing that in September 2016. All new installs and sign ins should ask you if you have a licence and then if you press yes ask for further information. Now I do not have a licence so I never press yes.
 
String said:
Again, your entire argument framed against the quality of EastEnders and the like. It's so ill informed, like the myth you just repeated about entering a licence code to watch iplayer.

To top it off, the video you linked has a Daily Mail logo emblazoned all over it. The first rule of evidence review; check the source and do they have a vested interest.

The Daily Mail. :p
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I wasn't talking about EastEnders but the overall behind the times broadcast quality BBC have. I haven't seen BBC in years but last time I did, they where years behind in quality over what I do watch and I wasn't aware they had caught up. Its not a full myth you get asked if you have a licence or not and according to what the BBC put out in Sep 2016 it wont work without a license. Not that I ever tried it as I do not have a licence. Anyway my point still stands if they link watching the channels to the licence code problem solved without unfairly impacting honest hard working people.


"
b00merang69 said:
I posted the link above, not sure if he is blind(ed by the BBC prop) :p
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/faqs/signing-in
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I do not have a licence so that link is blocked. Iplayer video I assume is still embedded all over BBC's website. I was basing what I said on the old articles from 2016 that said signing in is changing and you need a licence. I have not tested the sign in process myself as I do not have a licence and so do not us Iplayer. If BBC messed up and allow people to sign in without a licences well that just goes so show how incompetent they are having not fixed it yet. They should fix there own software instead of going after people who do not need a licence.
 
b00merang69 said:
I posted the link above, not sure if he is blind(ed by the BBC prop) :p


https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/faqs/signing-in
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You don't have to enter your license number. Some people won't know it as parents, landlords etc pay for it. Or it's in a letter from 9 months ago buried in a filing cabinet. They're not going to make you dig out your license number, they simply ask for you to confirm you have one. The details are postcode, name, etc.

Pottsey said:
Most TV and set top box's required you to activate them so just link in the activation with the code to unlock the channels if you have a licence.
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What about the 14% of UK homes that don't have broadband? They're not allowed TV either because they can't connect to the DRM server? I think you don't really grasp the nature of the technology at play here. You can't just disable access to a "public service" level resource for millions of people.

Funnily enough there are government policies and safeguards in place around this, because cutting off the majority of over 70s who don't have smart TVs would be considered discrimination. DCMS and OfCom do actually monitor the TV industry more closely than a few forum users.
 
I was talking about String and you can visit that link on your PC as I just did and so can he and read what you need to do to know use iPlayer.

I have not used it since it was Beta in 2006 then after launch for a period and free till launch and still free then added live TV but you were not to watch these then they decided you are not to watch it period (even Catch Up) without a license.

I still paid the licence fee even though since about 2001 I hardly watched TV due to my PC but after 18 years said no more.

@LuckyBenski , I did state as much above when I stated I did it for my mother a few years back on Tivo V6's and said I think it has changed again since, and that is the link for String to read, I never said it had change and I cannot confirm this as I will not be loading up iPlayer to test it.
 
^^ Common sense unless you read the 2 users above posts on this topic.

Something to do with an OLD CRT and a 90year old, this again is covered in the link I posted in that older/non compliant equipment has already been dropped so I could say what about the owners of those devices if I had their outlook on this sore topic.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/faqs/recent-changes-to-iplayer
 
LuckyBenski said:
You don't have to enter your license number. Some people won't know it as parents, landlords etc pay for it. Or it's in a letter from 9 months ago buried in a filing cabinet. They're not going to make you dig out your license number, they simply ask for you to confirm you have one. The details are postcode, name, etc.


What about the 14% of UK homes that don't have broadband? They're not allowed TV either because they can't connect to the DRM server? I think you don't really grasp the nature of the technology at play here. You can't just disable access to a "public service" level resource for millions of people.

Funnily enough there are government policies and safeguards in place around this, because cutting off the majority of over 70s who don't have smart TVs would be considered discrimination. DCMS and OfCom do actually monitor the TV industry more closely than a few forum users.
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Use a phone in activation system and text message as alternatives methods. Similar to how many bits of computer software work. The device pops up a code you ring in enter your code then get given an unlock code. I do grasp the nature of the technology and yes some changes would need to be made but those changes would be better than charging people who don’t use the service. Only implant the changes into smart TV’s and setups boxes then the old CRT’s will still work.

It shouldn’t be hard to for a smart TV or smartbox lock live channels until code has been put in. This will target the bulk of the freeloaders.


“You can't just disable access to a "public service" level resource for millions of people.”
Sure you can they did it with analogue and this is no different. I am not saying switch if off overnight.
 
413x said:
Last thing I'd want is it to go into general tax .

150 extra a year? No thanks.

It isn't exactly like your bins being collected or the NHS.. You don't NEED it. (I guess since are addicted )

I've actually never paid since living away from home. I must have saved nearly 2k.
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Please do regale us with tales of how you were harassed by TV licensing and sent countless threatening letters and had people coming onto your property and looking through your windows or staking out your home waiting for you to come home so they could challenge you!?
 
String said:
A school isn't exactly like a hospital, a hospital isn't exactly like the police. They are all public services, as is the BBC and it goes far beyond just entertainment.



Exactly. You don't have one alternative, you would have to compound a whole array of services together before you could call it a direct comparison to what the BBC provides. This is why people inevitably compare an apple to an orange and think they've made a compelling argument against the BBC.



As per my previous point, you've selected services that are not a direct comparison to the service that the BBC provides. These streaming services are a direct comparison to BBC iPlayer only. If you subscribe to just one of those services, you will have spent the entire yearly license fee on this one single service. If you choose Amazon Prime then you'll get expedited delivery on your shopping and a streaming music service included, so no comparison with Netflix there. Of course, the Amazon music aspect could be a rival to BBC Sounds but not directly, and the BBC doesn't offer expedited delivery on shopping.

I could go on, but you're an intelligent person and I've no desire to patronise. These services are not a direct comparison to each other, and none of them come close to what the BBC package offers.



Again, nothing on that list is a direct comparison to the BBC service. A couple of the items actually are funded by the tax payer; bus services are subsidised and Northern Rail is in the process of being nationalised. None of this is an argument against the BBC licence fee, it's just... Noise. Random services listed together with no relevance to the conversation.



In your opinion. :)
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Isn't that last bit the issue.

In your opinion it is, in mine it isn't.
How do you decide what is a essential?

Everything is up for grabs at that point.
What else would you want/not want to general tax??

BBC will naturally go extinct.
It isn't necessary. Broadband for example is much more important.

I do not class the BBC as an essential service. I guess is the bottom line.


BBC shouldn't be propped up. Now there are so many alternatives this is even more relevant
 
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