Quick TV Licence question
Quick TV Licence question
Author
Discussion

Lil' Joe

Original Poster:

1,548 posts

207 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
I have recently moved to Norfolk where I have no digital tv signal (freeview) and the standard analogue channels picture is so bad as to bw not orth watching. Do I still ned to pay tv licence fee's?
I do not watch tv at all, I am waiting until a hard drive freesat receiver is reasonable money when I will go that route but until then, where do I stand?

Cheers.

randlemarcus

13,644 posts

252 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
If you have "a device capable of receiving television signals", you're in the frame for a licence.

If you have a DVD player/PC (without a TV card), and a screen, you're not.

Pyro

99 posts

202 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
A friend of mine doesnt pay for a tv licence as he just watches dvd when he gets time, they had a visit from them and the guy said "you have an ariel hooked up with a plug on it" So infront of the inspector my mate cut the end off with scissors smokin

davefowler1987

183 posts

240 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
I had a similar problem a while back - I phoned up the TV licensing people to see where I stood - just explain the situation that you have a TV but won't be watching anything on it just use for DVD / Gaming etc. They said that was Ok and it stopped the annoying "Where going to send the Van round" letters.
Simple phone call will answer your questions

Road2Ruin

6,146 posts

237 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
Pyro said:
A friend of mine doesnt pay for a tv licence as he just watches dvd when he gets time, they had a visit from them and the guy said "you have an ariel hooked up with a plug on it" So infront of the inspector my mate cut the end off with scissors smokin
Thats an urban legend. He would still be liable to pay as he has the TV set. For all the Licencing people know he may have aportable aerial in the cupboard!

philthy

4,697 posts

261 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
The offence is "operating a television receiver without licence".
It doesn't matter whether you have an aerial or not, in fact, it doesn't matter whether you are even physically capable of receiving one in your area.
The piece of equipment you turn on is what counts.

Amused2death

2,516 posts

217 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
philthy said:
The offence is "operating a television receiver without licence".
It doesn't matter whether you have an aerial or not, in fact, it doesn't matter whether you are even physically capable of receiving one in your area.
The piece of equipment you turn on is what counts.
I was led to believe the offence is "watching or recording a tv programme as the signal is being broadcast"...ie "live"

Having a tv capable of recieving said signal is not an offence in itself.

Edited by Amused2death on Wednesday 13th May 13:59

Lil' Joe

Original Poster:

1,548 posts

207 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
So which is it guys?
smile

Road2Ruin

6,146 posts

237 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
You have got a TV, you have to pay.

Sixpackpert

4,994 posts

235 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
You will still need a TV license for Freesat.

http://www.freesat-set-top-box.co.uk/Freesat-Set-T...

I have the Humax recorder, cracking bit of kit.

Marf

22,907 posts

262 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
TV License is necessary to receive live TV, be it old fashioned analogue, newfangled digital, or BBC watch live feature.

philthy

4,697 posts

261 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
Amused2death said:
philthy said:
The offence is "operating a television receiver without licence".
It doesn't matter whether you have an aerial or not, in fact, it doesn't matter whether you are even physically capable of receiving one in your area.
The piece of equipment you turn on is what counts.
I was led to believe the offence is "watching or recording a tv programme as the signal is being broadcast"...ie "live"

Having a tv capable of recieving said signal is not an offence in itself.

Edited by Amused2death on Wednesday 13th May 13:59
Operating any piece of equipment capable of receiving a television signal whether recorded or not is an offence.
A video recorder has a tv receiver in it. A DVD player, usually doesn't, but the only way you could legally connect it to a tv set, would be if it wasn't capable of receiving tv signals ie, a monitor.
A computer with a tv card in it will need a licence, but one without can watch BBC iplayer, as it is not receiving a tv signal.

Edit to add:
I may be corrected on this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_...

It seems that if you prove to the authorities the equipment is only to be used under certain circumstances, there are exceptions.
I'm not sure how easy it would be to prove that the TV you are using in London isn't only going to pick up your DVD player?
For the OP of course, the fact that he is in the sticks, and it is near impossible to receive a signal would, I'm sure carry more water.

Edited by philthy on Wednesday 13th May 14:33

trooperiziz

9,457 posts

273 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
philthy said:
Amused2death said:
philthy said:
The offence is "operating a television receiver without licence".
It doesn't matter whether you have an aerial or not, in fact, it doesn't matter whether you are even physically capable of receiving one in your area.
The piece of equipment you turn on is what counts.
I was led to believe the offence is "watching or recording a tv programme as the signal is being broadcast"...ie "live"

Having a tv capable of recieving said signal is not an offence in itself.

Edited by Amused2death on Wednesday 13th May 13:59
Operating any piece of equipment capable of receiving a television signal whether recorded or not is an offence.
A video recorder has a tv receiver in it. A DVD player, usually doesn't, but the only way you could legally connect it to a tv set, would be if it wasn't capable of receiving tv signals ie, a monitor.
A computer with a tv card in it will need a licence, but one without can watch BBC iplayer, as it is not receiving a tv signal.
Absolute bks.

You only need a licence if you use equipment to view or record live tv transmissions.

Simply owning something with the capability it is not enough, you have to use it, to be fined the licence authority need to prove they have evidence you use the equipment for receiving broadcasts.

Lil' Joe

Original Poster:

1,548 posts

207 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
I have a tv. I have no freesat/freeview. I have no signal for analogue either. I have a PS3, HD DVD player and DVD. Do I need a licence?

If so, I can feel my piss starting to simmer....

Steameh

3,155 posts

231 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
I have a TV at my flat in Leeds, it's only used for my XBox, License man got a phone call after recieving letter, they gave me a thumbs up, and not heard anything since. No ariel in my flat or anything of the sort.

clonmult

10,529 posts

230 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
The TV license is a definite old fashioned idea, needs a big kick up the arse.

How much of the BBC is funded by commercial venture - sales of DVDs, series overseas, etc? It would probably be argued that the profits from those goes into a separate "arm" of the company.

I can understand needing a license to drive a car/motorbike, etc. But a license to watch a bloody TV program? Its a joke.

trooperiziz

9,457 posts

273 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
Lil' Joe said:
I have a tv. I have no freesat/freeview. I have no signal for analogue either. I have a PS3, HD DVD player and DVD. Do I need a licence?

If so, I can feel my piss starting to simmer....
No you don't.

carmadgaz

3,204 posts

204 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
They get on at us every few months because next door isn't licensed. We keep telling them its being renovated and they except that, then a few months later we get a letter. ETC

Pains in the arse!

Mclovin

1,679 posts

219 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
the offense is a wasteful fatcat corporation charging us money for rubbish....

turned the tv on last night flicked through the channels nothing good on but these scumbags have got advert timing down to an art...you go from one channel to another and ads playing all at the same time so theres no reason to switch over at the ad break....

Simpo Two

90,714 posts

286 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
Mclovin said:
you go from one channel to another and ads playing all at the same time
I've noticed that too. They can hardly be upset if I switch off rather than endure five solid minutes of Steradent adverts, not to mention the 'Sponsored By' adverts, and the channel ID, and the 'What's on next week' trailers - and then by the time the programme comes on they spend five minutes telling you what's coming up and then it's another bloody ad break... six minutes past the hour - you see if I'm not right. Bah.