TV License, WTF!

Why the feck would you need a TV licence if I watch YouTube, Amazon Prime, Sky etc? I thought it was just BBC related.

Why should you need a licence to watch channels that have adverts or you've already paid for a subscription?

It's a f#cking sham is what it is.

You need it if you watch 'live tv'. Depending on what you're watching on Prime & Sky it may include it.

It's a tax to support a public broadcaster- it's broadly a good thing.

Wait until you find out where your taxes go. You'll be voting Conservative in no time.

I believe that a TV license is currently required if you are watching - or recording - a live broadcast on any platform.

Edit: Ecno beat me to it!

Any live broadcast you either watch or record, so including Sky and non-BBC terrestrial channels, require a TV license, it's always been that way.

You don't need one for just streaming on-demand content from Youtube/Amazon/Netflix, though with Amazon now doing live broadcasts it muddies the waters a bit too.
If you have any kind of Sky/NowTV subscription that allows you to either watch live or record live you need a license.

Lagamorph wrote:Any live broadcast you either watch or record, so including Sky and non-BBC terrestrial channels, require a TV license, it's always been that way.

You don't need one for just streaming on-demand content from Youtube/Amazon/Netflix, though with Amazon now doing live broadcasts it muddies the waters a bit too.
If you have any kind of Sky/NowTV subscription that allows you to either watch live or record live you need a license.

If you only use Now TV for On Demand would you need one, even though you have access to Live TV?- If you've only got entertainment or films it's highly likely you might only use on Demand.

I'm starting to see it more and more now, a few people i know don't have (or need) a TV license any more. That was pretty much unheard of around 5 years ago. Makes you wonder what plans the BBC have in place to counter the falling numbers.

The only downside is live News & Sport coverage, but there are other ways of reading news online and some people aren't really into sports.

Out of interest, if you sub to these services, can the TV License people track what you are watching? So would they see the difference between watching something Live vs On Demand?

Ecno wrote:

Lagamorph wrote:Any live broadcast you either watch or record, so including Sky and non-BBC terrestrial channels, require a TV license, it's always been that way.

You don't need one for just streaming on-demand content from Youtube/Amazon/Netflix, though with Amazon now doing live broadcasts it muddies the waters a bit too.
If you have any kind of Sky/NowTV subscription that allows you to either watch live or record live you need a license.

If you only use Now TV for On Demand would you need one, even though you have access to Live TV?- If you've only got entertainment or films it's highly likely you might only use on Demand.

In theory no, but proving you never have and never will make use of the live broadcast functionality could be difficult, and there would be an argument on why you were paying for a LiveTV subscription and not using it. Given how litigious they are I would suspect TV Licensing would say you would need a license.

Of course how they can prove it is another matter. Unless you consent to them coming into your house or you openly admit something to them they can't really prove anything.

ITSMILNER wrote:Out of interest, if you sub to these services, can the TV License people track what you are watching? So would they see the difference between watching something Live vs On Demand?

Not really, as above you'd have to consent to them entering your house to catch you.
In theory they could contact Sky if the person had a Sky subscription and was using some of the newer Q/Glass/Stream subscriptions and try to ask what people have been viewing but without a court order they'd just get told to mind their own business.

I've not had a TV licence in over a decade. You don't need one if all you watch is catch-up or streaming apps. You specifically need one if you watch live TV broadcasts (not live streams like E3 or a Nintendo Direct though) on any channel or use the iPlayer.

The big BBC shows are normally available to buy per-episode on Amazon within a week of transmission (ie Doctor Who) and if I want to watch football I will go to the pub which is a better experience anyway.

Lagamorph wrote:

Ecno wrote:

Lagamorph wrote:Any live broadcast you either watch or record, so including Sky and non-BBC terrestrial channels, require a TV license, it's always been that way.

You don't need one for just streaming on-demand content from Youtube/Amazon/Netflix, though with Amazon now doing live broadcasts it muddies the waters a bit too.
If you have any kind of Sky/NowTV subscription that allows you to either watch live or record live you need a license.

If you only use Now TV for On Demand would you need one, even though you have access to Live TV?- If you've only got entertainment or films it's highly likely you might only use on Demand.

In theory no, but proving you never have and never will make use of the live broadcast functionality could be difficult, and there would be an argument on why you were paying for a LiveTV subscription and not using it. Given how litigious they are I would suspect TV Licensing would say you would need a license.

Of course how they can prove it is another matter. Unless you consent to them coming into your house or you openly admit something to them they can't really prove anything.

How do people actually get caught? Is it from knocks on the door and them having the TV on in the background?

It seems very easy to lie your way round at that point.

Tomous wrote:

Lagamorph wrote:

Ecno wrote:

Lagamorph wrote:Any live broadcast you either watch or record, so including Sky and non-BBC terrestrial channels, require a TV license, it's always been that way.

You don't need one for just streaming on-demand content from Youtube/Amazon/Netflix, though with Amazon now doing live broadcasts it muddies the waters a bit too.
If you have any kind of Sky/NowTV subscription that allows you to either watch live or record live you need a license.

If you only use Now TV for On Demand would you need one, even though you have access to Live TV?- If you've only got entertainment or films it's highly likely you might only use on Demand.

In theory no, but proving you never have and never will make use of the live broadcast functionality could be difficult, and there would be an argument on why you were paying for a LiveTV subscription and not using it. Given how litigious they are I would suspect TV Licensing would say you would need a license.

Of course how they can prove it is another matter. Unless you consent to them coming into your house or you openly admit something to them they can't really prove anything.

How do people actually get caught? Is it from knocks on the door and them having the TV on in the background?

It seems very easy to lie your way round at that point.

Pretty much exactly that, they'll turn up and try to catch sight of a live broadcast through either an open window or by knocking on the front door and peeking round you.
From what I hear some of the inspectors try to imply they have a right to come in so that they trick people into allowing them in to take a look.

There's also still (predominantly older) people who believe the TV detector vans actually let them pick up exactly who was watching TV.

Lagamorph wrote:

Tomous wrote:

Lagamorph wrote:

Ecno wrote:

Lagamorph wrote:Any live broadcast you either watch or record, so including Sky and non-BBC terrestrial channels, require a TV license, it's always been that way.

You don't need one for just streaming on-demand content from Youtube/Amazon/Netflix, though with Amazon now doing live broadcasts it muddies the waters a bit too.
If you have any kind of Sky/NowTV subscription that allows you to either watch live or record live you need a license.

If you only use Now TV for On Demand would you need one, even though you have access to Live TV?- If you've only got entertainment or films it's highly likely you might only use on Demand.

In theory no, but proving you never have and never will make use of the live broadcast functionality could be difficult, and there would be an argument on why you were paying for a LiveTV subscription and not using it. Given how litigious they are I would suspect TV Licensing would say you would need a license.

Of course how they can prove it is another matter. Unless you consent to them coming into your house or you openly admit something to them they can't really prove anything.

How do people actually get caught? Is it from knocks on the door and them having the TV on in the background?

It seems very easy to lie your way round at that point.

Pretty much exactly that, they'll turn up and try to catch sight of a live broadcast through either an open window or by knocking on the front door and peeking round you.
From what I hear some of the inspectors try to imply they have a right to come in so that they trick people into allowing them in to take a look.

There's also still (predominantly older) people who believe the TV detector vans actually let them pick up exactly who was watching TV.

Is that even legal?

Tomous wrote:

Lagamorph wrote:

Tomous wrote:

Lagamorph wrote:

Ecno wrote:

Lagamorph wrote:Any live broadcast you either watch or record, so including Sky and non-BBC terrestrial channels, require a TV license, it's always been that way.

You don't need one for just streaming on-demand content from Youtube/Amazon/Netflix, though with Amazon now doing live broadcasts it muddies the waters a bit too.
If you have any kind of Sky/NowTV subscription that allows you to either watch live or record live you need a license.

If you only use Now TV for On Demand would you need one, even though you have access to Live TV?- If you've only got entertainment or films it's highly likely you might only use on Demand.

In theory no, but proving you never have and never will make use of the live broadcast functionality could be difficult, and there would be an argument on why you were paying for a LiveTV subscription and not using it. Given how litigious they are I would suspect TV Licensing would say you would need a license.

Of course how they can prove it is another matter. Unless you consent to them coming into your house or you openly admit something to them they can't really prove anything.

How do people actually get caught? Is it from knocks on the door and them having the TV on in the background?

It seems very easy to lie your way round at that point.

Pretty much exactly that, they'll turn up and try to catch sight of a live broadcast through either an open window or by knocking on the front door and peeking round you.
From what I hear some of the inspectors try to imply they have a right to come in so that they trick people into allowing them in to take a look.

There's also still (predominantly older) people who believe the TV detector vans actually let them pick up exactly who was watching TV.

Is that even legal?

It's no different from how private parking companies threaten people with language like "We may take legal action to pursue these costs" rather than "We will take you to court", it's all semantics but it's legally distinct enough to get away with. They'll say things like "We need to come in and inspect your property immediately" rather than "Will you please allow me to come in?" and rely on people not knowing that you're 100% allowed to just say no and close the door in their face.

The former is a heavier statement that carries an implication of right to enter regardless without actually saying it and doesn't invite a response. The latter is an open question that triggers a yes/no thought process.

I was debating with my other half if we need a TV License (I rarely watch TV and when I do it's only on demand stuff)

If you use IPlayer to watch on demand content, do you still need a license for that?

ITSMILNER wrote:I was debating with my other half if we need a TV License (I rarely watch TV and when I do it's only on demand stuff)

If you use IPlayer to watch on demand content, do you still need a license for that?

Yes. Using iPlayer for anything, even just on-demand, requires a license.
It never used to but that changed years ago. When you start watching something on iPlayer it prompts you to confirm you have a TV license before it starts playback.
I suspect if you say yes it also runs a check against the national database and if you don't actually have one you've basically confessed and they can proceed immediately to legal proceedings (Though most likely will send a threatening letter first giving you a last chance to get a license)

Lagamorph wrote:

ITSMILNER wrote:I was debating with my other half if we need a TV License (I rarely watch TV and when I do it's only on demand stuff)

If you use IPlayer to watch on demand content, do you still need a license for that?

Yes. Using iPlayer for anything, even just on-demand, requires a license.
It never used to but that changed years ago. When you start watching something on iPlayer it prompts you to confirm you have a TV license before it starts playback.
I suspect if you say yes it also runs a check against the national database and if you don't actually have one you've basically confessed and they can proceed immediately to legal proceedings (Though most likely will send a threatening letter first giving you a last chance to get a license)

Ahh that's fair, it's down to the other half I guess if she watches anything on BBC/Live TV

How much is a TV License these days anyway?

ITSMILNER wrote:

Lagamorph wrote:

ITSMILNER wrote:I was debating with my other half if we need a TV License (I rarely watch TV and when I do it's only on demand stuff)

If you use IPlayer to watch on demand content, do you still need a license for that?

Yes. Using iPlayer for anything, even just on-demand, requires a license.
It never used to but that changed years ago. When you start watching something on iPlayer it prompts you to confirm you have a TV license before it starts playback.
I suspect if you say yes it also runs a check against the national database and if you don't actually have one you've basically confessed and they can proceed immediately to legal proceedings (Though most likely will send a threatening letter first giving you a last chance to get a license)

Ahh that's fair, it's down to the other half I guess if she watches anything on BBC/Live TV

How much is a TV License these days anyway?

Assuming you're paying full cost and don't meet any of the criteria for a free or discounted license it's about £160 per year.

Lagamorph wrote:

ITSMILNER wrote:

Lagamorph wrote:

ITSMILNER wrote:I was debating with my other half if we need a TV License (I rarely watch TV and when I do it's only on demand stuff)

If you use IPlayer to watch on demand content, do you still need a license for that?

Yes. Using iPlayer for anything, even just on-demand, requires a license.
It never used to but that changed years ago. When you start watching something on iPlayer it prompts you to confirm you have a TV license before it starts playback.
I suspect if you say yes it also runs a check against the national database and if you don't actually have one you've basically confessed and they can proceed immediately to legal proceedings (Though most likely will send a threatening letter first giving you a last chance to get a license)

Ahh that's fair, it's down to the other half I guess if she watches anything on BBC/Live TV

How much is a TV License these days anyway?

Assuming you're paying full cost and don't meet any of the criteria for a free or discounted license it's about £160 per year.

That’s quite a chunk of money if you rarely watch Live TV.

ITSMILNER wrote:

Lagamorph wrote:

ITSMILNER wrote:

Lagamorph wrote:

ITSMILNER wrote:I was debating with my other half if we need a TV License (I rarely watch TV and when I do it's only on demand stuff)

If you use IPlayer to watch on demand content, do you still need a license for that?

Yes. Using iPlayer for anything, even just on-demand, requires a license.
It never used to but that changed years ago. When you start watching something on iPlayer it prompts you to confirm you have a TV license before it starts playback.
I suspect if you say yes it also runs a check against the national database and if you don't actually have one you've basically confessed and they can proceed immediately to legal proceedings (Though most likely will send a threatening letter first giving you a last chance to get a license)

Ahh that's fair, it's down to the other half I guess if she watches anything on BBC/Live TV

How much is a TV License these days anyway?

Assuming you're paying full cost and don't meet any of the criteria for a free or discounted license it's about £160 per year.

That’s quite a chunk of money if you rarely watch Live TV.

Yup, but if you watch/record even just one thing you need the license.