TV Licence...

[snags]

TV licence...

According to the TV Licensing web site, one of the criteria for not needing to buy a TV Licence is ''if you only watch programmes on your computer after they have been shown on TV'' (for example, BBC iPlayer).

If I complete the Online Declaration Form stating the above as one of the reasons why personally I do not need a licence, how will they know if I do subsequently watch ''live'' TV via my computer?

[ChuckFickens]

ISP records, but they'd need to get a court order to make the ISP release them (I've never heard of it happening)

Or checking your browsing history (they need a warrant though)

[jackthehat]

I don't think they can.
And as the Beeb don't provide 'live' TV that you can access via computer, I'm not sure that they will be bothered........(unless you have found a tricksy way of doing so?)

However, do be prepared for the regular correspondence from their representatives threatening to set fire to your legs because you haven't purchased a licence...:o(

[snags]

Thanks chuck.

[snags]

''And as the Beeb don't provide 'live' TV''

The F1 Grand Prix is shown live ;-p

[ChuckFickens]

Most the freeview channels can be watched live on a computer.

http://www.tvcatchup.co.uk

(you need to register, but it's totally free and I've never received spam due to it)

[ChuckFickens]

Tray that again :)

http://www.tvcatchup.com/guide.html

[ChuckFickens]

Tray????

I'm going back to bed!

[snags]

Thanks for the link...

[ummmm]

Thanks for that Chuck. We cancelled sky because we found that we spent more time looking for something to watch rather than watching anything.

That would be handy for when the boys are watching boy programmes though....like crappy Dr Who...

[jackthehat]

I must admit, I'm not entirely certain quite what the 'new' legislation is as regards computer TV.
But the 'old' inescapable net that was used for terrestrial TV was that any appliance that was capable of receiving TV signals was, by definition, capable of receiving the BBC signal and therefore needed to be covered by a licence.

However, because there are so many other 'signals' (for want of a better description) available over t'internet and, as I said, precious little, is shown live (Grands Prix, really ?) the legal obligation to have a licence is not there.

I am willing to be proved wrong, though...:o)

[ChuckFickens]

I've had problems with it working on firefox lately, but works fine on IE for me.

Due to the crap reception I get at home and because my house is listed and in a conservation area, so a sat dish is out the question I watch most of my TV using that site.

[ummmm]

Wow...that was easy :-)

[ChuckFickens]

Jack...

the official line now is if you watch TV live (or nearly live) you need a license, if you watch it at a later time on iplayer (other catchup services are available) you don't need a license.

[snags]

Jack.... taken off the TV Licencing web site:

The law states that you need to be covered by a TV Licence if you watch or record television programmes, on any device, as they're being shown on TV. This includes TVs, computers, mobile phones, games consoles, digital boxes and DVD/VHS recorders.

You don't need a licence if you don't use any of these devices to watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV - for example, if you use your TV only to watch DVDs or play video games, or you only watch programmes on your computer after they have been shown on TV. If this is the case, please let us know, as this helps us to keep our database up to date and means you won't receive the standard letters we send to unlicensed addresses.

[jackthehat]

Hmmmmm............
So Auntie Beeb now has the power over 'any and all' TV signals not just her own ?
Doesn't seem very fair.

[ChuckFickens]

"she" always had, jack.

Even if you modified a TV back in the old days so it was incapable if receiving BBC channels you still needed to pay a TV license.

[ummmm]

I'm such a dimlo. Tried out Chucks link....needed to leave the room and was getting rather frustrated that I could find the pause button....lol

[jno]

ummmm, many's the time I've done something wrong in real life and automatically reached for Ctrl+z.

[tonymclark]

I didn't have a TV for a few years in the 1980s, so didn't have to pay a TV Licence. I would get letters as it was assumed every house in the country has a TV, but since I didn't have one, I didn't worry about it.

Snags, if you don't have a TV in the house, then don't worry. Is that what you are saying, that you don't have a TV, only a computer?

If you have a TV in the house that is receiving signals, you need a TV Licence.