Tv Licensing ?

[silverclaws]

What exactly is the law regarding televisions and their licensing, as I understood the tv licence was for the capability to receive and display live broadcast ? That being the reason the government imposes a licence (tax) is so it can use the BBC to address the nation when it needs to.

Is the tv license actually for a tv that is capable of receiving live broadcast or is it for the fact that one has a device which can turn electronic signals into vision ?

And if the latter, why does a television need a licence and a computer monitor not ?

And what is an analogue television without a digital decoder ?

As to the law, what is the premise of law, innocent until proven guilty, or the reverse as it seems tv licensing seems to believe ?

 

[IDB1]

A TV licence is required if there is any equipment in the residence that is capable of receiving a TV signal.

Going off to google to make sure that my memory is doing its' job properly.

 

[IDB1]

Part 4 of the Communications Act 2003 makes it an offence to install or use a television receiver to watch or record any television programmes as they're being shown on television without a valid TV Licence. The Act empowers the BBC to make and amend the terms and conditions of a licence. It allows the government to make regulations to exempt or reduce the licence fee for certain persons in certain circumstances. It also makes it an offence for anyone to have any television receiver in their possession or under their control who intends to install or use it in contravention of the main offence (above), or knows, or has reasonable grounds for believing, that another person intends to install or use a television receiver in contravention of the main offence.

 

[silverclaws]

Ha, then I was within my rights to tell the policy enforcer to piss off this morning, as having an analogue set with no digital decoder or aerial, I cannot receive tv signals of which are now digital.

The reason I quit watching the thing was the fact that digital decoders are consumables and I was fed up with it. Furthermore since tv went digital, in my opinion it degraded especially BBC with its fly on the wall and 'talent' shows, mindless pap.

So, sod it, give up with the tv, gave up in January and have not missed it, thats £145 a year saved.

Now my tv is only for the games console and watching DVD,s via the same, oh and for warming my flat in the winter.

Anyway, they will be back that is for sure, but the onus is on them to prove offence not assume and then make everyone prove their innocence, because I do believe one is innocent until proven guilty in this country, unless things have changed which I am unaware of.

But some truth perhaps ;

http://www.spiderbomb.com/tv/

But I had watched this prior to today ;

http://youtu.be/OlzIrJNyTec

And it works !
,

 

[greenstiles]

We havn't had a tv licence for about 7 years. We don't have a tv or video recorder. We do have a computor and watch i player and such. Before anyone says we still need a licence...........i have spoken to the tv people over the years and we are 100% legal.

 

[Chopper the ex Copper]

Having just flicked through the regs they make no reference to the nature of the signal, only that the equipment need be capable of receiving "a" tv signal,

Good luck in court silver claws of they decide to finger you. I'm sure whatever excuse you come up with will be brand new to them.

And as for innocent until proven guilt... The ECHR tears that old presumption to shreds with "no punishment without law". If I were in a position that I needed legal advice id see a properly qualified solicitor, and their name isn't Google.

 

[IDB1]

only that the equipment need be capable of receiving "a" tv signal

That was my understanding too.

 

[sylus]

The key words are live as broadcast.

If I lowered myself to watch eastenders on tv I would need a licence.

If I watched it an hour later than broadcast on the bbc iplayer/4 later etc then I would not need a licence.

The thing to watch out for later possibly is that the bbc are attempting to close the iplayer route by saying it is an additional service so should now be pay per view ..gotta keep those exec bonus's paid somehow

 

[Bob]

Just copied this from the TV license website...

With today’s technology, you can watch TV on more devices than ever, whenever it suits you best. This means a TV Licence doesn’t just cover you to watch TV at home on a TV set. You can also watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV, through all of these devices:

Computers, including laptops and tablets
Mobile phones
Games consoles
Digital boxes, e.g. Freeview, Sky, Virgin, BT Vision
DVD/VHS/Blu-ray recorders.

As long as the address where you live is licensed, you’re also covered to watch TV outside your home using any device powered solely by its own internal batteries. This includes your mobile phone, laptop and tablet.

Exception: If you only watch catch-up services online, then you don’t need a licence. For example, you don’t need one to use BBC iPlayer, or ITV player, to catch up on programmes after they have been shown on TV.

^^^ errrm, it's ok to watch catch up but not live? Would you need to some how prove in court that you didn't press the 'watch now' button on iplayer :?

 

[uktyler]

I don't watch live TV and have not had a licence for years.

We had a vist from an inspector who agreed with us, however he was rude and abusive so we told them not to send anyone else.

We have not had a visit in 7 years, we get rude letters every other year, but we phone them up and they stop.

I do not watch 'live' TV, only stuff on the iPlayer.