Matt H Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 What's the general feeling towards the place a TV licence has in today's diverse entertainment world? The cost of a licence is about £145 a year. Now back in the day, when the BBC was the only broadcaster, a TV Licence was obviously fair. You purchased your TV to watch the BBC broadcasts. But today, your TV serves as a function for various activities and some people might not even watch BBC channels. My personal belief, is that a TV licence, in its current format, is outdated. You are made to pay for a service you may not even want. This is not to say I believe that the BBC should go down the advertising route. There are various ways the BBC could be funded, but I do believe you should now have the choice. Any views? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 There is enough advertising on the BBC already (for other BBC services). I think the license fee is fair, we're by no means charged the most compared to other countries. The BBC are now being forced to share a portion of the revenue with other channels too, rightly or wrongly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martini Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 My personal belief, is that a TV licence, in its current format, is outdated. You are made to pay for a service you may not even want. It's a small price to pay to not have to watch ITV or CH4 all the time. Or the endless rubbish on freeview. I don't watch much TV at all, but the BBC tend to produce the best programmes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted July 6, 2010 Author Share Posted July 6, 2010 There is enough advertising on the BBC already (for other BBC services). I think the license fee is fair, we're by no means charged the most compared to other countries. Fair for all, or those who watch BBC chanels? What about people who don't really watch TV and perhaps just use their TV for gaming? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 What about people who don't really watch TV and perhaps just use their TV for gaming? Then they don't have to pay a TV license. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 I only use my TV for watching DVD's & occasionally playing games. I don't/won't pay for a TV license. On the remote chance there is something on I actually fancy watching, I'll use the internet catch-up service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 Ah, but the licence is to own the signal receiving equipment I believe, regardless of whether you use it to watch the Beeb. What about people who don't really watch TV.... Legally, not really watching TV is the same as not really driving. You still need a licence for the one time you do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trinitom Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 Then they don't have to pay a TV license. yes they have, i doesn't matter if you watch tv or not. you still have to pay for license. Just another way to get our money! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted July 6, 2010 Author Share Posted July 6, 2010 Then they don't have to pay a TV license. Umm, you may be right I only use my TV for watching DVD's & occasionally playing games. I don't/won't pay for a TV license. On the remote chance there is something on I actually fancy watching, I'll use the internet catch-up service. Good point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted July 6, 2010 Author Share Posted July 6, 2010 Legally, not really watching TV is the same as not really driving. You still need a licence for the one time you do. Point taken. I shouldn't have said 'really' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 yes they have, i doesn't matter if you watch tv or not. you still have to pay for license. Just another way to get our money! No I believe they have to prove that you are using the TV to receive live broadcast programming. There are at least a couple of members on here I know don't have a TV license as they use their TV purely for pre-recorded content or gaming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewOW Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 You don't need a licence to have a TV. You only need a licence if you receive TV signals IIRC. EDIT: I think the confusion lies in the possibility that you could receive Freeview with it already installed into the TV you have, but proving you don't use it is more for the experts nazis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 No you dont. You only need a license if you can receive channels as they are broadcast. I do not have an aerial on my TV, therefore cannot receive broadcasts. I do not need a license. I have had the TV license nazis at my house, they took one look at the back of the telly, saw no aerial, put a tick in a box on their form and walked out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 From the TV licensing site... "You need to be covered by a valid TV Licence if you watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV." Therefore if you are not watching or recording live content, you do not need a license. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted July 6, 2010 Author Share Posted July 6, 2010 Therefore if you are not watching or recording live content, you do not need a license. Do they need a licence though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trinitom Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 the last letter from this guys was stating that if you have a: TV Mobile phone Laptop Gaming consoles And a few more thinks I can’t remember now, you need a license. Just ridiculous!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted July 6, 2010 Author Share Posted July 6, 2010 This is from Wiki: "When a TV licence is not required digital box used with a hi-fi system or another device that can only be used to produce sounds[34] television set installed and used solely for some purpose other than watching or recording television programmes (e.g. closed-circuit TV monitor, DVD or video player or games console)[36][37] Watching BBC iPlayer when the program is not live [38]. The BBC have stated that a licence is not needed simply because a television receiver is owned[39]. A previously recorded TV programme is outside the scope of the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004, because it is not "received at the same time (or virtually the same time) as it is received by members of the public"[33][40] (viewing such recordings however, if unauthorised, may infringe copyright). According to Ofcom, TV transmissions over the internet are a grey area[41] which in future might make fees based on television ownership redundant. In 2005, a Green Paper by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport[17] included suggestions of "either a compulsory levy on all households or even on ownership of PCs as well as TVs"[42]. However, TV Licensing have since stated that use of any device (including a computer or mobile phone) receiving transmissions at or about the same time as they appear on TV requires a licence[34][40]. It used to be the case that televisions receiving a transmission from outside the UK (e.g. in Germany, Italy, Greece, Turkey and the Netherlands via the Astra satellite, on which many channels are free-to-air) did not need a licence, but this was changed by the Communications Act (2003), so that the reception of television from any source requires a TV licence" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 the last letter from this guys was stating that if you have a: TV Mobile phone Laptop Gaming consoles And a few more thinks I can’t remember now, you need a license. Just ridiculous!! You need to be covered by a valid TV Licence if you watch or record TV as it's being broadcast. This includes the use of devices such as a computer, laptop, mobile phone or DVD/video recorder. only if you use those items to watch programs as they are being broadcast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted July 6, 2010 Author Share Posted July 6, 2010 Right now: 40% want to keep it as it is 60% want a change Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soop Dogg Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 *Waits for the 'bang' which will be IanC happening upon this thread* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 I would like to it scrapped and the BBC sorted out from an being an overweight monolith that squanders money like a drunken sailor while walking a line very politically left of middle. In fact I'd be happy to see the back of it all together. The news are dumbed down to the point of being insulting to anyone of average intelligence, the readers are scruffy, foreign and think it's a chat show, and the films they propagate are mainly US tosh that would bring a tear to the eye of the old Viewers and Listeners Association they so ridiculed before one of their staunchest critics saw sense and publicly changed her mind to support their views wholeheartedly. Outraged of Shropshire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 Top Gear with adverts! NOOOOOOOOOOO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 Top Gear with adverts! NOOOOOOOOOOO. That'd be one of the first things I'd get rid of, utter banal rubbish, and getting worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 Top Gear with adverts! NOOOOOOOOOOO. You've never watched it on Dave then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 That'd be one of the first things I'd get rid of, utter banal rubbish, and getting worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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