[Andy B]

All those great adverts with the Gavin and Stacey lot say you need a licence to watch live tv.

However it then goes on to say "even on a laptop" and I assume it means through some sort of external tv card thingy although you can watch news and certain sports streamed live.

Quite what the position is regarding iPlayer I have no idea and I don't think anyone else does.

[Munki Bhoy]

You can watch the occasional live stream on the BBC Sport web site. I suppose the question is just how "live" that actually is. I wouldn't be surprised if they start making you have a TV licence if you have nothing but an internet connection and a computer.

[Nicola_Red]

There was a test case a few years ago in which a chap proved in court that his TV had been modified to only receive satellite channels and thus got out of paying the licence fee. I'm not sure if other similar cases have followed...

[MK Chris]

Surely you can receive BBC channels through a satellite dish though and they are (mostly, if not all) freely available through it as well, so I don't see how that would have stood up.

[Nicola_Red]

Surely you can receive BBC channels through a satellite dish though and they are (mostly, if not all) freely available through it as well, so I don't see how that would have stood up.

Yeah, that's true. I've been trying to find something about that case on t'internet but haven't managed it yet.

[MK Chris]

Also:

A TV licence provides a legal permission to install or use a television receiver in order to receive television programme services. It’s a criminal offence to install or use a TV receiver without a valid licence so it is important to ensure that you are appropriately licensed.

A ‘television receiver’ includes a television set, a VCR, a set-top box, a TV-enabled personal computer or any other equipment designed or modified to enable it to receive television programmes.

A TV licence is required if you install or use, or intend to use a television receiver as previously described above. This means that a licence is required to receive BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, satellite, cable and/or digital television. The use of television anywhere in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man needs to be covered by a licence of the appropriate type...

[Andy B]

Still says nothing about iplayer though does it. Tis very confusing but totally pointless for me as I own a tele.

[MK Chris]

See here for that.

[dimtimjim]

Yeah, we pay similar rates for 'optional' tv packages, all mentioned above... I don't have Sky, way too expensive for repeat television. I just ensure if there is something on Sky I want to watch, I go to someones house that does have it!!

The license fee is non-negotiable... If you own a TV you gotta have one. Or someone comes round and spanks you. And your wallet.

I agree with statement from above, its well worth it for the products it funds. Moyles and Mr Tumble, what more could you ever need?!

[dimtimjim]

Hmmmm.... I really gotta remember to read page 2 of threads before posting a seemingly odd conversation piece. Sorry people.

[MK Chris]

If you own a TV you gotta have one. Or someone comes round and spanks you. And your wallet.

No. If you watch live TV (that is you watch programmes at the time that they are broadcast), regardless of whether or not you own a TV, then you need to have a licence. Also, if you do own a TV but only use it to watch DVDs, you don't need one.

[S4B]

Topher is absolutely right. We have a TV in our staff room which is purely for DVDs and neither have nor need a licence.

[Boboff]

It's less than £3 a week you winging arses, surely Chris on his own is worth that, without the school history education website as well. Cough up and stop moaning, have one less Kebab scrounging student waster.*

* removes tongue from cheek.

[ladbroke]

When you purchase a TV you have to fill in a form regarding license arrangements. Suppose you could lie if you were paying cash. Personally I think it's fantastic value for money, for what is, on the whole, good quality TV/Radio. Does anyone know if those detector vans actually work, or are they an urban myth? I don't think I've ever seen one. I remember from the 80's the ad campaign with a van with a big dish type thing attached to it!

[MK Chris]

It's less than £3 a week you winging arses, surely Chris on his own is worth that

Chris Moyles, Colin Murray, Chris Evans, Jonothan Ross, Mark Radcliffe, Stuart Maconie, Sir David Attenborough (and all his programmes), Wimbledon and the Olympics are all individually worthy of the licence fee in my opinion.

When you purchase a TV you have to fill in a form regarding license arrangements.!

I've never had to do that when purchasing a TV (though I haven't purchased a TV for a few years.)

Personally I think it's fantastic value for money

I agree, it's brilliant - it means we have a broadcaster we can be proud of; the best one in the world.

[S4B]

Chris Moyles, Colin Murray, Chris Evans, Jonothan Ross, Mark Radcliffe, Stuart Maconie, Sir David Attenborough (and all his programmes), Wimbledon and the Olympics are all individually worthy of the licence fee in my opinion.

Don't give them ideas! I can't afford it!

[Boboff]

Sky are the robing gets if you ask me, when we had a Pub they wanted about £2,000 a year to show sky in the Pub, it was only little, with on average 12 to 30 people in most evenings, there is no way the takings could support this cost, but boy did they Police it, they would walk in at half time during a televised international, and if you were showing the game piped in from your domestic set up they would send in the SAS through the windows, petrol bomb the Toilets and then pull your pants down and shout ha ha ala Neslon Off of the Simpsons, oh and then fine you about £5,000 if you didn't sign an 18 month deal there and then for the commercial package.

I believe I read the other day that Noel Edmunds is not paying his license fee at the moment, as he objects to the adverting slogan "we know where you live" I thought that was nice of him, and in no way about getting publicity for his shows on channel 4, oh no, it's about him sticking up for the common man, yes you and me, and not letting Auntie have it all quite her own way ( now repeat that last bit ala Wogan and you'll be on points of view in no time )

Talking about points of view I loved that Frankie Boyle quote

" Dear points of View

I am writing to complain about the voice over person you have reading this out"

Class

[foot-loose]

If you own a TV you gotta have one. Or someone comes round and spanks you. And your wallet.

No. If you watch live TV (that is you watch programmes at the time that they are broadcast), regardless of whether or not you own a TV, then you need to have a licence. Also, if you do own a TV but only use it to watch DVDs, you don't need one.

How would you prove that you didn't use it to watch the Beeb?

Does anyone know if those detector vans actually work, or are they an urban myth? I don't think I've ever seen one. I remember from the 80's the ad campaign with a van with a big dish type thing attached to it!

Urban myth.

Think about it. Think about how analogue tv signals work. They are beamed out randomly. The whole point of an aerial is that it picks up the signal. The tv does not send out any kind of signal of its own. Ergo, it's a load of pish.

The same people probably wear tinfoil hats to protect themselves from the aliens.

[Yudster]

If you own a TV you gotta have one. Or someone comes round and spanks you. And your wallet.

No. If you watch live TV (that is you watch programmes at the time that they are broadcast), regardless of whether or not you own a TV, then you need to have a licence. Also, if you do own a TV but only use it to watch DVDs, you don't need one.

How would you prove that you didn't use it to watch the Beeb?

I think - although I may be mistaken - that any such TV needs to be disabled from receiving television broadcasts.

[foot-loose]

It would be a way to prove you have hidden the aerial.

Do tv license people have the power to get warrents?

[Yudster]

I think - and again, I am possibly wrong - that there are industry standard methods by which a TV set can be accepted as disabled - and these are applied and checked independantly.

[foot-loose]

Personally, I would also like proof these people can't visit the BBC website, nor receive any of the stations on any radio they own. If they can't stump up the cash, fair doos. But they shouldn't receive any of the service.

[Yudster]

Radios have never been in the equation for licensing - I have often wondered why.

[foot-loose]

Probably too difficult to control.

How was the BBC funded before the TV appeared?

[Yudster]

Oooh now THAT'S a very good question.