b3ta.com board
You are not logged in. Login or Signup
Home » Messageboard » XXX » Message 10620247 (Thread)

# Soon us Brits without a tv will have to pay the BBC licence just for having a broadband connexion
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5074406.stm

BBC.co.uk and its iplayer should either get off the internet or be a subscriber only paysite
(I helped save b3ta! CanonCaliber A big bore, Thu 1 Dec 2011, 17:30, archived)
# "Soon"?
I think you'll find that article's dated 2006 and anyone with broadband (and access to iPlayer) DOES have to pay the TV licence
(I helped save b3ta! emvee cruor deo cruoris, Thu 1 Dec 2011, 17:35, archived)
# Also
anyone who has a mobile phone or laptop or other device capable of playing streaming media, has to have a TV license.
(ganainm, Thu 1 Dec 2011, 17:39, archived)
# no they don't.
only if you actually use it for that purpose. You can even have a television if you only use it for watching DVDs or playing a console etc..
(I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Thu 1 Dec 2011, 17:41, archived)
# True..
but you have to prove that the device is incapable of receiving streaming or broadcast media and that the console is also incapable of doing the same..
(ganainm, Thu 1 Dec 2011, 17:46, archived)
# anything that is capable of going online is capable of that,
I'm going to have to look up the law now because that would be insane.

EDIT: their website says
"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."
(I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Thu 1 Dec 2011, 17:47, archived)
# it is insane
the onus of responsibility is on the device owner not the BBC to prove you are using it that way..

been there with this already. =-(

edit:
for more info (though not complete)
www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one
(ganainm, Thu 1 Dec 2011, 17:49, archived)
# I'm on that site already,
haven't found anything about the burden of proof just yet, but in the old days all you needed to do was show you hadn't connected the areal or hadn't tuned it into any stations. I'm not sure how you'd prove it with a computer.
(I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Thu 1 Dec 2011, 17:58, archived)
# well..
maybe they're being nice now and just accepting our word for it =-D

though, experience tells a different story =-(
(ganainm, Thu 1 Dec 2011, 18:01, archived)
# yes it does..
we (in student house) were also told by MR TV Detector Van Guy, that since our TV (which had a PS3 with no net access) had an SCRT port on the back, capable of receiving broadcast signals, then we would have prove that it wasn't being used for that (e.g. soldering in the PS3 to the TV and removing the 2nd port).. and that we would have to prove our phones weren't being used for streaming media either (which they were obviously).

(ganainm, Thu 1 Dec 2011, 17:57, archived)
# well he was talking out of his arse,
and any magistrate would have thrown that out of court. I suspect they're just bully boys sent in to put off chancers. I've had them round here, they just looked in the sitting room and went away.
(I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Thu 1 Dec 2011, 18:01, archived)
# want to move in?
we need you here!!! there's a spare room and everything!!

fridge space is limited, but I can move my homemade been soup to one side for you.

edit:
when I say "been soup", it was soup once, but is more of a congealed lump of vegetable conglomerate, which you can slice and microwave on toast!!
(ganainm, Thu 1 Dec 2011, 18:03, archived)
# you're really selling this place
(I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Thu 1 Dec 2011, 18:11, archived)
# I'm glad you think so..
when can you move in?

I'll start moving the soup.
(ganainm, Thu 1 Dec 2011, 18:35, archived)
# as it's being broadcast
it comes up half an hour later on iplayer... iplayer is fine and free no license fee
(I helped save b3ta! arrangedletters, Thu 1 Dec 2011, 18:00, archived)
# you need the liscence fee
only if you're watching Live streaming broadcasts (sports and such)... pre recorded material you don't need it.

Unless they've recently changed that ruling... because that's what it was last year.
(I helped save b3ta! arrangedletters, Thu 1 Dec 2011, 17:58, archived)
# *turns out pockets*
"But I haven't got 5x£145 and £1000 fine......looks like I'm going to prison then"
(I helped save b3ta! CanonCaliber A big bore, Thu 1 Dec 2011, 17:41, archived)
# only if you use it to stream live TV footage,
which is already the case anyway.
(I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Thu 1 Dec 2011, 17:38, archived)