Although - just purely to be a pedant here
I believe you only strictly pay your TV licence to watch the two channels that aren't allowed to broadcast commercial adverts - BBC1 & 2.

At least, I think that's that case; please correct me if I'm wrong.

As for the other 3 terrestrial channels, I couldn't agree more. Adverts within 30 seconds of the opening credits of a program? I could scream at channel 4 sometimes.
(LongJohnBaldry, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 11:49, 1 reply)

Im in Ireland
All channels have ads here. And besides, I have a SKY box which I pay for monthly to be advertised it every 7-8 minutes for regular programming (repeats and reality TV with occasional original programming). To watch movies or sports, I pay extra to be advertised at non-stop.
(bazmorningstar efil4nat3b, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 11:54, closed)

In the UK
you are obliged to have a TV license to watch any of the terrestrial channels broadcast, not just the BBC ones.

Also, if you are watching TV programmes on the internet via the bbc iplayer, and possibly the channel four and ITV equivalents, I think you are also obliged to have a license. I'm sure the law is a bit vague there.
(Bazongaloid, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 11:57, closed)

For fear of sounding like an idiot
but surely the license fee also helps pay for the running of ALL BBC facilities including Radio and the website?

And If we didn't have a license fee would we have had some of the best TV shows ever over the years (Blackadder, Fawlty Towers etc).

If you get a chance, Stephen Fry has a podcast about the license fee which may is very interesting.
(Holy Cremola Foam Batman will be back on, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 12:26, closed)

Blackadder and Fawlty Towers
are on near constant repeat on the satellite channels whilst being viciously punctuated with ads every few minutes. I'd assume BBC are getting a few quid out of that.
(bazmorningstar efil4nat3b, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 12:40, closed)

No doubt they are
Gotta love Dave.

But the point I was trying to make is without the license fee would they have been made in the first place?

It's been pointed out that many actors started their careers with the BBC (including Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Rowen Atkinson, John Cleese) might not have got the chances they did if it hadn't existed.
(Holy Cremola Foam Batman will be back on, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 12:45, closed)

Them boys were all Cambridge Review alumnii.
I suspect they'd have done alright.
(bazmorningstar efil4nat3b, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 12:49, closed)

They
might not have been made in the first place, but some of those are over 20 years old.

I realise that you pay a licence to pay for these things to be made, but surely they didn't expect each and every one of us to cover the whole cost of making them each did they?

I mean, surely just one licence fee pays for things like 'Dog Borstal'?
(dchurch bah, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 13:52, closed)

all the UKTV network (including davem uktv food, watch, alalbi ect)
are part owned by bbc and virgin media so there makning shit loads out of it already down with the licence
( hooker1uk Filth monger of the lowest degree!, Wed 29 Oct 2008, 20:47, closed)

@althegeordie
you only need a licence if you're watching programs on the internet that are being broadcast live. so iplayer and the others and fine!
(rosie-pie, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 12:45, closed)

Oh right
thanks for clearing that up.

Do you need one to listen to the radio online?
(Bazongaloid, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 12:46, closed)

nope
i think you can get it on iplayer too?
(rosie-pie, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 12:53, closed)

iPlayer's paid for
by the BBC, hence the license fee. As is the content streamed over it.

It's all GeoIP locked to make sure you can only see it in the UK (license-fee-payer area).

So any iPlayer stuff's covered by the requirement for the License to, no?
( uberdeity Wondered why Owen Lars knew of the term "hell" on, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 13:10, closed)

only
if you're watching it live, as it's being broadcast. "If you use the BBC iPlayer to watch BBC programmes after they have been broadcast - either to download, or via streaming 'on demand' you will not need a TV Licence."
(rosie-pie, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 13:20, closed)

not all is locked
certain news articles containing video can be seen abroad, and coccasionally some sports as well
(bamboozled Can hear you getting fatter, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 14:59, closed)

Law's not vague. No license needed.
T'Interwebs don't count as "reception equipment". You can watch all the TV you fancy courtesy of the Intertubes and don't have to pay a penny to Gordon McCunt and his cronies. However, if you have a TV card in your computer (or USB TV receiver stick thing) then you do need a license, as that piece of hardware is considered to be reception equipment.

Can the gizmo pick up TV via RF? Yes? It needs licensing. No? It doesn't need licensing.
( flake has nothing against your right leg, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 19:14, closed)