Do you have a TV license?

[Abouteffingtime]

It seems to me more and more people just don't bother. I do have one, though don't ever watch 'live' TV, I do watch iplayer and other catch up. I watch Netflix mostly.

Do you bother? If so, how old are you? (Im 49 and remember the adverts!)

Not having a license is only a criminal offence if you use iPlayer or watch live TV.

Many people don't do either of those things.

Are there actually still people who think you need a licence to own a TV? 😅😅

Not had one for about 15 years. We used our TVs for Netflix, Prime, YouTube, Catch-up and occasionally DVDs.

Definitely have a licence, always have had.

The BBC is only good value for those who actually watch it or listen to it
You can be as sad as you want
But many people have zero interest in the BBC dont try and guilt trip them becsuse you think you know better.

Yes. Am mid forties.

Very unfashionable I know, but for all its flaws I think overall the BBC is excellent. I would far rather my DC watch CBeebies and CBBC than any other streaming service. I think a lot of the BBC documentaries are good and they make some great innovative comedy that other services wouldn’t take a risk on. I think it is important to have an impartial news service (the fact that left wingers think it’s too right wing and right wingers think it’s too left wing suggests they are getting it about right!) otherwise we risk station owners pushing their own agendas through the news. And while I know you don’t need a licence to listen to the radio, I am pleased to pay towards several BBC stations especially Radio 4 and 6 Music.

Basically I think it is good value for money when you look at their overall output as well as serving an important societal function.

I have one, although I can't actually recall the last thing I watched on the BBC. My wife used to, but since she died, I don't think I've watched BBC at all. I will probably pay this year and then bin it.

You don’t neee a TV llcense for radio. You do need one for watching any live broadcast TV (so including ITV and Channel 4). You also need a TV license if watch Iplayer.

if you only watch Netflix, Amazon Prime etc, you do not need a license.

I guess my point is (and I think it was touched upon by a previous poster as well), is that the BBC doesn't only provide live TV. As well as radio etc etc, it provides a really well-trained working population, and instills national boundaries and benchmarks to which other broadcasters also hold themselves up against. The entertainment industry is actually very large in the UK, contributing significantly to the economy, it would be really sad to lose that wonderful breeding ground of talent (on but hugely off screen) due to the removal of the licence.

65, haven’t had a licence (which is the UK spelling btw) for years.
Can’t stand the BBC - just a hotbed of snti-semitism, and a finishing school for English Literature graduates who wouldn’t survive a minute in a real job and just grift irrelevant jollies like Glastonbury.

Hated the way they scaremongered the gullible during covid and their selective bias in ‘news’ reporting.
No interest in live TV - occasionally watch catch up C4, but otherwise only Prime and YouTube.
Really hoping BBC will be defunded.
Make it an opt in service and see if they survive on that.
And could then stop wasting money on intimidating letters and bullying ‘inspectors’.

Yes I didn’t go into that becuase it has been said several times up thread.

Read my post -I said for me, not that I can't imagine someone else not watching sport.

Its good value for money for you
Not for people who have no interest in their output

Yes. Regularly watch iPlayer—some great stuff and love it that there are no ads. Sometimes watch events that have to be watched live.

Also love BBC Sounds, R4, 6 Music etc—all sans adverts and some really lovely, thoughtful shows. Use BBC News app daily—even if I don’t always agree with what they prioritise as ‘news’ but it is a mixed bag with some good, thoughtful features too.

Perhaps I see the licence as a tax - we don't all get benefit of where tax money is spent, but that's the way it works, and is for the benefit of the country as a whole.

You can see it how you want but it doesnt work for many people
So they rightly dont require a tv licence

i Didn’t go into that because it has been said several times up thread so am assuming therfore that people on here know that.

Yes. We use iplayer. Very rarely live tv - very occasional big sporting events, or important political events.

Those without a licence didn't get to see the World Cup or Wimbledon or any F1?

I don't have one. I simply don't watch any live TV at home, I mainly watch Netflix, YouTube etc.

They did send me several shitty letters when I didn't renew. One even said I was getting a visit from one of their officers and I needed to show him round my house. He never turned up, I wouldn't have opened the door to him if he did. The last letter was along the lines of "we will be watching your usage"🙄

Yes I didn't watch any of these sporting events, why is that so surprising?

Im 46 and do not have one.

Yes we have one. We don’t really watch anything live but do watch a fair amount of historical / nature stuff as BBC4 for music stuff on iplayer.

Can't stand football and I can live without seeing a Tennis match.

Yes, we do, I'm mid 50s. My daughter bought one in her student house too.

I think the BBC is fantastic, especially radio (though I know you don't need a licence to listen) and I really appreciated quality, ad free TV on CBeebies and CBBC when my kids were young. I hate having to watch or listen to adverts.

In the past, we've also benefitted from community events organised by the BBC.

I remember how important BBC local radio was to my grandparents. I’ll never listen to it, but I’d like it to be around for those who do. Anyway, I’d happily pay £15 per month for Test Match Special alone!