to not have a television licence if we don't watch live television?

[Meggymoodle]

Some of our friends think we're unreasonable not to have a television licence. We don't have a television but we do watch things on BBC iplayer and itvplayer. We also listen to the radio.

In some ways, I can see the argument, we are not breaking the law - it states on the BBC licence pages that as long as you are not watching things through the internet as they are being shown on television, which we never do, you do not require a licence. However, are we being like Starbucks with the whole tax thing - not acting illegally but a bit morally suspect? (On a far lesser scale obviously!).

I'm not saying if everyone here thinks we ABU I will rush and get a licence but I'd be interested to see what the general consensus is.

As long as you don't watch live TV YANBU.

I do the same thing when I'm away in my university city (about 8 months of the year). I'd imagine they will change the rules eventually but until they do why pay when you don't have to within the rules? I

've never been asked if I have a licence when I watch Iplayer - I think you must have been watching something live to get that message.

MargeySimpson

Sorry, to be clear the OP doesn't have a TV so doesn't need a licence. I meant the licence was optional ie "do you want a TV or not". Not "can you be bothered to pay for a licence".

Not everyone likes tv anyway, I don't and I can't see how I'm taking away from others.

P.s - I DON'T WATCH IPLAYER EITHER!

The BBC had a choice when it launched iplayer, if for whatever reason it was decided to make it available to non licence payers then you are fine to use it. If the rules change then you need to get a licence.

I don't play the lottery, I won't win the jackpot but my kids still play in the park built from national lottery funding.

I thought a percentage of the licence fee went towards radio?

Do you listen to the radio live?

So if I have a TV and pay for SKy, can I get away with not buying a licence if I never watch BBC channels? Excuse the dumb question......

Never considered I was being an "arse" about it - or indeed that I was boasting about what we are doing.

We made a deliberate decision 3 years ago not to have a television due to the amount of crap on television. iplayer does muddy the water - if there was an option for a "half-licence" fee for watching iplayer, I would merrily pay it. Likewise for radio. I would reckon from the BBC we watch an hour of television on iplayer a week - 30 mins of Russell Howard and 30 mins of Have I got news for you and that's it. I would not want to pay a whole licence fee for that.

We checked with the BBC when it first came out. They told us as long as we don't watch it live we don't need a licence. We were surprised to see that iplayer was excluded from the licence, which was why we wrote to ask.

We've never had a TV and wouldn't get one even if we didn't have to get a licence. We do watch DVDs sometimes, and ds likes some things on youtube.

Yes YABU. What you're doing is legal, but you're enjoying tv you're not paying for.

I think it's morally dubious to be honest. Yes, it is allowed but you're enjoying the same programmes as I am at no cost. It's a bit like DVD piracy IMO.

Nothing like dvd piracy at all - because that IS illegal, and using iplayer without a license isn't.

HoFlippinHo, The licence fee funds TV (66%), radio (17%), online including iPlayer (6%), other costs (11%).

Starbucks!

What am I on about, you say?

Well (oversimplifying alert..) by the wording of the law, their (Starbucks) little tax dodge was essentialy OK, if shall we say moraly dubious. "Pulling a Starbucks" if you will.

Given that the BBC is funded (YMMV see previous alert ect) by the TV licence and you are making use of BBC facilities (iPlayer), but the law says you don't need to pay the licence for the circumstances you describe, then crack on and watch...

Serious question now and if you saw my previous post you'll understand why I'm asking

How do you all watch 'programmes' together?

Do you all squeeze on the settee and stick the laptop/computer/ipad on the coffee table?
How do you manage to see it, without it being right in front of you?

Or do you all have to watch programmes individually?

YANBU, you're behaving legally

People calling you an arse need to wind it in - if the BBC doesn't mind, why should they?

Same goes for Netflix, which is brilliant, but also doesn't need a TV license.

And you can have Sky as long as you only watch recorded shows, and be license free (as if anyone does that). They'll send people round every now and then and send letters constantly though in this case. I had an 'enforcement officer' try to tell me I needed a license even if I didn't have a TV once, promptly got invited in and shown the legislation.

OK all you who think it's terrible - what would be your solution? I'm not paying a full licence as I don't want to watch television. I'm happy to pay a half fee for iplayer but that is not an option.

ChristmasKnackers Not if your TV can pick up BBC.

YANBU because if you don't watch live telly then you don't need one. Would be a bit odd to buy something you don't need!

Maxpepsi - not sure I saw previous post? Yes, DH and I sit on the sofa and watch it on laptop on the coffee table. Kids have DVDs on DVD player and screen.

MaxPepsi In our case we have TV (have no connection to an aerial or satellite though) and we either hook the PS3 or the laptop up to it and watch that way. Alternatively our PC's all have decent sized screens.

I know people who do this and gave always felt a bit cross about it.

Now I've read the rules... well they aren't doing anything wrong. So fair enough!

YANBU. I do the same as you. Haven't had a TV in years and years. Listen to Radio 4 all day and watch stuff on iPlayer, but don't pay - hah!