To point out that you do not need a TV licence

[BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability]

Unless you watch live TV!

The TV licencing authorities have got everyone terrified, loads of myths about scanning equipment and having to let authorities in your home if they randomly turn up on your doorstep. All of which are told to be untrue on their own website. It's there in black and white, you are not breaking the law if you have your TV connected to a DVD player only, or if you watch (non-live) iplayer on your PC.

I'm told very often that I'm going to be locked up or fined for not having one
Yet the actual authorities have no problem with me declaring I don't need one and haven't hassled me at all!

It's ridiculous. People need to be informed!

YANBU but how many people don't watch 'live' TV?

Hmm,let us see!! Those who do not watch live TV sign up.

You'd be surprised, a lot of people I talk to pay the licence out of habit or a belief that they have to, rather than because they actually do have to.

In case anyone was dubious, here's a quote from the website:
The law states that you need to be covered by a TV Licence if you watch or record television programmes, on any device, as they're being shown on TV. This includes TVs, computers, mobile phones, games consoles, digital boxes and Blu-ray/DVD/VHS recorders.
You don't need a licence if you don't use any of these devices to watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV - for example, if you use your TV only to watch DVDs or play video games, or you only watch ?catch up? services like BBC iPlayer or 4oD.
And the link to it

This must apply to about 3 people nationally

Take a look at the other thread...
(The not having a TV one)

Oh god.

You'll have people coming on telling you how morally wrong you are in a minute.

I pay my license because we watch live tv.

If I didnt then there is no way in hell I would pay £115 a year for it.

'Morally wrong' or not.

What if I pause live tv on my BT box and then go and make a cup of tea and then come back in 10 mins to continue watching. Is that Live?!

Ahh, but "morally" I havent said whether I use iplayer or not, just that you can

There are loads of threads on this.

Legally and morally, no, you don't need a license.

People who claim that it's 'immoral' not to pay for a service you don't use are, IMHO, being daft. If they're rich enough to pay for services they don't use, they should do so, and stop trying to police everyone else.

I don't watch live TV, and it seems quite common amongst my mates. We're on budgets and the luxuries have to go.

We don't have a tv. Dont pay a license. But do watch Bbc player occasionally on laptop ( maybe once a month)

I pay because I want to - I think it's value for money :)

Suzy, I'd say that would be counted as "recording live programmes as they are shown"

Suzyszoo - it's not live, but it needs a licence because your BT box is recording the programme as it's being broadcast.

I know, LRD, I've been on them before.
But people incorrectly pointing out on the other thread that someone needed a licence made me think that maybe a little reminder was needed

You do if you are watching recorded (as in sky plus) programmes on a TV, just not if you are watching catchup online on a computer or device. Your OP doesn't actually specify the difference.

If people do not pay their license fees, then the BBC will die. If the BBC dies, there will be No More CBeebies.

Without CBeebies, many of us will be forced to stop MN'ing and entertain our children. Mumsnet will probably survive die.

Please, think of me the children and Justine and Olivia and Rebecca and all and pay your license fee!

But seriously...just pay it. A world without the BBC would be...like the US.

is it just live bbc programmes? We have sky but honestly cant remember the last time we watched any of the bbc channels. I wish therewas an opt out option.

we never watch bbc. Cartoon Network, sky 1 and e4 are the main channels in our house.. we pay for sky.. so we do we have to fund the bbc?

You're not wrong there, beyond.

It always amazes me how many people don't seem to get that TV is a luxury, not a necessity. Sure, it's very nice to have and it's not wildly expensive over a whole year, but you don't get the same attitude over anything else comparable - no one is stunned to find you don't have the papers delivered daily, or you don't have a magazine subscription. Why's TV different?

So, those who have no tv but have the abliity to watch it live on their laptop don't do so to avoid the licence fee? Yeah, right, course they don't.

You have to pay for a licence if you have a radio. :(

If people do not pay their license fees, then the BBC will die. If the BBC dies, there will be No More CBeebies.

Without CBeebies, many of us will be forced to stop MN'ing and entertain our children. Mumsnet will probably survive die.

Brilliant.

We don't have a licence and don't watch live tv.