TV license

[Sky1992]

So AIBU to stop my direct debit towards TV license since the kids only watch netflix, you tube or Disney and I only watch eastenders and most times I watch it at my parents?

Also is it worth cancelling it and only watching eastenders when I'm not at home or downloading it at my parents who do have TV license and watch it mine once its downloaded?

Meh, I haven’t had a TV License in 8 years and I watch TV channels every night.

Officially, yes, you need a TV license even if :

• you watch BBC iPlayer only
• you download programmes at your parents but watch them at yours

But unofficially? I will never buy a TV license again and will still keep watching TV.

Cheapskates. It's like saying I don't want to pay tax that goes towards your kids' schools.

Meh, I don’t watch the BBC etc so why should I prop them up.

I have BBC iPlayer on my TV but I’ve never even opened it or set up an account 🤷🏻‍♀️

I do not have a TV, but I still my license fee, even though I don't have to. I occasionally watch iplayer and I listen to the radio most days. Seems fair and good value. People would miss the BBC if it were to be run into the ground due to lack of funding.

If you're watching EastEnders, yes you need a TV licence. Even if you download it from your parents .
I agree it's a bloody rip off but still needs paying.

I don’t have a license as I don’t want tv at all (there are people on MN who don’t believe people don’t watch tv) my kids watch tv but only YouTube so we don’t have a license

As long as you are not using any BBC services (TV, Radio, Website, Bitesized, Streaming etc)

But if you’re watching iPlayer (even on a laptop or tablet) then you do need a license officially.

But you do need a license to use iplayer.

Radio, bitesize and the website don't need a license.

You don’t need a TV license to listen to BBC radio or browse BBC websites.

It's a tax to pay for public content. You already say you watch EastEnders and even if you didn't the tax is to pay for the news, documentaries, children's programmes, sport etc. Netflix and Disney have no obligation to do anything for British culture and identity. The BBC does.

The license fee won't be around for much longer, it's ridiculous in this day and age to have people knocking on your door and people getting arrested or going to jail for what shows they watch on TV. The BBC will have to compete on a level playing field with other content providers such as Prime, Disney Plus and Crunchyroll.

Is it a rip-off? it gives you legal advert-free access to everything it offers.

@Adelant so you think it's fine for the rest of us to subsidise you? How have you come to that conclusion??

where are you getting the information from that she needs a licence to record EE at her parents then watch it at her house. Because I'm not sure that's correct?

@Sky1992 YouTube is ok as long as you're not watching anything live.

it sounds, to me, like you only 'need' it to watch EE. So if your usage is tiny it's a very small risk of getting caught.

But for the 43p per day, I prefer to have it & not worry about it and just watch what I want to watch.

But you have to pay for it even if you never watch it. It’s a draconian rip off.

I’m not interested in Strictly, Eastenders, Newsnight, BBC News etc Yes maybe I should watch the latter two but I am tired from work most days and I cannot be arsed.

But I’m not watching BBC, ITV, Channel 4 & 5 or their offshoots so how are you subsidising me?

And OP didn’t say she is ‘recording’ Eastenders. She’s downloading it at her parents on go her device and watching it at home. You officially are required to have a license to do that.

I literally watch eastenders in one go at my parents over the weekend and in some occasions I'd watch an episode or 2 in a whole week. I'm stopping my direct debit and hopefully won't get caught fingers crossed.

I didn't think it was kust for bbc now but for watching anything in realtime etc ?
Had to get student ds one even though he barely watched much

Yes, it’s for watching anything live on any channel. Or watching/downloading anything on demand on iPlayer to play later.

@Adelant

well you said ... I will never buy a TV license again and will still keep watching TV

very much implying you're watching TV that requires a licence.

BBC is obliged to make certain programs etc. I pay 43p per day as a contribution to a national & world wide service they provide, I do this so it's there for ithers who might take great comfort from having what they offer. Plus I then don't need to give it another thought when I'm watching the TV. I watch various politics & bbc live coverage so I definitely need a licence, but if I chose not to pay for one I'd drive myself demented trying to work out what I can/can't watch. I'd rather just pay 43p per day to have the freedom from giving it another thought.

Do you have any official link that says about downloading Ee, then watching it at home requiring a licence??

True, it gives you advert free access which is great but when the time of month rolls around and I have to pay my 42 quid ( pay every 3 months) and I'm skint I just want it to get in the bin lol.
Although I'm fence sitting as I love watching Doctor Who live and BBC Bitesize was a godsend in lockdown

@healthadvice123 yes it's annoying, we had to pay for one for furst year Uni at Southampton. I think the universities should have one suoerlucence and the students pay a smaller fee. One each for uni students, is utterly ridiculous!

@SkylightSkylight yes def or as we have a licence i said should be like a £20 add on if you have a child at uni
Sooner they scrap it the better really , happy with adverts

I do watch TV that requires a license but not BBC, ITV, Channel 4 or 5 or their offshoots.

Re official link it says it right there on the TV Licensing website:

www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/bbc-iplayer-and-the-tv-licence