I don’t pay for a TV Lic

StarDolphins · 2023-05-13T19:29:32+00:00

But I really want to watch 24 hours in police custody. Tv Lic website says I can’t watch anything with live tv or BBC Iplets either live or catch up. Can I still download the Channel 4 App to watch this non-live programme even though the app has watch live things too?

Blancmangemouse · 13/05/2023 20:30

Channel 4 is fine

CRbear · 13/05/2023 20:30

You can watch non live shows from channels other than the BBC. No bbc at all ever without tv licence.

fedupandtiredmum23 · 13/05/2023 20:31

My understanding was you need a tv license for watching any BBC programme or streaming anything live. If it's not a BBC programme I think you can watch it a bit later than the original broadcast

Roundandnour · 13/05/2023 20:31

Catch up tv excluding the iplayer is perfectly legal.

Original poster

StarDolphins · 13/05/2023 20:39

Thanks all.

OP posts:

Beneficialchampion2 · 13/05/2023 20:59

TV license is a con. You don't need one for all4 on catch up.

RandomUser82 · 13/05/2023 21:15

What about bbc programs on netflix then?

Original poster

StarDolphins · 13/05/2023 21:16

Beneficialchampion2 · 13/05/2023 20:59

TV license is a con. You don't need one for all4 on catch up.

Thank you & I agree! I only usually watch Netflix but I just really wanted to watch something on channel 4! I will have to remove it though incase my daughter clicks on live stuff! I never ever want to pay for tv lic.

OP posts:

SittingNextToIt · 13/05/2023 21:18

StarDolphins · 13/05/2023 21:16

Thank you & I agree! I only usually watch Netflix but I just really wanted to watch something on channel 4! I will have to remove it though incase my daughter clicks on live stuff! I never ever want to pay for tv lic.

Show quote history

It’s almost as though you’re dying to be asked why oh why oh why don’t you ever want to pay for tv license.

Roundandnour · 13/05/2023 21:29

RandomUser82 · 13/05/2023 21:15

What about bbc programs on netflix then?

Netflix, Roku etc have paid bbc for the rights to air the stuff. And because it’s not on the iplayer or live a license isn’t needed.

Think there’s also some bbc stuff on plex and discovery.

thinandsparse · 13/05/2023 21:51

Wait, what? I thought you needed a tv licence if you had a tv? I get one every year. I reserve threatening letters years ago with threats of them knocking on the door and finding you if you owned a tv. How do they know if you're watching live tv or not?

Grimchmas · 13/05/2023 21:56

Thinandsparse to be honest if your have a TV it's a proper ball ache to prove to TV licensing that you're never using it for live TV or BBC stuff. A lot of us just don't have a TV and view Netflix etc on tablet/ phone etc instead, I think.

WiddlinDiddlin · 13/05/2023 22:06

thinandsparse · 13/05/2023 21:51

Wait, what? I thought you needed a tv licence if you had a tv? I get one every year. I reserve threatening letters years ago with threats of them knocking on the door and finding you if you owned a tv. How do they know if you're watching live tv or not?

Honestly, they don't know and they cannot prove it unless they catch you in the act.

The myth about detector vans is exactly that, and having the equipment to commit a crime does not constitute evidence of you actually committing the crime (which is why I can own a bong and can't be arrested for smoking cannabis based purely and soley on that!).

RandomUser82 · 13/05/2023 22:10

All you need to do is fill out an online form declaring you don't watch live TV. Think you have to re-declare every 2 years. They could possibly track ip address to see what you are watching? I'm not sure.

Original poster

StarDolphins · 14/05/2023 21:12

SittingNextToIt · 13/05/2023 21:18

It’s almost as though you’re dying to be asked why oh why oh why don’t you ever want to pay for tv license.

Show quote history

It’s almost as though you’ve got the wrong end of the stick.

OP posts:

JonahAndTheSnail · 14/05/2023 21:57

How do they know if you're watching live tv or not?

They don't. I've never watched live TV since I left home, but always had a TV to watch DVDS (back in the day), play computer games and stream from netflix etc. Consistently had the 'scary' letters from TV liscensing reminding me I need a license for the past two decades but noones ever shown up to check. If they do, you don't even have any legal obligation to let them into your house.

billthefrog · 14/05/2023 22:03

Bbc liscencing is nothing to do watching channel 4 is it??

Bathroomlove · 14/05/2023 22:17

@StarDolphins Do you know someone on it?

I pay for the licence for 2 reasons 1) because I appreciate the work the BBC does & I think it's important to have a national & international news broadcaster and 2) because it's too bloody complicated to work out what's ok & what isn't! & I like to feel free to watch what I want.

however, if I didn't feel like that, I'd just take the risk & watch the odd thing if I really wanted to. The world won't end.

Ilovechinese · 14/05/2023 22:19

Just warch what you want they won't know and don't have permission to come I ti your house

Hummusanddipdip · 14/05/2023 22:23

As pps have said its only BBC/live broadcast where you need a TV license. Our TV isnt hooked up to anything besides consoles and internet, I'd welcome an inspector into my home to look.

However, not sure how true this is, I have been told recently that technically you need a TV licence if you listen to BBC radio? I can imagine that may be true, but all my googling talks about TV.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 14/05/2023 22:24

billthefrog · 14/05/2023 22:03

Bbc liscencing is nothing to do watching channel 4 is it??

Tv licence is for all live tv, it isn't specidix to just bbc channels

JaneyGee · 14/05/2023 22:26

SittingNextToIt · 13/05/2023 21:18

It’s almost as though you’re dying to be asked why oh why oh why don’t you ever want to pay for tv license.

Show quote history

Isn’t it obvious? Because the BBC no longer even pretends to be impartial. It is effectively a woke/left-wing propaganda unit, and makes no apologies for that. Even Radio 4 is rubbish now. The last time I tuned in, there was a discussion about Jane Austen. At last, I thought, the BBC is doing its job and promoting high culture. How naive! Within five minutes, they got on about a minor character in one of Austen’s novels who owns a sugar plantation. That then became an excuse to spend the rest of the show talking about slavery and colonialism. About the only good thing left is In Our Time. But Melvyn Bragg is getting old. As soon as he dies, or retires, they’ll ‘revamp’ it. Or, to put it another way, ruin it.

I barely watch TV anymore. I make do with YouTube, DVDs, books and video games

ImaniThePrefect · 14/05/2023 22:31

thinandsparse · 13/05/2023 21:51

Wait, what? I thought you needed a tv licence if you had a tv? I get one every year. I reserve threatening letters years ago with threats of them knocking on the door and finding you if you owned a tv. How do they know if you're watching live tv or not?

I've not had a licence for years, but then I've not watched TV for years either (or Netflix or anything else - just not interested in watching things). DC watch Netflix on their laptops/phones when they're at home. I have actually got a TV but it dates back to when my DC used to watch videos (it has a built-in video recorder).

ImaniThePrefect · 14/05/2023 22:32

Agree about Radio 4, btw - mostly woke bollocks now.

Pemba · 14/05/2023 22:35

Hummusanddipdip · 14/05/2023 22:23

As pps have said its only BBC/live broadcast where you need a TV license. Our TV isnt hooked up to anything besides consoles and internet, I'd welcome an inspector into my home to look.

However, not sure how true this is, I have been told recently that technically you need a TV licence if you listen to BBC radio? I can imagine that may be true, but all my googling talks about TV.

@Hummusanddipdip no, you don't need a licence for listening to radio and this has been the case for many decades.