UK TV licence

[forjustnow]

Following on from an earlier discussion with a friend.

Do you have a TV licence (UK only)

UABU- yes
UANBU- no

I think it's ridiculous that you're required to have one to watch ANY live television whether it's broadcast on BBC channels or not Apparently it's because the other live channels use BBC infrastructure (transmitting aerials for example). If that's the case, then fair enough.

No, I declared I didn’t need one whilst pregnant as I needed the spare cash and don’t watch bbc or live tv anyway. The letters stressing me out were not appreciated 🙄

I can't believe there are still people in this country who believe it's compulsory, no matter what! Or think having an actual TV in the house means you need a licence, hilarious and bizarre!

And no, not had one in about 12 years and don't miss it. Have a TV plus Netflix and switch occasionally Prime and Apple TV. I choose what I pay for. I will not be dictated to by some antiquated, corrupt paedo supporting brainwash corporation.

I watch programmes that I enjoy.

I don't not watch them because they are on a certain channel, and quite a few that I enjoy happen to be on BBC channels.

I am happy to pay for my licence and feel that it is good value for me and my family.

I agree that they should change the model for paying though. I would be happy to pay by subscription if that became the case.

We don't have one. We have a TV but it's not connected to the satellite (in place when we bought the house) so we can't access any live channels except through apps such as iplayer. We're not logged into iplayer. Anything I want to watch on ITV etc I will watch through the app on demand.

We only watch Netflix/Prime/Disney/Apple/Now TV - we share some accounts across the wider family, or subscribe only when we get a deal or offer e.g. I just got a new ipad and have 3 months Apple TV.

I consider the license fee just another subscription, and there's not enough content I'm interested in that makes paying for a full 12 months worthwhile. Often BBC make there way through to Netflix after 12 months.

Licence fee needs abolishing- it's outdated and has no place in the modern entertainment world. BBC needs to be (voluntary) subscription or have adverts.

We have a TV licence , don’t watch any BBC programmes or use Iplayer , but we use Netflix and other steaming apps .

Haven't had one for years. Stopped paying when they were giving Lineker etc millions for not a lot of work.

Just the TV I think off the top of my head.

I cancelled recently
I watched very little live TV anyway, only a Netflix or Catch up, so it is easy to do without a tiny bit of live TV
Have closed my iPlayer account and now only watch Catch Up TV and Netflix, through a Firestick. I'm a rule follower so won't be watching any live TV

I think my timing was bad as I cancelled just before the Euro finals and the Olympics, but I'll live.

the BBC is a disgrace IMO.

Yes we have one.

We have Sky, Netflix, Disney Plus, Apple, Prime, ITVX and Paramount but watch a lot on BBC channels.

I like watching tv and not having the programme interrupted every 10 minutes, if that, by stupid adverts.

So it's just BBC where you feel it's fine to freeload off all those that do pay?

If you are opposed to the licence fee, don't pay it - but don't use the services.

Yea its just the BBC I freeload off.

We have one, we also have Sky, Apple, Disney, Prime, ITVx Premier and Paramount, I did pause Netflix for 3 months as it was so bad, I also have paid to have no ads where I can, one of the best things about BBC is no ads. I like lots of choice when watching TV

@MereDintofPandiculation but if you want to watch live Tv that isn't on BBC, you still have to pay the licence fee. You don't have a choice and that's wrong.

I can't remember when I had one last tbh.

I think it's been 15 years, possibly more.

When I first cancelled, I'd watch DVDs that I'd buy cheap from the internet.

Then streaming came along and I didn't feel the need to get a license and embraced Netflix and the catch-up services on ITV and Channel 4 etc.

There's various reasons why I don't want to pay the BBC. I don't like their bullying tactics. I don't like the misinformation they spread to get.people to pay through fear. I despise the though of millions of poor people funding the mega rich who do little of value and work a few hours a week. It used to be Moyles that annoyed me £500k a year for a few hours work in a morning, sickening. These days it's Linekar, amongst others.

I really really despise their business methods, I'm no expert of course, but it seems to me that the License Fee payers are being treated like cash cows to milk. License fee payers fund a show - BBC makes the show - then sells the show to American / netflix / Australia / Italy / France etc etc. - show makes them massive profit, so why can't they use that profit to find next show instead of milking the fee payers some more?
But, like I say, I'm no expert and their financials are still shrouded in secrecy, another reason to hate the BBC.

So how are people identified as not having a licence? Over 45.000 people were prosecuted in 2022 for not having one.

A license fee salesman will visit, they work for 'TV Licensing' but they're actually Capita who won the tender for the contract.

They'll peer in through windows and see if unlicensed people are watching the telly. If they see someone, they'll apply to the court to prosecute and quite often the people won't even bother fighting it.

Detector vans are nonsense and don't do a damn thing.

The best advice.
If TV licensing turn up, say "no thank you" and close the door.
Don't watch live TV, they might see it through your windows.
Don't give them any opportunity to gather evidence against you.
No evidence, no prosecution.
Don't get aggressive, that will go against you if they apply for a warrant.

BlackBeltBarrister on YouTube does some TV license info stuff.

I'm told that that is because live terrestrial tv that isn't the BBC makes use of BBC infrastructure, transmitting aerials and so on. If that's the case, then it's reasonable that people who watch non-BBC terrestrial tv should also contribute.

From reading the comments here, do some people believe if you don’t pay it then your live TV and IPlayer won’t work?

I’ve always paid it, though I’m a rule follower so until they are able to make changes, the first step to decriminalising it then I will. It would be just my luck to get the fine.

I cancelled mine about 6 weeks ago as I realised I hadn't watched any live tv in about a year! I got some money back but didn't see the point of still having one. I watch stuff on Netflix, Prime and YouTube. I used to use iplayer a couple of times per month but have stopped since I cancelled.

So you’re only just cancelling it, why is your conscience telling you to stop paying now? Have you not heard of Jimmy Saville, Stuart Hall and Rolf Harris?

I thought a licence is only needed if you watch BBC, use iPlayer, listen to BBC radio.

Live watching ITV, ch4 etc you do t need one.

Ready to stand corrected.

You don't need it for BBC radio. You do need it to watch any live broadcast - including ITV, channel 4 etc.