No tv - this isn't weird?

[SacreBlue]

I don't have a tv, no single reason but it started off by avoiding tv when at uni

Mostly I get by in conversation by reading digital spy so I can chat about soaps, but I do watch EE, Drs Dr Who and occasional documentaries on catch up.

I have a teenager but he has never been bothered by no tv as he watches Youtube videos and spends free time working or on gaming.

I don't feel this is weird, surely some other folks don't have a tv?

Reason I ask is that TV licensing have visited us and understand we don't have a tv but some people I meet are a bit either because they think we're lying (to avoid fees) or that they don't believe anyone can survive without a live stream tv.

[INickedAName]

I'd happily get rid of our TV, I love The Walking Dead but could watch that at my sisters, online or on DVD, Dd doesn't really watch TV either, she loves I'm a celeb but as it's often late she watches it on Iplayer the next day anyway, she does have an xbox though, so even if I could get dh to give up TV would still have to pay the license fee for the TV for the console.

[moonrocket]

Not weird. We don't have a television, don't watch iplayer either except for doctor who.

Too many other things to do really, I'd much rather read.

[FayeFruitLoop]

Not wierd- me either. Just watch catch up on the iPad, phone or laptop and much prefer that I choose what I watch and when I watch without the channel hopping I used to do when I owned one. Also have netflix too.

Did have a visit from liscence person who had a good snoop round to check if I owned any tv's and also seemed to hold out what I presumed was a measuring device for tv airwaves??? It beeped a lot. He then said his goodbyes and said he'd be round to check if I had a tv yet several months later.... About 18 months ago

[meltedmonterayjack]

Well I don't think its weird. Got rid of my tv about 18 months ago and haven't missed it one bit. I was watching so little, it just didn't seem worth having one in my v small living room.

I watch iplayer, itv player and 40D on my laptop. I thought I might mind not watching stuff live, but I quickly got used to it. The only thing I vaguely miss live is the news but then there's no problem keeping up as there are so many news websites.

I've not had any contact from licensing people (yet). I filled in the online form to say I didn't need one.

Some people do seem a bit surprised/intrigued that I don't have an actual tv though. I don't know any friends or family who don't have one.

[temporaryusername]

We once didn't have a TV for months, and for several of those months we didn't have internet either. I didn't really like it. Radio 4 probably saved my life.

[SacreBlue]

Well my point is that I don't consider not wanting a 'direct feed', that compromises on content, weird.

I'm happy to watch stuff later. Most is fiction, like a moving book, so the only time factor involved is the discussion afterwards.

Sometimes what I think will interest me turns out to be a lot of interesting stuff well padded with crap - you know what I mean - what is advertised as a thoughtful discussion is actually just padded out with 'cut aways', 'mood music', 'views of city/country/blah blah blah', and not actual proper discussion of the issue.

I read soap reviews to keep up conversations with people who have tv, and that's ok, to engage and be part of popular culture.

I do find myself wanting more from documentaries though. I want a documentary that doesn't repeat the first half after the break (in case in the intervening 3 minutes of adverts you forgot what the first half said)

[Thewrongmans]

Having a TV is not at all weird. Does anyone even have a TV at university? Surely there are far more fun things to be doing and no teenagers watch TV these days. Reading about soaps that you don't watch is beyond weird though!

[BertieBotts]

Like a TV tax, Cheerful. Pays for the BBC not to have adverts, and hence be commercially impartial.

[diddl]

No TV, but you are watching stuff, just by other means, so what's your point?

[CheerfulYank]

We don't have one either. I watch stuff on the iPad.

What's a TV license?

[TooMuchCantBreathe]

I can't believe you'd consider it morally suspect to watch BBC programmes (legally) because there has been no licence fee paid! The license fee itself has been considered immoral for years. The return for our "investment" (" " because it's not a choice we make but enforced rather rigorously) is poor with extremely high wages paid at the top end. For a publicly funded organisation there is remarkably little regulation and yet we're the morally questionable ones?

[SacreBlue]

Nothing stopping those who struggle to pay the licence from getting rid of their tv and watching on catch up - or is it a major deprivation to watch something a little bit later than others?

[SacreBlue]

You don't need a licence to watch on catch up, if they change that on the cards then I will, but currently I am totally within the bounds of the law so I'm not going to feel bad because some randomer on the internet thinks I should.

I haven't ever been hassled by inspectors, I get a letter every three years and I have had two visits in the last decade, just popping in to check I'm not lying about having a tv. I don't mind that really and think it's a good thing they check.

[BertieBotts]

Which was exactly the reason why I opted out And I don't watch much, I watch Doctor Who and Call the Midwife, that's about it. Maybe a one off documentary if I see a thread that sounds interesting. Oh and Russell Howard's Good News, but that's now uploaded to Youtube immediately after broadcast by the official channel, so is freely available anyway. I used to watch far more when I had a TV licence, homes under the hammer, don't tell the bride etc. Just channel hopping in the evenings you catch stuff.

I am always amazed that people get so het up over this issue. BBC isn't that impartial these days anyway.

[Philoslothy]

I know you don't legally need a licence however I suspect that you watch as much BBC TV as many other people who do pay the fee - and may struggle to do so

[BertieBotts]

You can opt out on the website and one of the reasons you can select is "I only watch catch-up TV online". They stop hassling you if you do that. If you just don't pay but don't give them a reason why then they will harrass you. Not sure why this should be the case, but it is.

I pay for BBC programmes in other ways such as buying DVDs and books produced by them. Netflix also has BBC programmes so they get revenue from me that way. I don't find it suspect at all. And you haven't needed a radio licence for decades.

[Philoslothy]

I am not sure of the legal position but it seems rather morally suspect to be watching BBC programmes and not pay the licence fee. Do you also listen to BBC radio?

[Stupidhead]

I know someone else without one and they seem to watch movies on their laptop if needed and they also get hassle from the licence people. They just can't believe they haven't got a telly.

I've got sky, Netflix and mainly watch DVDs and coronation street! Such a waste.

[SacreBlue]

I am liking being ahead of the curve I can't put the DS love of maths down to no tv but I do think the board games helped somewhat (adding double dice & counting out moves)

I may have created a future monster with monopoly & game of life though is this how Alan Sugar & Richard Branson started??

[BertieBotts]

We don't have one either and I don't see the point. My grandad was very agitated when my mum told him I didn't have a TV licence (because of not watching TV) but did pay for an internet connection. Internet wins every time, I get far more out of it. We have netflix now as well which is great.

[youmakemydreams]

We have a tv well more than one but none are attached to anything to allow us to watch tv. The one upstairs is for the dc to watch DVDs and the one downstairs has the Xbox attached to it and the dc watch YouTube videos and Netflix on that. I got rid of freeview boxes and aerials when I realised we hadn't turned in tv for literally months.

[scurryfunge]

DS doesn't watch tv but is very much in to DVDs. Can't remember the last time he watched tv with us.

[Legionofboom]

We recently got rid of our cable tv package and we sometimes watch stuff on the internet or get a movie from iTunes but rarely. I don't miss it at all.

Internet on demand TV is the future anyway. You're ahead of the curve

[ElephantsNeverForgive]

DSIL doesn't, DCs get to watch DVDs in dad's computer occasionally and I'm sure they'll end up with lap tops when older. DN is very technically minded.

At the moment you can't move for books and Lego. They also have sheep, chickens, ducks, cats, rabbits and whatever other strays have fetched up this week.

[SacreBlue]

Oranges When it is turned on, I find myself watching it.

This is why I got rid of the tv at uni I was wasting a lot of time and a friend suggested ditching the tv as it would free me up to get on with studies

My Ds follows a couple of Youtubers so maybe I'm being a bit over sensitive thinking I'm depriving him - he's 16 and managed so far!