Do you need a tv license if you only use internet?
 

Do you still need a tv license if you just use the internet and no tv at all? So would it be alright not to get a license and watch an internet tv stream off the BBC?

Re: Do you need a tv license if you only use internet?
 

Click this link and the link in the post for what you want to know.

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/35063088-post109.html

Re: Do you need a tv license if you only use internet?
 

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-i...chnology-top8/

Re: Do you need a tv license if you only use internet?
 

True, but you want to be careful. Using a monitor is fine, but the law covers TV receiving equipment.

Broadband was not considered back then, and it is not considered to be covered now either. Of course a UHF tuner added to your PC would cause an issue (a TV USB stick or the like) but not the broadband connection.

To make your TV legal as a monitor for watching DVDs etc without attracting a licence fee, you should remove or disable the UHF receiver in it (a simple job for any TV repair-man or electronics shop repair guy). You need to do this for any device you have that has a UHF tuner in it (video recorders, TV DVD recorders etc.) but normal DVD players and VHS players are fine. The guidance on that link above is not well worded (I suspect it got over-simplified by committee), but it is close.

The best guide to use is this; if you would get asked for your address when you buy it (unless you have a Tesco clubcard or the like), it needs a licence. When you bought your PC you didn't need to give your address for the licence records. If you buy a USB TV stick you will.

Just seen that 'Live Online' quote (I was typing at the same time as you). That's new! Still, it's unenforceable so I wouldn't worry about that. My address guideline still stands.

Re: Do you need a tv license if you only use internet?
 

The question in that link is "What if I only use a TV to watch videos/DVDs/as a monitor for my games console? Do I still need a licence?", which isn't what the OP is asking.

The OP wasn't asking about using a TV as a monitor for DVDs etc., the question was regarding whether a TV Licence is needed if you "watch an internet tv stream off the BBC".

Re: Do you need a tv license if you only use internet?
 

Thanks for providing the correct link anyway.;)

Re: Do you need a tv license if you only use internet?
 

As said you need a licence if you watch a TV program over the internet at the same time it is being transmitted 'live', even if no tuner is involved.

The government are currently thinking about how to deal with 'catch up' services.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/07...e_fee_rethink/

Re: Do you need a tv license if you only use internet?
 

And it has to be said that you've got to be a right mug to pay the licence if you have no TV but watch online.

Re: Do you need a tv license if you only use internet?
 

Please clarify for me: Are you advocating breaking the law?

Re: Do you need a tv license if you only use internet?
 

Of course not. just saying that you have to be a right mug to pay for a licence if you only watch online.

Re: Do you need a tv license if you only use internet?
 

The Radio Licence and the Dog Licence were withdrawn after people stopped buying them, although the Radio Licence was included in the TV Licence in order to save face.
Democracy in action. ;)

Re: Do you need a tv license if you only use internet?
 

As a computer has the potential to watch live TV, not unlike a TV / VCR might have the means to watch live TV, it does not necessarily mean you will use the device to do so, will it end up we will have to buy a license if we own a computer with BB?

How do you reckon the TV licensing will cover it in the future? it points towards them making people with a computer paying a TV license because they have the means to watch. seems unfair if it goes that way.

Re: Do you need a tv license if you only use internet?
 

That will never happen. the computer and internet was here first. they were the ones who put the TV on it afterwards.

Re: Do you need a tv license if you only use internet?
 

i'd like to agree with you, but there's money to be made by big corporations. chronology of technologies doesn't bother them....

Re: Do you need a tv license if you only use internet?
 

Most are well aware of the regulations but I was questioning the assumption of the designers of the main BBC news website in their increasing use of live links that people viewing it are already licence holders.

In particular over the world cup period there was a plethora of links on the football pages, to live audio, live video, live text and combination pages with all present which took no account of the non tv licence holder.

The whole iPlayer website now combines live and catch up links on radio and TV.

Link pop up boxes that inquire as to the viewer/listeners age for possible adult orientated content can occasionally be found but no pop up boxes questioning whether the user actually owns a licence are ever seen on the BBC website.

This is of course in line with crass assumption of 100% TV licence ownership by the licence collection agency.