Features - QOTW: Do you pay the TV Licence fee?

[zaph0d]

I believe you only need a TV License to watch BBC programs live, i think the sports channels are except if you watch them on or via a computer.

Actually if you watch/record ANY live television, doesn't matter if it's BBC, iTV, Sky or Bloomberg you need a licence.

Me, I skipped on the licence as I only want to watch Top Gear & F1, with top gear available after the fact on catch up and the BBC having given up (most) F1 rights to Sky I just wait till after the race and download the Sky broadcast.

I ain't going to pay over £1 per hour of television watched per year. They can get to *bleep* with their "TV Licence" (read TV Ownership Tax).

[malculator]

I watch very little television. "MasterChef" and "Have I Got News For You" are the only programs of interest to me currently. However I have a TV license, and also pay monthly for a Virgin Media Tivo, primarily for the wife and kids.

[jim]

Yes, and I don't begrudge it at all - I think there's some great content available, particularly over the web.

However, I seem to be watching increasingly fewer programmes on live television, so this could very easily be the last time that I pay for it unless they change the requirements to incorporate things like iPlayer.

[Onkston]

We do, and I don't really mind, it doesn't seem like a huge cost really. I don't actually watch that much though, just flick through til I find something I don't not like lol. I think if I was on my own I might not bother. Thinking about it, when I was living at my parents' place I used the tuner in my PC but couldn't get a good signal and abandoned it, at that point I didn't really watch anything live, so I probably wouldn't miss it. It's actually getting to the point where there's so little on my girlfriend wouldn't even miss it

[Badbonji]

I don't watch live TV, just stick to catchup as the ability to watch it whenever is very convenient versus when it's broadcast. I think I spend more time playing PC games or going to the cinema anyway.

[Splash]

I watch very little live TV, but I certainly get my money's worth out of the BBC purely from the radio in my opinion.

I'll occasionally watch the BBC news over breakfast when there's a big story (the recent Boston bombings being an example) too, but the radio is where it's at for me and shy of £150/year for that seems reasonable. Sure, I could rely on iPlayer but if enough people don't pay the license fee then you're looking at an ad-supported model for that too.

[Laserbeak]

We've been without a tv license for 18months or so now just use catch up tv and streaming from netflix. Wouldn't go back.

[Laserbeak]

I watch very little live TV, but I certainly get my money's worth out of the BBC purely from the radio in my opinion.

I'll occasionally watch the BBC news over breakfast when there's a big story (the recent Boston bombings being an example) too, but the radio is where it's at for me and shy of £150/year for that seems reasonable. Sure, I could rely on iPlayer but if enough people don't pay the license fee then you're looking at an ad-supported model for that too.

You don't need a tv license for the radio any more...

[Chaoss]

Also you can watch live stuff on iPlayer... who's going to know lol

[ionicle]

nope, havent had a TV or paid it for over a year, so glad to be rid too

[JSanders]

No TV.

[aidanjt]

No TV, no licence needed. Internet provides.

[Brewster0101]

So wait an hour and watch Doctor Who on iPlayer.

Still need a license to watch Iplayer, Its in the terms of you using the service.

Personally don't have a problem with TV licence, it pays for alot of Radio services , News, and web content as well as the tripe that is on the BBC TV channels. If people were given the choice the BBC would cease to exist and alone with all the services they provide.

[Willzzz]

So how did we get to the point where you have to pay for the inconvenient broadcast TV but the convenient on demand version is free?

Not that I'm complaining of course, off to watch Masterchef..

[Willzzz]

Still need a license to watch Iplayer, Its in the terms of you using the service.

Personally don't have a problem with TV licence, it pays for alot of Radio services , News, and web content as well as the tripe that is on the BBC TV channels. If people were given the choice the BBC would cease to exist and alone with all the services they provide.

No you don't! Only for live iPlayer.

[MrNeil]

do this then you don't pay :

operating a digital box used with a hi-fi system or another device that can only be used to produce sounds
installing and using a television set solely as a closed-circuit TV monitor
using a TV to play pre-recorded DVDs or videos (although to record live programmes it is necessary to hold a licence)
using a TV solely as a digital radio receiver
using a TV as a computer games console
watching BBC iPlayer when the programme is not live

but in my opinion you get a lot when you break it down !!
BBC websites, iPlayer, National and local radio and there TV content though you do get some crap !! It's better money's worth than Sky and virgin with no adverts and breaks every 6 minutes !
£145 a year vs up to £60 monthly ???