Posted before (by others), but not answered properly. Technical and experience, legal answers wanted rather than opinion.
2006-09-13 22:36:44 · 35 answers · asked by Perseus 3 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Television
No. You only require a TV licence if you receive live broadcast feed.
If you use a TV purely to watch prerecorded videos or DVD (or as a monitor for computer game consoles) then no licence is required.
Practical points: a)The TV in question should not be connected to an aerial. The only reason why a TV would be connected to an aerial is to receive broadcast feed. If a TVL visiting officer saw an aerial connected to the TV then both he and a court would assume broadcast reception. b) The TV must also show 'white noise' and not tv stations when clicked to various channels. c) It is probably best to inform any tvl visiting officer that you do not receive broadcast signals and leave it at that, then ask him to leave. Admitting TV use for video/DVD only, whilst perfectly legal, can cause problems. TVL visiting officers are commision based, so want you to get a licence or be 'nicked'. A TVL visiting officer could use your admittance of having a TV to try and incriminate you in his zeal for commision. There was a case in Cardiff recently where a TVL visiting officer was actually forging peoples signatures on 'confession' forms in order to get commision. He was subsequently found guilty in court.
2006-09-14 00:12:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Do you need a TV Licence in the UK if you have a television just to watch videos and DVDs?
Posted before (by others), but not answered properly. Technical and experience, legal answers wanted rather than opinion.
2015-08-10 12:17:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its sad to see so many misinformed people on this site, you can have 1 or 10 Televisions and the same goes for satellite dishes without having a TV Licence, you only need a TV Licence if you use a TV to receive broadcast programmes, If TV Licence salesman knock on your door, just tell them to go away and then close your door, they have no more powers than the milkman.
Anon 2005 has got it right, as Anon says go to www.tvlicensing.biz they will answer all your questions
2006-09-14 01:47:43 · answer #3 · answered by Ron 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If you have a TV you don't have to pay the license if you only use it to watch DVD's or play video games. BUT... the burden of proof is on you, so make sure no antenna is even hooked up. Remember, the employees of TV Licensing Ltd (The company with the enforcement contract) are paid on commission for enforcing the license, so they are aggressive. They can't enter your house without a warrant - but they can get a warrant. Richard
2016-03-17 06:04:26 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You do not need a license if you solely use a tv to watch dvds or use a ps2 etc. As long as the tv is detuned and not capable of receiving tv signals (eg no aerial).
Bear in mind that the TVL will continually harass you for licence demand regardless of whether or not you have a tv, as they do not belive that you can live without one, or that you have one for purposes other than watching television.
2006-09-14 07:27:12 · answer #5 · answered by h b 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. If you have the capability to receive broadcast TV, you need a licence, even if you never use the capability. The website has more detailed answers
What if I only use a TV to watch videos/DVDs/as a monitor for my games console? Do I still need a licence?
You need to notify us in writing that this is the case and one our Enforcement Officers may need to visit you to confirm that you do not need a licence.
Please write to us including your name, address and the reason you believe that you don't need a licence at:
TV Licensing, Bristol, BS98 1TL
2006-09-13 22:42:03 · answer #6 · answered by Ian H 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Once again some people are giving wrong information, the jist of it is:-
You need TV License if:-
You watch LIVE broadcasts
You DON'T need TV License if:
You watch pre-recorded video tapes, dvd's etc
Games console such as a playstation, xbox machine etc.
(Don't let any TV Licensing officer or anyone else tell you that you do because televisions have all sorts of useses and your merely using the facilities and features that come with TV's and are NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BBC!)
Broadband is a grey area and to be honest if they try and get people to pay for license for computers in future, they would be stupid to do this.
i'm sure there would be an uproar, as there are still people who use dial up and you need broadband to get the pictures properly, of course not everyone wants to watch tv on their computer whether they have broadband or not, i certainly don't, i use it to play games and chat to people, and other computer related info.
Best thing for BBC to do is now consider dropping this digital crap as it already exist on sky and cable (they are doing this so that the licence fee is still valid, but i'm sure it would be scrapped in the very near future as it's stupid to carry on with bbc like this)
All they need to do is go subscription with commercials like the sky and cable do, and COMPETE fairly like every other television company has to do instead of getting everything easy.
http://www.tvlicensing.biz - BBC Resistance
2006-09-14 00:57:13 · answer #7 · answered by anon 2 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Yes you do, which is rubbish because it is only the BBC that gains from it. All the other channels get their revenue from companies advertising on their channels. The BBC gets it from us.
Its a legacy from the time when the BBC was the only broadcasting company in Britain and had monopoly on TV and they could do what they wanted. They should scrap the license and start advertising on BBC. That or allow us to turn off the BBC if we dont want it. Like the Sky channels. If you dont want it, dont pay for it and you wont recieve it.
Sorry kinda wandered off the point there but feel better for a good rant
2006-09-13 23:54:40 · answer #8 · answered by Mick B 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, you do, unless you can prove you dont have any way of receiving television signals, and even then then the process is likely to be long and tortuous.
I am in a similar position myself, I hardly ever watch tv yet I need to have a licence.
2006-09-13 22:43:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
If you have a TV or a computer that is capable of receiving a television signal then yes you do. Whether you make the choice to receive that signal is up to you.
I have a friend that lives in Hampshire and she is in a TV black spot and she cannot get a TV signal other than through satellite, which she doesn't have. She has a TV and is exempt as the licensing people recognise that no signal is detected.
It's a grey area, and I would check with the licensing dept.
2006-09-13 22:39:53 · answer #10 · answered by Ellie29uk 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋