I posted a question this morning telling people info about TV cards in PC's and the fact that I had a tracking cookie in my PC... tracking as to whether I have a UK TV licence.
Some comments I am getting back for that question are misguided, and some rude.
You don't believe me????? Well my husband has just telephoned TV licensing. And It is true.
As when you buy a TV from a shop the licensing authority is informed. We have just installed a TV card. The licensing authority have now been informed by our PC.
Even if you have a PC and no Television set, and the PC has a TV card and you watch TV via the internet, or even if you only transfer home videos and play them through your Pc you have to have a TV licence.
If no one believes me ring them yourselves.
I am not bothered one way or another. I have a licence.
I only put the previous question on Yahoo answers to save some people a massive fine.
2007-03-01 22:26:52 · 13 answers · asked by ? 5 in Computers & Internet ➔ Other - Computers
Yes it's true...we even have to have a licence for a TV in a mobile caravan...BUT if you have a licence for your home address and the set there is not in use when you are using the one in the van, then you are covered in your van by the home licence....this applies to the TV card in our laptop as well...
The rules are here
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/index.jsp
2007-03-01 22:39:05 · answer #1 · answered by sarch_uk 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi,
Unless someone lives where there are no such things as TV licences then I don't get why you're not believed. I live in Ireland and the same law applies and that is: any device which can accept a TV single needs a licence.
So even if you have a TV sitting in a wardrobe not being used, technically you still need a licence. So buying a TV card for a PC automatically makes your PC a TV and so needs a licence.
I have to say though that TV licencing in the UK is a lot fairer than in Ireland. A lot of the money from TV licences goes into funding the BBC and kudos to them that they have a policy of no advertising. Unlike, here where the national station RTE receives money from TV licences and yet also shows the same advert ratio as say ITV/UTV.
PS Forgot about the cookie part to you question, which 86er below has mentioned, these are used for having visited the site not the installation of the card. And just had a look at the licencing site for the UK:
Do I need a licence?
You need a TV Licence to use any television receiving equipment such as a TV set, set-top boxes, video or DVD recorders, computers or mobile phones to watch or record TV programmes as they are being shown on TV.
Thanks 86er for showing me up ;) Thumbs up
2007-03-01 23:18:46 · answer #2 · answered by Conspiracy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can own a TV and you do not need a license the license is for you to use the TV. There for if you have a TV sitting in a cupboard but don't use it you do not need a license.
I can own a car without holding a driving license but as long as I don't drive it, it's perfectly legal.
Every time you turn on your computer the TV card is receiving
signals (even with no aerial) therefore the reason for the license. Even if you are not viewing the TV.
However even if you only use the TV to watch DVDs etc you still need a license as if you read the license the wording states.
Television Receiving Equipment.
If you use a video recorder or DVD recorder with a monitor you still need a licence as the items containing tuners are Television Receiving Equipment.
2007-03-02 02:36:06 · answer #3 · answered by rmn_tech 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason people don't believe you is because IT IS NOT TRUE.
The tracking cookie you have on your PC is there because you visited the TV licencing website. Did you pay your licence online?
TV Licensing says it uses cookies "to gauge use of our website and measure response to our publicity and site usage". You'll get its persistent cookie (needed to fill in forms, etc) by going to the site, and probably a tracking cookie from any web page that displays one of its banner advertisements (such as Radio Times, I believe)
IT IS TRUE that you need a TV licence to receive TV transmissions. It doesn't matter if you use a TV or a computer or whatever sort of equipment you use.
IT IS NOT TRUE that you need a licence, just because you own a TV. If you do not receive transmissions, you do not need one. Maybe you only use the TV for watching DVDs or as a games console etc?
IT IS TRUE that if you buy a TV, the retailer will supply the TVLA with your address.
IT IS NOT TRUE that your PC has informed the TVLA that you have installed a TV card.
If you don't want this tracking cookie, use a spyware blocker.
2007-03-01 23:19:32 · answer #4 · answered by 86er 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Surely you only need a licence for a PC TV card, if you don't already have a TV? You can have as many TVs as you like with a single licence.
Totally agree with billythekid55uk about id cards by the way.
Also - dbaker1066. This is uk.answers.yahoo.com, I assume the majority of people here are from th UK. Maybe your in the wrong place?
2007-03-01 22:39:01 · answer #5 · answered by Spacephantom 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Doesn't surprise me. TV Licensing / Government can be sneaky.
I know TV stores report your details to TV Licensing Dept if you buy a tv.
Any yet people are all supporting the Gov on ID cards. What they don't realize is these chipped cards will track all your moves, which buildings you go it, trips, petrol, books you buy.. .you will be profiled.. Gov will know more about you than you know about yourself..... they will OWN you. Wake up ppl.
2007-03-01 22:38:59 · answer #6 · answered by Narky 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You might be surprised to learn that most readers live in countries where there are no TV licenses, and there might be mass riots if someone had the temerity to suggest such a thing.
It's like me warning you (because we drive on the right-hand side of the road) that it is not always legal to turn right against a stop-light, because in your experience, that's never legal. Right?
2007-03-01 22:37:18 · answer #7 · answered by dBalcer 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Unfortunately this is true! UK government has turned a great country into the most fachist one I know, and big brother is on your shoulder night and day.
I refuse to pay a TV licence (to see crap soaps??? no thanks).
I do not live in UK anymore, there is no more freedom anymore.
Everybody has turned into a government spy, reporting something to authorities.
What a pitty.
But I'll never go back.
Even the old communist USSR was freer than UK now.
2007-03-01 22:47:57 · answer #8 · answered by just "JR" 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I PHONED THEM BECAUSE I HAVE NO INTEREST IN TV AND ONLY HAVE MY P.C. I HAVE NO TV CARD AND NO VIDEO THERE FORE NO EQUIPMENT THAT CAN RECIEVE A TV SIGNAL, I DO HAVE A COLLECTION OF VIDEOS AND DVD'S THOUGH AND THEY SAID IT WAS OK. I CAN BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOMETING TRACKING YOU ONLINE, WHO KNOWS MAYBE IT JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG, MAYBE THERE ARE OTHER SPYING METHODS, LIKE PERHAPS THE GOVERNMENT CAN SEE ALL YOUR EMAILS ETC, GET A FIREWALL AND BLOCK THE OFFENDING PROGRAM!!
2007-03-01 22:40:14 · answer #9 · answered by SCOTT B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No matter what some people have said I want to thank you very much for letting us know this, wether you are correct I don't know but it has been very kind of you to take the time to inform us of this, once again thanks.
2007-03-01 23:28:40 · answer #10 · answered by yogi 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋