TV Licence for a computer
13 February 2006, 06:39 PM
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TV Licence for a computer
The Register have a story today which implies that if you own a computer capable of receiving vision in any form, which basically means any internet connected computer, then you require a TV licence:
A spokesperson for TV Licensing told the Reg: "If a customer currently has no licence they will need to obtain one to watch live programmes on their PC or mobile. Any device used to watch or record TV programmes as they are being broadcast or otherwise distributed must be covered by a valid licence. This is the case whether you are watching or receiving a programme via a PCTV, mobile phone, PDA or any other device.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/02...icence_mobile/
The story as carried in some newspapers specifically mentions "streaming" and so this isn't just directed at PCs with TV cards in them. Now, as I understood it the licence was needed for gear which received TV transmissions from the big sticks on the hills but I have never seen any reference to, basically, an internet capable PC.
Does anyone know what the bottom line on this is? Is anyone without a licence but who owns a computer breaking the law? Is this a law that could ever stand up to examination in court? What about people who might watch a DVD on their computer?
A spokesperson for TV Licensing told the Reg: "If a customer currently has no licence they will need to obtain one to watch live programmes on their PC or mobile. Any device used to watch or record TV programmes as they are being broadcast or otherwise distributed must be covered by a valid licence. This is the case whether you are watching or receiving a programme via a PCTV, mobile phone, PDA or any other device.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/02...icence_mobile/
The story as carried in some newspapers specifically mentions "streaming" and so this isn't just directed at PCs with TV cards in them. Now, as I understood it the licence was needed for gear which received TV transmissions from the big sticks on the hills but I have never seen any reference to, basically, an internet capable PC.
Does anyone know what the bottom line on this is? Is anyone without a licence but who owns a computer breaking the law? Is this a law that could ever stand up to examination in court? What about people who might watch a DVD on their computer?
13 February 2006, 06:56 PM
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Capita really are a terrible company arent they? They started out as the Institute of Public Finance but theyve changed beyond all recognition in twenty years.
13 February 2006, 07:18 PM
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Equally interesting would be whether the licence is required for a PC which is used to receive real-time streaming video, or is merely capable of being used for such a purpose.
A TV set requires a licence even if it's only ever used as a display for a computer, games console or similar; it always has, and I can see that it's probably necessary to have such a rule so as to avoid the chorus of "but I don't actually use it for watching TV on".
I'd venture that many offices have no TV (and thus, no TV licence), but plenty of PCs with high speed broadband connections. I think I'd want to see the letter of the law before believing that any office with a PC and a net connection technically needs a TV license, though.
A TV set requires a licence even if it's only ever used as a display for a computer, games console or similar; it always has, and I can see that it's probably necessary to have such a rule so as to avoid the chorus of "but I don't actually use it for watching TV on".
I'd venture that many offices have no TV (and thus, no TV licence), but plenty of PCs with high speed broadband connections. I think I'd want to see the letter of the law before believing that any office with a PC and a net connection technically needs a TV license, though.
13 February 2006, 07:59 PM
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The whole crux of there argument used to centre around being able to recieve broadcast transmissions.
back in the days of sky from the original astra sats, many people cottened on and stopped paying the tv licence, argueing that they didnt watch or recieve the bbc broadcasts, hasty legislation ensued, and it was ammended to cover any equipment (not just tv) that was capable of recieving a broadcast transmission,, this way they got you for having a vcr, (it has a tuner onboard)
they also got the sky argument overturned.
now if you have a tuner card in your pc , then fair enough,its a tuner, and current legislation covers them. but if you dont, and you recieve streamed data, then thats a different matter.
Once again it will use its position of power and the paid for govsatapo to enforce its money grabbing scheme.
Mart
back in the days of sky from the original astra sats, many people cottened on and stopped paying the tv licence, argueing that they didnt watch or recieve the bbc broadcasts, hasty legislation ensued, and it was ammended to cover any equipment (not just tv) that was capable of recieving a broadcast transmission,, this way they got you for having a vcr, (it has a tuner onboard)
they also got the sky argument overturned.
now if you have a tuner card in your pc , then fair enough,its a tuner, and current legislation covers them. but if you dont, and you recieve streamed data, then thats a different matter.
Once again it will use its position of power and the paid for govsatapo to enforce its money grabbing scheme.
Mart
13 February 2006, 07:59 PM
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From the TV licensing web site:
"Do I need a licence?
If you use a TV or any other device to receive or record TV programmes (for example, a VCR, set-top box, DVD recorder or PC with a broadcast card) - you need a TV Licence. You are required by law to have one".
Hmmm. They also say:
"The Wireless Telegraphy Act 1967 requires television
dealers to notify TV Licensing of all their sales or
rentals of television sets (which includes analogue or
digital TV, VCRs, recordable DVDs, set-top boxes, and
PC’s with TV cards)".
Damn sure that in 1967 they didn't have DVD's ... but then the definition could have been amended. But it does state " ..PC’s with TV cards ... ".
Also, the definitoj of 'TV receiver' is meant to be in "Part 4 of the Communications Act 2003". Find this at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2003/20030021.htm but I'll be damned if I can find any definition apart from what " .. "television receiver" means any apparatus of a description specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State setting out the descriptions of apparatus that are to be television receivers for the purposes of this Part....."
But don't know what what the latest regulations say.
Basically in the past as long as equipment is/was used for watching pre-recorded stuff only (videos/DVDs) the you do not need a license. There is also the fact that you *may* not need a license if the transmissions being received are from outside the UK .....
Dave
"Do I need a licence?
If you use a TV or any other device to receive or record TV programmes (for example, a VCR, set-top box, DVD recorder or PC with a broadcast card) - you need a TV Licence. You are required by law to have one".
Hmmm. They also say:
"The Wireless Telegraphy Act 1967 requires television
dealers to notify TV Licensing of all their sales or
rentals of television sets (which includes analogue or
digital TV, VCRs, recordable DVDs, set-top boxes, and
PC’s with TV cards)".
Damn sure that in 1967 they didn't have DVD's ... but then the definition could have been amended. But it does state " ..PC’s with TV cards ... ".
Also, the definitoj of 'TV receiver' is meant to be in "Part 4 of the Communications Act 2003". Find this at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2003/20030021.htm but I'll be damned if I can find any definition apart from what " .. "television receiver" means any apparatus of a description specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State setting out the descriptions of apparatus that are to be television receivers for the purposes of this Part....."
But don't know what what the latest regulations say.
Basically in the past as long as equipment is/was used for watching pre-recorded stuff only (videos/DVDs) the you do not need a license. There is also the fact that you *may* not need a license if the transmissions being received are from outside the UK .....
Dave
13 February 2006, 10:30 PM
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I'm glad that everyone else seems to understand the same stuff I do and seems to be nearly as confused as I am. The example of an office without a TV needing a licence for the computers is a good one that I didn't consider. They seem very determined that any device which can stream vision needs a licence, the Register story headlines on mobile phones, and this would certainly seem to imply a government licence is required for a computer with an internet connection, some of the newspaper reports today specifically mention broadband connections.
13 February 2006, 10:43 PM
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Aha,
but if you use a laptop at work to view (either by a TV card or streaming) a program broadcast or originating or from a company based in the UK, whilst being a valid home licence holder (assuming your premises do not have internal locked doors), so long as you are powering the laptop only via internal batteries - you are OK.
Plug it into the mains to charge the batteries, then you are not!
What a stupid piece of legislation
It costs £200M per year to collect this stupid tax, er, licence - stick a tiny percent on general taxation, sack the whole of the TV licencing merry-go-round, and help bring this country back to common sense!!!
mb
but if you use a laptop at work to view (either by a TV card or streaming) a program broadcast or originating or from a company based in the UK, whilst being a valid home licence holder (assuming your premises do not have internal locked doors), so long as you are powering the laptop only via internal batteries - you are OK.
Plug it into the mains to charge the batteries, then you are not!
What a stupid piece of legislation
It costs £200M per year to collect this stupid tax, er, licence - stick a tiny percent on general taxation, sack the whole of the TV licencing merry-go-round, and help bring this country back to common sense!!!
mb
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14 February 2006, 09:16 AM
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So chaps, to butt in, would that mean that at the office, where we have a DVD player, flat screen and separate tuner (although no Sky, cable or aerial at all), and we have computers, connected to the net but without a TV card or any capability, we would need a TV licence?
We have the ability to stream TV from the net but we don't as it's makes no difference to our job. But should we have one in this circumstance?
Thanks, Andy
We have the ability to stream TV from the net but we don't as it's makes no difference to our job. But should we have one in this circumstance?
Thanks, Andy
14 February 2006, 09:23 AM
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wow can you imagine the cost if a company needed a TV licence for its computers!!!!! also would that be one licence per building or one licence per computer? we have thousands of computers in our building all capable of receiving internet broadcasts.!!!!!
14 February 2006, 09:25 AM
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14 February 2006, 09:29 AM
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Originally Posted by boomer
It costs £200M per year to collect this stupid tax, er, licence - stick a tiny percent on general taxation, sack the whole of the TV licencing merry-go-round, and help bring this country back to common sense!!!
Dunno, just an added complication...
14 February 2006, 09:42 AM
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I'd prefer it if the beeb encrypted all their TV & Radio and you had to buy a licence to decrypt it. Then I wouldn't be forced to payout £200+ per year to the BBC to watch non BBC programs.
14 February 2006, 09:47 AM
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Should scrap the Tv licence and put ads on the BBC.
As it is I just download whatever I want to watch now and do so with no ads and can watch it when I choose.
As it is I just download whatever I want to watch now and do so with no ads and can watch it when I choose.
14 February 2006, 09:54 AM
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The whole thing needs a drastic rethink. Traditionally, you have a licence for the Beeb, ads for ITV etc.
Now you have TiVos, HDDs, TV on phones, streaming; ad companies are already crying into their coke lines as people just skip the ads, and there is no feasible way you can get a licence for all of those.
Big upheaval in the media world.
BTW, you may think the Beeb is crap, but try watching other countries' state TV
Now you have TiVos, HDDs, TV on phones, streaming; ad companies are already crying into their coke lines as people just skip the ads, and there is no feasible way you can get a licence for all of those.
Big upheaval in the media world.
BTW, you may think the Beeb is crap, but try watching other countries' state TV
14 February 2006, 10:17 AM
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Originally Posted by Brendan Hughes
The whole thing needs a drastic rethink. Traditionally, you have a licence for the Beeb, ads for ITV etc.
Now you have TiVos, HDDs, TV on phones, streaming; ad companies are already crying into their coke lines as people just skip the ads, and there is no feasible way you can get a licence for all of those.
Big upheaval in the media world.
BTW, you may think the Beeb is crap, but try watching other countries' state TV
Now you have TiVos, HDDs, TV on phones, streaming; ad companies are already crying into their coke lines as people just skip the ads, and there is no feasible way you can get a licence for all of those.
Big upheaval in the media world.
BTW, you may think the Beeb is crap, but try watching other countries' state TV
14 February 2006, 01:06 PM
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This article is very misleading. The current licence clearly states here "If you only use a TV set powered by its own internal batteries, you do not need a separate TV Licence." Therefore if your primary residence is licensed then you do not need an additional licence to watch on a mobile phone. Trying to scare people into purchasing something they don't need.
14 February 2006, 06:36 PM
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But isnt there also some restriction about the amount of TV's covered by one licence?
I thought about 5 devices so back to the example of companies for every 5 PC's capable of viewing streamed BBC news you would need one licence!
I thought about 5 devices so back to the example of companies for every 5 PC's capable of viewing streamed BBC news you would need one licence!
14 February 2006, 06:43 PM
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I'd like to see them try and stick that Idea on industry!! 
They'd pull out overnight, my company has 5000 ps's in the uk, 4 mainframes and 2 stratus's.
They'd pull out overnight, my company has 5000 ps's in the uk, 4 mainframes and 2 stratus's.
14 February 2006, 07:14 PM
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There aren't any, but it may be able to pick the file up( Im no expert, I'm just an op following a schedule).
But I doubt they will know the diff between 1 type of comp from another.
But I doubt they will know the diff between 1 type of comp from another.
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