TV Licensing for laptops?

I did a search on UKY to see if anything came up on this topic, so if anyone knows of one I missed, by all means let me know. My question is...

If I have a laptop that does not receive TV signals, but I do purchase TV programs through iTunes and download them onto my laptop (which is essentially like a DVD and not an actual transmission of live signal), do I have to pay for a TV License? I would like to abide by the law, but they certainly do make it very unclear.

Nope.  If you had a TV tuner card in your laptop, yes.  But if you're just downloading previously broadcast programs, then you don't need one.

Be prepared to get a letter from them, though, even in student accommodation- I got one last year and had to ring them up to confirm that no, I didn't actually have a TV in my room.

Oh good! That is what I thought! I actually haven't yet gotten the letters (though I saw about that in the old UKY threads that I found), but we did get this advertisement in our student welcome packets that says something like "I was abducted by aliens - they stole it." No excuses for no license, blah blah £1000 fine. It says very clearly that laptops and PCs are included, but is totally vague about when they're included. Thank you!!

Would the same apply if DH and I hooked up a DVD player to an LCD monitor (not a TV no tuner)?  We don't want actual TV, just the ability to watch DVD's and maybe some stuff from iTunes.  It might LOOK like TV but its not.

You don't have to pay for it if you're not receiving broadcasts.

Perfect!  Thanks!  Good news for Becky and I! 

We got letters at my fiance's old place.  They even said they were going to send someone around to check up on us (We didn't and still don't have TV).  We just never answered the door when we thought it was them.  I wouldn't mind answering but Mike didn't want to on principle.

Then when we moved into the new place a lady came by and I opened the door.  She asked if she could have a look around so I let her in.  She could clearly see all we had was a laptop.  She was polite and pleasant.  Now I think they have officially given up on us since we no longer get letters.

Hiya

Just to quote from the TV license website

"This is how the law stands. Everyone, including students, must be covered by a licence if they use any device to watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV. This includes any TV set, DVD or video recorder, digital box, PC, laptop or mobile phone – the lot."

The key element is 'as they're being shown' - that means/suggests if you watch recorded content at a later time it's exempt from paying the tv license.

There was a little storm a while ago as I think the broadcasters wanted that scenario to be requiring a license too as they thought people will just use the BBC i player to watch telly - but I think that's been overturned.

I'd still suggest giving the tv license people a call just to clarify everything

hope this helps

Cheers DtM! West London & Slough UK!

The advent of video over the internet has really caused some confusion with the TV licensing, but as Dennis says, it's a case of the law demands a license if -- and only if -- you are watching anything which is actually being broadcast at the time. 

With regard to the threatening letters, be aware that your legal obligation extends to obtaining a license if you need one.  You are under no obligation to reply to any of the letters, even if they do say "You must contact us to let us know you have no TV receiving equipment."   That's simply not true.    Responding will do no good anyway, as they won't believe you and will continue to send more threatening letters at regular intervals.

Be aware too that TVL inspectors have no legal authority to enter your home without a search warrant, despite what some of them may try to claim.   The garbage on the letters about "We have authorized an inspector to visit your home and interview you under caution in accordance with the Police And Criminal Evidence act" is all a load of bluff to make you think that they have more legal powers than they actually do.

At certain universities you don't need to buy the TV license -- you can apply for it and watch TV for free.  Which, of course, saves the money of getting a TV and a license.  It's a trial program, though, so access is really limited.  However, if you are a student, you should check it out.

I am sorry but I just read this and I have to say that paying to watch tv is the biggest load of crap...i hate the people that i have had to deal with at the tv licensing place, i am sure some of them are lovely people but the women i spoke with gave me the "well in this country this is how we do it" line, and no i did not say anything about america. I think it is a load of rubbish to have to pay this tax and pay for the bbc especially in light of all the recent scandles there. just had to get that out even if no one reads this, because i am sure i offended someone and that was not my intent.

I think it is a load of rubbish to have to pay this tax and pay for the bbc especially in light of all the recent scandles there. just had to get that out even if no one reads this, because i am sure i offended someone and that was not my intent.

You're far from being alone in feeling that way Sadie.   Past threads:

TV license warning

TV license

Television tax - should you pay

See also:
http://www.bbcresistance.com

The key element is 'as they're being shown' - that means/suggests if you watch recorded content at a later time it's exempt from paying the tv license.

I have Sky+. I can't recall a time in the past 3 years when I've watched anything 'as it was being shown.' Everything I watch is recorded and watched later. Should I be exempt?

hiya

Yeh, it's one of those things - as we're 'used' to it here, it just gets paid and people coming into the country especially from the US, it seems absurd to pay for TV as everything there is commercial.

Similarly, I was like grumbling at the amount of taxes showing on my rental car statement, city tax and airport tax and local fire access tax or something akin to all those! then thinking about it, isn't it a good way to show that that's where your money is going? here its blanketed in 'VAT' so it just looks like one payment, if you breakdown vat revenue to where it'll be going there'll be bit of an uproar - also with things like income tax and national insurance ...

Also, as mentioned in the Royal Mail thread ..   the BBC is also an icon of yesteryear - a big national entity / public service provided by the government. In face of competetion from the private broadcasters, is it good to have a 'solemn' entity like this still in todays world? the BBC does produce 'some' good programming indeed (like I get to watch tv!!) but with their viewing figures I suspect dwindling and the job cuts announced yesterday, with the announcment to expect more repeats as it's 'cost cuts' - isn't likely to win over support. The Tv licence or tax pays for it, and seeing as the economy is getting squeezed, the more 'cuttable' areas of the populations household expenditure gets moaned at for existing. The 0870 telephones thing has kinda won, now it's tv licenses and more to come yet probably....

no the tv license isn't good to begin with, and less so now as its value for money is even less.

Reduce the tax to £80 or or make it a secure system - if you want to watch it, pay the tax/license and you get it switched on, dont want it anymore dont pay and get it switched off.

DtM! West London & Slough UK!

I have Sky+. I can't recall a time in the past 3 years when I've watched anything 'as it was being shown.' Everything I watch is recorded and watched later. Should I be exempt?

Yes, I think you should be exempt as you are not watching the broadcast as it goes out.

Best to clarify with the TV license people just to make sure.

Cheers! DtM! West London & Slough UK!