Re: [Sheflug] winduhs Only Distribution of BBC Media

[(Ted Harding) <ted.harding@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 23-Jun-07 10:54:41, Lesley Binks wrote:
> I've signed up and this has certainly upped the anti on my
> getting rid of my TV so that I don't have to pay a TV license.
> I'd rather have t'Internet than TV any day of the week.
> 
> Regards
> 
> L.

Don't be too confident that disposing of your TV will get you
off the hook.

You are obliged to have a TV licence if you have any equipment
which is capable of displaying a TV broadcast "received at the
same time (or virtually the same time) as it is received by
members of the public by virtue of its being broadcast or
distributed."

There is theoretically an exception for apparatus which, while
capable of such reception, is never used for that purpose (e.g.
a TV used to display CCTV monitoring, or attached to a computer
to function as the computer monitor and the computer is not used
to receive TV services), but you have to actively prove that,
i.e. notify TV Licensing and allow their inspector to visit and
check out the situation. In which case, the best of luck ...

Since a computer connected to the Internet, with graphics and
sound capability and with suitable installed software (e.g.
Real Player) is capable in the sense of para 1 (e.g. you can
log into the BBC and view News At 10 live), such equipment
puts you in the Must Have Licence category, whether you have
a TV set or not. Try convincing the TV Licensing inspector
that you never use your computer for such a purpose, when it
is capable of it!

I'm not sure about the situation where you only watch "archive"
footage -- e.g. you watch News At 10 after midnight -- in that
it seems to be a grey area whether this is equivalent to watching
a video recording made by a neighbour (which is not covered by
the regulation).

Best wishes,
Ted.

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Date: 23-Jun-07                                       Time: 12:47:03
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