UK TV Licences

[Maccers]

I'll be blunt on this... My (not my perants) TV is crap. It has no power button, didnt come with a remote, doesnt have text or SCARTs n stuff. So ive been thinking about buying a new one before i move into university.
Then it hit me, what about a USB TV card? My CRT monitor is better than anything i can afford and i can use it on the move with my laptop.
Does this mean i need a TV licence for it? and does anyone know of a reliable tv card?

[Smoke2much]

Yes.  You actually need a TV license for owning a computer that is capable of receiving a TV signal, ie you can fit the card in it.

The BBC are bastards.

Will

[ozzy72]

Actually Will its the government who have questionable parental marital status!
The BBC just get the money the government gives them minus a percentage for themselves. ITV used to get some of the licence fee too until the "Death On The Rock" farce!

Mark

[Smoke2much]

In that case:

The British government, independent of any political affiliation, are bastards!

[Hagar]

The way I read it the licence is for the premises, not the equipment. You would not need a separate one while living at home or in shared premises. I'm not sure how you would go on using a laptop & moving around.
http://www.tv-l.co.uk/tvlic/licence/licence_students.html

The BBC are bastards.

I think the system is fair enough as you're paying to receive the TV programmes. I don't see what difference the type of receiving equipment makes. If everyone paid up it would reduce the licence fee - in theory anyway. What I don't like is threatening way the BBC operate. They also assume that every home has a TV set & if you don't have one it's up to you to prove it.

[Smoke2much]

I disagree Hagar.  I hardly ever watch the television but have one because my dayughter enjoys it and I like to watch video's on it.  With the five available terrestrial channels in the UK the two that the license fee pay for  equate to 40% of the available TV.

I forget exactly how much the license is but I know that it isn't cheap and I do not feel that it is value for money.  For example I detest reality TV and amongst the worst culprits it the BBC's "Fame acadamey"  I paid for it and I have no interest in it at all.  They have produced no decent drama or documentaries for years.  It is a tax, nothing more.

And you are correct about the student dig's situation.  Each room in a shared house is considered a seperate premise for the purpose of TV licensing.  If your door is lockable you need a license.  A house with four residents who each owned a TV and had a communal TV would need five licenses, one for each resident and one for the house!

Will

[Hagar]

I rarely watch TV anyway but do enjoy the occasional uninterrupted film, documentary or sporting event. I'm on a fixed income but quite prepared to pay for that privilege on the good ol' Beeb. The current licence fee of

[Smoke2much]

What I have written came from an experience that I had back in 1991.  We each had a TV (four of us) and there was a TV in the kitchen.  We were told that we needed a TV license each and one for the tv in the kitchen.  Maybe they have mellowed LOL.

Will

[Hagar]

[quote]What I have written came from an experience that I had back in 1991.

[Scottler]

I'm so glad to be an American, where the only thing my government takes my money for is when I pay income taxes, state sales tax, county sales tax, state income tax, federal income tax, fines for using cell phones while driving, 30 cents per gallon tax on gasoline....

God Bless America.

[Smoke2much]

, 30 cents per gallon tax on gasoline....

God Bless America.

Indeed God bless America, a Litre of fuel here costs approx 90 pence, that is

[Scottler]

Yes, but your tiny cars get like 8,000 miles per gallon.  lol

[Fozzer]

Television...?
..errr...what's that..?
Oh, I remember. It's something I gave up in 1976.
...together with sex... ...!
The GPO* have finally given up reminding me now, that I don't have a TV Licence... ...!
...or a marriage licence... ...!

(As Hagar commented, the GPO ASSUME that every householder must own

[Scottler]

Perhaps it's the Elton boots, Foz.

I like ya and all, but sometimes, I just learn way too much about you.  lol!!!

[Fozzer]

[quote]Perhaps it's the Elton boots, Foz.

I like ya and all, but sometimes, I just learn way too much about you.