do I need a license?

[katkin]

I haven't had a TV for some years, only using a monitor to watch videos and dvds. Now I can get iplayer through my internet connection do I need a license to watch programmes? many thanks

[Richard1966]

yes

[kempie]

BBC iPlayer does not yet broadcast live programming therefore does not fall within the remit of the TV licence.

http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/help/abo ut_iplayer/tvlicence

[katkin]

kempie, thanks for the link - I didn;t think of looking on the bbc site..... It says no as it's not broadcast live but today I have just watched It Takes Two (sad I know) and I thought this was a live broadcast. Should I just wait 2 hours and watch it whenit's not live in that case? More confused thanever now

[buildersmate]

Well Kempie's link is quite clear - it says that iPlayer does not yet broadcast live material so you are OK. You can be sure the BBC won't be slow to update that information as soon as they do start broadcasting live material.
However if you are really concerned, why not email them from the link.
And, no, it won't be an acceptable defence that you didn't watch it until 2hrs later (once it is broadcast live) - in much the same way that one still needs a licence (sic) if one watches only recorded material on an HDD or steam-age technology VHS.

[TCL-MUMPING]

I'm watching Crimewatch on the iPlayer at the moment and it's live.

[LoftyLottie]

Hello Mr Mumping. Welcome. :o)

[TCL-MUMPING]

Evening quine, y'aright?

[LoftyLottie]

quine = what?

I'm fine, it's all them others.........................

[TCL-MUMPING]

Quine is the female of loon

[buildersmate]

Quick, better rush out to tell the BBC that there own advice is out of date then - or someone is going to use it as a legal defence.

[TCL-MUMPING]

Someone was saying the Beeb have shot themsels in the foot by broadcasting live on the iPlayer and suggested that folk should type in their TV licence ref number to get access to it.

[LoftyLottie]

Ta !

I am honoured then ;o)

[Huderon]

From the TV Licensing website :

You must be covered by a valid TV Licence if you watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV. It makes no difference what equipment you use - whether it�s a laptop, PC, mobile phone, digital box, DVD recorder or a TV set - you still need a licence.

You do not need a TV Licence to view video clips on the internet, as long as what you are viewing is not being shown on TV at the same time as you are viewing it.

So if you are watching on iplayer at the same time as the programme is being broadcast you would need a licence. If you are using iplayer to catch up on a programme, you wouldn't.

[katkin]

Huderon - many thanks, I think this is how I understand it. I'll just have to watch everything a few hours behind then!

[Haggisdj]

I thought that you would need a tv licence for you video machine if it has the capability to record, even if it's not plugged into an aerial. If it just a player then you won't.

[ChuckFickens]

Haggisdj has the correct answer.

You need a license for your video recorder as it has a tv tuner in it and is capable of receiving TV signals regardless if your using it as a receiver or not.

[LoftyLottie]

You can have a house full of TV's and recording equipment - if you don't use them you don't need a licence.

Huderon is absolutely correct (as is the Authority website).

You don't need a TV licence if:


"You don't use your television set or other device to watch or record broadcast programmes


If you do not use your television set, video recorder or DVD player to watch or record authorised broadcast programmes (that is, BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, cable television or satellite television) you will not need a licence. This means that you would not need a licence if, for example, you only:


use the television set as a computer monitor
use the television set to play electronic games
watch pre-recorded videos or DVDs, whether or not these have been bought or recorded by someone else.

However, the television set and must be incapable of receiving all authorised broadcast programmes. This could be done, for example, by making sure that neither the television set nor the DVD or video recorder are tuned into any channels and ensuring that they are not connected to an aerial."

[katkin]

Yes, I have had a tv for some years but it doesn't have an aerial and I cannot receive programmes on it - only play pre-recorded dvds & videos. The tv license people have acknowledged this and said that's ok.
I've used the iplayer to watch programmes recently and have only just realised I could watch them in "real time" as it were, hence my question. I shall be careful to make sure that I only watch programmes as they are not broadcast. Thanks everyone