Free Licence Fee For All Over 75's Scrapped

[ladybirder]

What do you think of that?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-48583487

[Gromit]

Spath,
Please read your own link. The licence applies to LIVE viewing and catch up on iPlayer. It does not apply to streamed content from ITV, Channel Four or Five.

[spathiphyllum]

Yes but gromit, it also says

"Live TV means any programme you watch or record as it’s being shown on TV or live on an online TV service. It’s not just live events like sport, news and music. It also covers soaps, series, documentaries and even movies."

So their definitian of "Live" is not the OED's.

[spathiphyllum]

Gromit, you are correct. It is cleared up in the FAQ's



"You don’t need a licence if you only ever watch on demand or catch up programmes on services other than BBC iPlayer (and you also never watch live TV programmes on any channel, including on iPlayer)."

[Gromit]

// the website pops up and ask's "do you have a TV license" anyway, but people can always lie and click "yes". //

I have only ever seen that pop up on iPlayer for which you do need a licence. Never seen it on ITV Hub. And you wouldn’t need to lie because you don’t need a licence.

[Jackdaw33]

It is always dangerous to antagonise the grey vote.

[Gromit]

Spath,
Their definition of LIVE is being broadcast at the current time.

[jno]

I am only an economic migrant but I am happy to pay for the BBC, which I regard as one of the rare gems of British culture. I'll be watching The Planets.

[ladybirder]

I can't watch Supervet then at say 8pm on Ch4 neither can I watch it at 9pm on Ch4 + 1?

[ladybirder]

jno it's taking it away once it's been given that gets me.

[spathiphyllum]

Ladybirder it seems that you would be able to watch it online, using the channel 4 on demand website, when it becomes available. But you would not be able to "watch live" on the same website, or on your TV.

[Gromit]

ladybirder
If you have a reasonably modern TV it will have a Smart button where you can access apps such as 4onDemand, ITV Hub etc.
Those apps have the programmes that can currently streamed on catchup and you don’t need a licence.

[webbo3]

everyone over 75 should refuse to pay, what can they do with millions of oap's

[Old_Geezer]

Interesting. Didn't have time to note down the details, but the 6 o'clock news just seemed to show that 52% of the public didn't vote to remove the waived license fee, but the BBC had added together two groups who didn't vote for keeping things as they are. I think they may have needed a better set of survey questions.

That stated, the licence waiving was a government promise, passing responsibility across in budget negotiations seems a strange thing for the BBC to have agreed to. I suppose they don't have a very strong hand when holding out the begging bowl; but even so.

[jno]

ladybirder, it was forced on them as a cheap political stunt - a government bribe for which the BBC was expected to pay. I'm happy that they've decided not to. We'll see how many Tory candidates demand that it be restored.

[naomi24]

I have mixed feelings on this. I would like to give all pensioners a free licence – but since that isn’t going to happen I have to ask if a 73 or 74 year old is poorer than a 75 year old?

[Old_Geezer]

No, we all pay this compulsory tax for the BBC if we want to watch "live" TV.

[ladybirder]

Who knows N, could be the older you get the poorer you get if you have limited savings which are slowly being depleted.

[naomi24]

True LB.

[ladybirder]

Does this mean the BBC is going to be means testing pensioners now? If I was on Pension Credit I would not be very happy giving what I would regard as private information to the BBC.

[nailit]

I don't understand all this controversy?
Just don't pay the bloody thing! I never have.
Despite popular opinion, its not a criminal act to NOT have a TV licence, its a civil offence.
Ive had TV licence inspectors at my door and I have (politely) closed the door on them. Ive never been prosecuted.
Its not a CRIMINAL offence to not hold a TV licence, its a CIVIL offence....and nothing can be done unless you acquiesce.

If it was a CRIMINAL offence I would have had my front door knocked down several times by now by plod.