EMR

As part of the new arrangements for financing the BBC those who watch BBC iplayer and other UK catch up channels will in future have to pay.
BBC 6 oclock news, more details in the budget.
Like Sky it will probably be a subscription service.

Fred James

It won't happen for years and it is far more likely that the UK will just scrap the rule that says you don't need a licence for catchup and charge every household a licence fee like they do in some other countries.

The other broadcasters can do what they like. Apart from Sky, they are all free.

. They tried that with BBC Global and it flopped spectacularly.

EMR

Wait and see, a simple subscription service is all that is needed.
The BBC has to find 700million pounds to finance free tv for the elderly previously paid for by government.
It is getting back 150 million still leaving a 550million shortfall.
TV license fees will rise and internet services will be charged for.
Itv was also mentioned as charging for access .

Fred James

ITV can charge for access if they wish, but it has absolutely nothing to do with the licence fee.

They choose not to, just as C4 a C5 do not, as they are funded by commercial revenue.

I don't think the BBC will charge a sub as a household tax is easier to implement, but if they do, I am happy to pay as it is the best service by far in terms of quality and I also get all BBC channels live on my Smart TV and NOWTV box.

EMR

Legally you cannot watch any UK tv service without a license so the authority to impose a charge for accessing any UK tv service rests with the BBC.
We may hear more in this weeks budget.

Fred James

In Spain, you can watch pretty well anything you like. The UK licence fee only applies to the UK.

I think most expats would happily pay the full licence fee if they had normal access to the same channels that you get in the UK rather than messing around with loads if inferior Internet solutions running on second rate over priced android boxes and associated monthly charges etc.

EMR

But will they pay a fee to watch via the internet assuming that a UK address is not a legal pre requisite.
like you I would be happy to pay for internet access without the hassles of a vpn etc etc.

kimilseung

We may end up paying twice, once for the BBC service and then again to continue to pay for a VPN/smartDNS to make it look like we are in the UK.
Too much revenue comes from overseas licensing to allow anyone from anywhere to pay for access.

EMR

I think that you will be proved right.

amideislas

Rubbish. If an unencrypted signal lands on your property, you may legally receive it and consume its content. Many UK TV signals are unencrypted. Including the BBC. So any licence fee is unenforceable outside the UK.

The way that filmon and others get around the rebroadcasting rights is based on this law. They are simply proving an internet-acessible antenna which allows you to exercise that right via the internet.

The problem for those seeking to prevent non-licence payers from viewing UK TV is that will require a massive investment in encryption systems, boxes, cards, and the infrastructure to administrate it all. Like Sky. And that expense has all kinds of political implications.

I don't believe TV licences are either practical nor fair. But once you've given kids their candy, its bloody hard to take it back.

amideislas

In Germany, every household must pay TV licence @€16.95 Per month whether they have a TV or internet or not. It's a tax. But on top of that, every business must also pay it, based on the number of employees. So yes, it is paid twice.

I suspect this is the model the UK will eventually adopt. Unfortunately.

EMR

In the uk you must have a tv license to watch uk tv, failure to have one and to have a tv in your house is an offence.

amideislas

Yes, it is effectively a "tax" imposed on UK residents, as it is in Germany, but outside the UK (or Germany), it is unenforceable. Legally or otherwise, because the unencrypted signal enters your property. Receiving it is perfectly legal. And that explains why they tightened the 'beam' - to make it more difficult to receive it outside the UK, which was just a feature of the new Astra satellites that were going up anyway, and didn't cost much more to realise. Nothing like the Billions they's have to invest in millions of receiver boxes, subscriber cards, an the technical and administrative burdens that go along with that.

Subverting an encrypted signal for the purpose of avoiding payment is not legal, however.

Fred James

No, it is possible to have a TV and not require a licence.

This from the TV Licencing Authority..

Do I need a TV Licence if I only ever watch on demand services (e.g. catch-up TV), DVDs or downloaded programmes?
No you don’t. As you’re not watching or recording live TV, you don’t need a licence.
Live TV means any programme you watch or record at the same time as it’s being shown on TV or an online TV service.
If you only ever watch on demand programmes, you don’t need a TV Licence. On demand includes catch-up TV, streaming or downloading programmes after they’ve been shown on live TV, or programmes available online before being shown on live TV.

lgrijander

Has this been confirmed somehow ?