Laptops need a TV Licence??

[Messy]

It seems that the TV licensing people have 'raided' halls of residence at my Son's University to check that these lazy students aren't watching Countdown without the necessary licence. They ignored those rooms where records show a licence is held and called on those who have not applied for one.

One of my son's mates who has not got a telly was visited and now looks to be in trouble as his laptop is able to receive a (live) TV picture so falls into the criteria of needing a TV licence. It was news to me that a laptop needed a TV licence, but apparently the Uni did make this fact very clear to all students.

In fact the rules are so ridiculous they even state that my son can use a mobile phone which picks up a TV signal, as that is covered by my TV licence. However, if he plugs it into the mains to charge it up (ie in his Uni room), then he would require a licence for it at that location. Mad isn't it?

However it got me thinking. There must be thousands of businesses out there who use computers but do not have a telly in the workplace. So presumably the rules are the same and they too should hold a TV licence? If that is the case, I wonder why the TV licensing people don't concentrate on commercial undertakings before raiding universities. At £1000 fine per 'criminal', the Beeb could do very well indeed.

[Chorlton]

quick Q.
How do they "know" the laptop can receive live TV?
Are they allowed to not only enter property without warrant but also switch on and look through the installed programs on a computer?
Had this with them at my work address recently and told them to prove me guilty not expect me to prove my innocence.
Same with those PRS radio lot. Phone up and tell me I have to write them a letter confirming I don't have a radio, plonkers.

[bernicarey]

The TV Detector lot have moved on a lot in the past few decades. No longer it is a big van with Jodrell Bank on the roof. I understand that modern detectors are hand held and they can locate down to the room in the building and tell what channel is being watched. So they have no doubt pinpointed the students room while an image was displayed on his laptop...

In HM Forces, COs check for TV licences when conducting inspections of single accommodation. They way the TV Licensing don't come around too often, but single personnel are expected to have a TV licence addressed to them in Room XXX of Building ZZZ. The establishment post room then has to work out where to send it once it or a reminder arrives, because single personnel always get their mail at work, not delivered to the Block!!

Unfortunately there is no chance we might follow the lead of some other countries, e.g. Australia, NZ, Netherlands, and abolish it. In some countries it was done away with because the collection administration was so costly compared to the amount collected. I bet the costs in UK are a similar waste of effort.

[tweetybird]

I got another request to purchase a TV licence as my daughter bought a new laptop with receiver in ... all retail outlets have to notify TV licensing when any unit with a TV receiver is sold (legislative). Daughter lives at home but has a different name to me so we get the please confirm you are not a multiple occupancy building etc ...

Ex-hubby (Forces) and daughter (when at Uni) both had TV licences addressed to their room, block, base etc but these were controlled by having an admin address - my house! it is called the DU-ADD system and means that all communications are sent to a known place where the licence is for an individual room in a multi-occupancy building ie halls of residence, Mess, Block, retirment flats (but not care homes or hotels).

The rules mean that you can use a battery operated (even rechargeable) TV receiver away from your permanent place of residence only on battery and only if your existing TV licences premises are not in use at the same time .... ie if you have a caravan/motorhome/tent and use a mains TV or recharge connected to mains and there is someone in your place of residence watching TV while you are away you will need to have a separate licence for your TV receiver!!!!!! apparently this is also classed as having two addresses!!!! try updating that one if you are touring ... you would be on the phone to TV licensing every day asking them to update your licence!

Hope this pile of twaddle helps someone - it took me years to get to the bottom of it and get it sorted; having two members of the family living in 'accommodation blocks' was something TV licensing could not understand! and even they 'forgot' they had a DU-ADD system for administration; note you have to have a licence if your TV is left in your room plugged in whilst you are in a war zone as well!!!!

[Alexis]

Very interesting Tweety thank you.

[Keith1983]

Personally I don't see why, when I pay Virgin to supply my TV channels through a cable I should have to pay a TV Licence. Surely the BBC should work like any other TV channel. Is there not an obvious case of a monopoly of the British publics money going to pay for it when all other TV channels have to scrap it out for funding? It's a tax for a so called "public service" which not everybody wants.

[bernicarey]

It's a Government Tax. You could have a receiver that was capable of not receiving BBC channels and you still have to pay. I'd love to see how much money goes on collecting and enforcing it to see if it actually justifies the system.

[unisafeoff]

As I understand it, and according to most of the students in our accommodation, if you watch live tv you need a licence, if you watch a programme on iPlayer you do not.

The government were apparently going to pass legislation to close the loophole in the new parliament but does not look as though they will.

[tweetybird]

It is to do with the streaming of 'live' broadcasts ... ie as something is broadcast at the same time as watched, not necessarily a 'live' event like football etc. iplayer is only to show a programme that has been previously broadcast in the same way as DVD, video etc.
clarification: iplayer is not a receiver for tv broadcast it is an IT based retrieval system from archives, for this reason iplayer and others had to stop showing at the same time as TV.
TV receivers need licences as they can receive as shown... whether used or not.
Hope this clears the mud a little.