RCR UK - Blogging Britain

You may also find this website of some use.

http://www.tvlicensing.biz/

Also now the BBC are going try and extend they license fee to the internet, does this mean the whole world has to pay a license fee, does this also mean that we require a license for the internet?

Lets not hope so because this will cause a war!

i am totally against this policy

I am a Canadian temporarily living in the UK. I find this TV-licensing stuff, funny ( stupid funny ). There is no such License in North America, its free TV, and the stations make a mint in advertizing.

Democracy and Open Competition?

Politicians have abolished more fundamental English traditions, of what I can think of at the moment is Fox Hunt (not that I ever supported it), yet the three parties seem to all agree on keeping the TV Licence toll. WHY?

I think the tv license is daylight robbery. I dont watch any BBC channels so why should I pay the license? I am fed up with this country ripping the public off and getting away with it. Its time someone did something about it.

After a series of ambiguous TVL responses designed to get one of their inspectors inside my house, i finally got this reply by e-mail. Perhaps useful clarification for people in my position.

TV LICENSING
BRISTOL
BS98 1TL

Tel: 0844 800 6702
Fax: 0844 800 5816
Email: tvlcsc@capita.co.uk

Response received: 06/03/2008

Thank you for contacting us.

You will not need a TV licence.

The use of television sets, video cassette recorders, set-top boxes or DVD recorders to receive or record television programme services must be covered by an appropriate TV Licence (A video cassette recorder, DVD recorder or colour television, whether used separately or together, will require a colour TV Licence, if used in this way). A licence is also required if a TV-enabled personal computer is used to record or receive television programmes.

I hope this helps.

Yours sincerely

TV Licensing

Original Inquiry: 03/03/2008

Subject: Other
Message:

Dear Representative of TVLA

I have so far been unable to get a straight answer regarding two very
specific (but straightforward) questions I have put to TVLA in the past.
Please do not refer me to your frequently asked questions as these do NOT
answer these questions. I would be much obliged if you would answer them
here.

1) Is a Television (that is in NO WAY capable of receiving
telecommunications independently, nor connected to any aerial, cable or
any other means of telecommunications reception) that is also connected to
a DVD player (that is similarly incapable of receiving telecommunications
independently nor is it connected in ANY WAY to any aerial, cable or any
other means of telecommunications reception - NOR is able to RECORD in any
way) in need of a TV license?

If so, please refer me to the specific statutory provisions and/or
relevant flagship case law upon which you base your determination.

2) Is a personal computer that is connected to the internet via broadband,
but is NEVER used to view or access ANY television programming (either
Live or otherwise) nor is capable of receiving or connected for the
purposes of receiving in any other way telecommunications, required to
have a TV license?

If so, please refer me to the specific statutory provisions and/or
relevant flagship case law upon which you base your determination.

TV LICENCE SYSTEM IS TOTALLY FUNNY, SILLY AND DAYLIGHT ROBERRY. IT IS WE WHO BUY TV SETS AFTER PAYING VAT OR TAX AND IT IS WE WHO PAYS TV CHANNELS TO WATCH IT. WE PAY TAXES FOR OUR REVENUE. IT IS THE DUTY OF THE STATE TO MAINTAIN TV SERVICES FROM THE TAX REVENUE. THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL BURDEN. RUBBISH. I DAMN IT

you know america has to many problems to list. but, man! oh! man! this is the dumbest thing i ever heard. yet, you britts just take it and do nothing about the problem. its like getting kicked in the teeth and then having to pay to clean the blood off the other guys shoes and then saying "please sir can i have some more"! please... let some fool tell me i had to pay for tv and have no say so in the content of the shows. lets just say the 2nd amendment would come in handy!!!!

Finally the Government has tkane notice that the whole of the public in the UK are being ripped off by the TV Licence.

Maybe back when BBC was the only broadcaster, we required the licence for the service to keep running but these days, all you need is adverts.

Sort it out BBC and stop ripping us all off !!!

Looks like the BBC are broadcasting over the net for Free, does this mean we dont need a licence now?

If other countries can watch our paid for channels for free, then why do we have to?

The Government better pull there finger out and sort this before we all make a claim against the BBC for "Discrimination of the use of a TV licence"

BBC, you should think before you act.

As for the BBC wanting to rename there licence to "TV Tax", you can try your stealth tactics someplace else as the UK cant put up with it anymore.!!!

why do we call it a TV licence when there is no such thing as a tv licence.
its called a BBC licence.
if we are so stupid to pay money for not watching the bbc so be it.
you go into a shop and buy a tv its yours. nothing to do with any one else
its not our problem they that they want to brodcastand and make you pay .and you can buy a freeview box is it free no the bbc r on it.they when things go digital they should scrambel and if u want to watch bbc then u pay as u go.i have sky all bbc channels are blocked and as for radio dont listen to radio 1 etc. if we all stick to gether just dont pay it. if i dont want adverts i rent a film infact adverts a better
than the programs

You know i had the TVLA rep in my house once, they had said they had ''Monitored Me'' watching BBC2 from the mobile RipOff hmmhmm sorry mobile Detection Van, due to this i was Bound by Law to pay the license fee.

Now i stood and argued for some time with this woman, who then said, ''Your license fee doesnt just pay the BBC, it pays for the up-keep of the equipment that is used to broadcast the TV signal''. Now i find this highly irregular as the BBC no longer owns the broadcasting array, yes they still have some rights over what it is used for, but they have no financial obligation for it.

Im my eye's, we started paying for something and now that weve payed it for so long, we just do it, no questions, well most people do. Why do we need the BBC?? All they show nowadays is repeats, sometimes with someone doing sign language in the bottom corner. Surely were not paying for the signer?!? I mean Channel4 and ITV can do it on an advertising budget!!

TVLA NO!NO!NO! :)

if we can pay TV licencense, that means we will pay play station license, T-Mobile License, MP3 License, Hearing License, Watching Liciense, Remote Control License etc. brit is the most funniest Country in the world. I wonder what the pple are doing? sit down and look? whit all the tax this tax that. Infact the poores nation in the world dont pay tv tax. There is no human rights. and the only thing u dont pay for in brit is the air.

i hate the fact that i have to pay this

TV licence is just another way to rob our money. we will never get rid of it don't act ourselves, don't think the government will do something about it because its their policy to rip us off anyhow. If 1 million people said we are not paying they won't be able to take us all to court. we just have to find the solution ourselves and stop relying on them...

If I d-tune my television set away form any BBC channels and continue the subscription fee I pay to Sky TV through a satellite dish and simply watch the vast array of alternative and far more interesting channels they offer, will i still have to pay a license fee so that old people will be able to watch the Vicar Of Dibley?

i got a fine for not having a tv liscence for a whole 2 weeks i refuse to pay for a liscence now s my £450,goes to guess who the tv liscencing!!!! things are bad enough with the state of electric and gas and souring fuel bills and the ever rising price of food ,i shall have to tell the kids this year santa aint comming as theres nothing left for preasents or clothes well done to our goverment who do nothing but sit on there bottoms all day stuffing pies down there throats while the rest of us do with out!

I dont watch the BBC at all and dont see why i should be forced to pay something i dont use due to me finding there programmes boring. Id happily pay for channel 4. Also i already pay to watch tv, its called sky! For all i care BBC can remove there channel. It takes the p**s. All it takes is for everyone to stand up together and say we refuse to pay! That will never happen because most in the UK cant be arsed to fight for their rights

If we have to pay to watch the BBC and they are calling it a TV License, do they make a contribution to the other channels because they do broadcast on the same TV set in my house. Also when members of the public are paying for a cable service on a montly basis, then why are we being charged twice!
Anyone got an answer?

From a proxy service i used various countries to access the BBC iPlayer and with success.

Can people now tell me why the rest of the world can watch bbc programs without paying for a licence??

Britain`s people are being ripped off, while the service is free to all other countries.

I think its disgusted with the goverment as i sky tried to get the local mps in leicester to stand up in parlament (NO CHANCE) dont want to know its time for the so called BBC to get there money by advertising as when the analog is turned of i will stop paying for a licence and am asking everyone else to do the same i have no freeview only sky am paying £38.00 for that and never ever watch bbc in any way

Surely, with several sky channels now showing bbc programs. EG gold, watch,dave,challenge,uktv gardens, uktv style. There are loads more, each of them showing adverts. How can the bbc justify still charging us a fee. They are obviously recieving money from the selling of rubbish bbc programs to other channels or getting commission from the advertising these channels have. I always thought that the bbc were aloud to charge us purley because they were not like ITV, able to make money from advertising.

WELL,

I wouldn't be able to express the 'bullying of authorities with things like the license fee' as politely as you did,

additionally, I don't think there will be many who will select BBC in their package, if it were delivered through cable, sky, satellite, plate or cup...

the capability of BBC manipulation and propaganda is such that, no body even discusses this issue, it is a taboo.

WELL,

I wouldn't be able to express the 'bullying of authorities with things like the license fee' as politely as you did,

additionally, I don't think there will be many who will select BBC in their package, if it were delivered through cable, sky, satellite, plate or cup...

the capability of BBC manipulation and propaganda is such that, no body even discusses this issue, it is a taboo.

I gotta say that is a good post

THE BBC NEED TO START FUNDING THERE OWN CHUFFING CHANNELS AND STOP HOUNDING US!

THERE TV PROGRAMS ARE MAINLY SH*TE ANYWAY

I think this sucks a** literally!!! I am so p'd off with having to pay for a tv licence. I think we're all being victimised and the BBC should stuff their programmes. Why should we pay for BBC programmes and also pay the cable providers for BBC programmes we dont watch?? The BBC should create a liaison with the cable providers and their channels as a package should only be added to people who purchase a tv licence. We should'nt have to pay for a tv licence are there any other choices apart from cash, cheque, direct debit, credit/debit card payments? Can we just say NO!!!

This has no logic behind it, why is this government backed?

What right do the BBC have to charge us for perhaps not even watching their channels.

All other channels use adverts, why dont the bbc? Have they asked us if we want adverts or to pay the fee ? NO.

DISGUSTING

We pay this rubbish for? johnathon ross, dale winton, jeremy clarkson and graham norton millions of pounds. Would the tvl bully itv to pay for a broadcasting licence, as they think they own the airwaves. The awnser is no because itv can afford big lawers to. SO CAN THE PEOPLE IF WE ALL STICK TOGETHER. I have a good idea. Will say another time. ANDY, MOTHERWELL

BBC is a joke, keeping them all in well paid jobs and wasting tax payers money everywhere, if anyone saw the accounts the country would revolt.

You should get the choice especially now we are going digital and channels can be scrambled.

I have sky, id be more than happy to have all the bbc rubish blocked, but i think the majority would also and this is what the over staffed and well payed at the bbc know, as soon as the country gets a choice it will be the end of the bbc.

biggest rip off in Britain. Who cares about the BBC, the channels they offer and the radio stations. What annoys me the most is that fact that I don't have a choice whether to pay the license or not....it is purely rammed down my throat as a yearly fee. RIP OFF.

I stopped paying mine and dont open my door if they knock,they need people to convict themseves by talking to them or worse letting them in to their homes.wake up uk just ignor them and they are stuffed theres a growing group on facebook called 10 million for no tv licence if you want to get your point heard its over half a million strong lets make it the biggest group and send a message to this corrupt government that we wont pay anymore.the government has had their fingers in this pie from the start read the 1913 marconi shares scandal how the MPs including the PM Lloyd george were guilty of insider share dealing they all made a fourtune and got away with it.

The funny thing is that we do all have a choice you either pay or you do not! since paying all my life for this TVL for the bbc. i have came to the light and realized i am not being bullied and pushed into a payment that does not make any sense what so ever like you all rightly have said the reasons why we shouldnt pay what for when you should have choice to watch what you want and not just because its there its disgusting and completely wrong with this i shall never pay a bill again its an injustice and dissgracful

having just got sky and paying them for my channels i don't see why i should fund the BBC and if we are - then in theory we're all share holders and should have a say over the overrated payments made to some of their so called stars. The BBC should be run as a business and not funded by the people on a technical goverment fiddle.

You know what gets me, is that other television channels are talking about dipping into the BBC's funds to help them keep up with the up keep of there channels through this rough financial time.

I cant understand how us British people just sit back and do **** all about this licencing thing, its ridiculous.

NOW DUE TO THE SWITCH OVER FROM ANALOGUE TO DIGITAL IT IS AND COULD BE POSSIBLE FOR CHANNELS TO NOW BE ENCRYPTED FOR PAYING CUSTOMERS ONLY.

Now if thats the case, cant we argue the point that maybe the BBC and any other channels that are trying to get there mitts on the licence money should become encrypted Pay For View channels?

And instead of them keep on trying to grow and become the worlds best channel, which clearly puts them under extreme financial pressure shouldn't they scale down in size and focus more on what they are suppose to be here in the first place for.. i.e the British people?

I cant believe when other corporate companies corner the public sector the get prosecuted for monopolising the system, yet when the BBC who are clearly trying to claim licencing fees for everything they can think of (even your mobile phones now, check your most recent bills) its ridiculous.

I SAY!!

ENCRYPT ALL CHANNELS THAT WANT PAYMENT OR LICENCING FUNDS AND BROADCAST ALL THE OTHERS CHANNELS THAT WANT TO BE TOTALLY FREE WITHOUT THE REQUIREMENTS OF A TV LICENCE.

The BBC (propaganda extremist) would lose all control of the media if they did that, they would lose millions of there audience.

This licence fee should be ruled out from the final day of the countries switch over to digital broadcast.

Its no longer necessary for us to be paying for one broadcaster alone.

Also REDUCE our TV channels, whats the point in having 40+ channels its boll*cks, its not even like they are broadcasting something different on them as they aren't they are repeating the same shit over and over (that can be good for there energy bills)..t**ts!

I thought the UK wanted competition in all service provider industries. The gas, electricity, water and train companies were privatised to offer the consumer choice. Surely, the BBC being a monopoly should be forced to abolish the licence fee as it is unfair competition to all other tv service providers and poor value to the consumer. It is absurd that we all have to pay a licence fee (currently £142.50) to watch so few channels and many repeats.Particularly when their adverts are showing extreme big brother bullying tactics (saying we know who you are, you are in our database). We all should have choice nowadays and pay for what we want to watch; There is no choice with the BBC licence. Lets face it we are being ripped off by this company and the government. Is there a lobby group in this country that people can join to express their dissatisfaction with the licence fee and urging its abolition; hopefully gaining MPs support?

I totally agree with everyone that has commented before me. I to am fed up of being ripped off by having to pay for a tv licence and each year it goes up by £5 or £6 pounds which is ridiculous, how can they justify that amount of increase? I would love to make a stand but I don't know how best to do it, has anyone any advice for me? I to think if we all made a stand we might just get it stopped. The only stand I can see to make at the moment is to do away with my tv & radio which I am seriously considering as I am really struggling like a lot are these days but that would mean I couldn't watch any of my DVDs, the B*****ds have got me by the short and curlies hmmm....I'm fed up now lol.

I THINK SKY IN THE UK SHOULD GIVE YOU THE OPTION NOT TO HAVE THE BBC CHANNELS IN YOUR PACKAGE THUS GIVING US THE OPTION NOT TO PAY FOR A TV LICENCE
DAVE

Not sure if this has been said (there are a lot of interesting posts on here)...
IF YOU ARE ON VIRGIN MEDIA PHONE AND INTERNET they may call you asking you if you would like FREE MEDIUM cable TV to go with your package. IT IS FREE - BUT YOU HAVE TO PAY EITHER £48.00 a year (Black and White) or £142.50 a year (colour) to watch it. I ONLY PAY £30.00 Odd quid for unlimited calls and 10meg Broadband - A T.V. Licence would mean paying NEARLY 5 TIMES ON TOP OF THAT!!! - JUST TO WATCH T.V. T.V is useful (don't get me wrong) but it really isn't all that. Unless you watch Discovery etc it can actually be very bad for you.
ALSO... I COMPLETELY DISAGREE THAT PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO WATCH T.V ACROSS THE INTERNET. IF I PAY FOR MY INTERNET SUBSCRIPTION, AND I MAY OR MAY NOT PAY THE STREAMING COMPANY (depending on if they are free or not) WHY WOULD I NEED TO THEN NEED TO INCREASE THE PROFITS OF A THIRD PARTY???
That is like telling my neighbour that they have to pay my water and electricity bills because they live in the same area as me!
T.V. LICENSING IS AN ABSOLUTE SCANDAL.
SOMEBODY START A PETITION PLEEEEAAAASSSSEEEE.

On a quick note...
In the past the point of the TV license was to pay the BBC (who provided the service) fees so that they could put money into the service that they provided. Since then they have expanded there 'statement' on this matter to include pretty much anything else (even if it is INDIRECTLY RELATED. Rupert Murdoch wants to charge people on the internet to read news, and the BBC want to charge people to watch it!

PEOPLE. WRITE TO THE GOVERNMENT AND SIGN THOSE PETITIONS.
IF YOU PAY A T.V LICENCE SO THAT YOU CAN WATCH CABLE OR INTERNET T.V YOU ARE BEING ROBBED BY THE STATE.

This is cool, I would love to make a post on my blog on this and a link back to your blog of course. . .

So if you have to pay a annual fee to watch television in the UK, why do they show ads like commercial broadcasters in other countries? Or why are they not funded by taxes like in other countries? This seems pretty crazy to me.

I am totally against this unfair and unjust fee that lines the pockets of the big bosses at the BBC and enables them to pay ridiculous sums of money to the likes of Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand. In reality, the BBC have made this fee out to be one that provides universal broadcasting access to tv viewing in Britain but in truth it's only geared up to cover their costs. What happens if you don't watch BBC TV programmes, because I don't as they do not represent me culturally.

I can't understand how the British have let themselves be duped into paying this when they also pay subscriptions to Sky or other TV viewing providers, Internet Service Providers and Mobile Service Providers to receive viewing rights. Shouldn't the BBC collect their fees like everyone else (pay per view) or via advertising as some have already suggested?

C'mon Britain, wake up and smell the bloody teabags, you're being taken and you're being treated like idiots and you're not complaining! It's time to take the BBC to task and force them to abolish this fee. There must be some law being broken with this. Are they any lawyers that can shed some light on this?

Hey there, delightful web page but just a bit slow anytime I start reading it, it is most certainly my web service, I am not certain.
Cheers