TV licenses in the UK?

FlyTexas · Post by **FlyTexas** » 18 Oct 2006, 23:07

I was reading an article in the BBC News today concerning the closing of various Post Offices in the UK. In the reader responses one person made reference to no TV licenses in the UK. So is it true, do TV viewers no longer have to pay a license for TV in the UK?

Signed,
A curious Yank, aka Brian

cstorey · Post by **cstorey** » 18 Oct 2006, 23:21

Unfortunately licences are still required for those under 75 years of age, at a considerable and increasing cost, considering the rubbish which is largely what is now transmitted on BBC channels

FlyTexas · Post by **FlyTexas** » 18 Oct 2006, 23:35

Thanks for the reply.

I guess the reader was just wishing out loud.

So what alternatives are available to TV viewers in the UK who want to watch TV but refuse to pay for cr@p TV? Are there free channels available to watch?

Brian

Post by **Garry Russell** » 18 Oct 2006, 23:39

You have to have a licence even if you don't watch or can't get terrestial TV.

So if you live in a dip and can only get satellite you still need to buy a licence.

It is a license for the reciever not a paymnet to watch BBC even though the money all goes to them.

Garry

FlyTexas · Post by **FlyTexas** » 18 Oct 2006, 23:46

Ooooh, I see. That makes more sense when you think about a license for the receiver. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

Brian

TobyV · Post by **TobyV** » 18 Oct 2006, 23:46

I for example, having recently moved into a flat (apartment) of my own, had to divvy up about Â£130 ($~220) to receive four channels (I cant seem to tune in Channel 5 where I am?).

FlyTexas · Post by **FlyTexas** » 18 Oct 2006, 23:54

Wow! $220.00. I guess that's not too bad when the license is good for (I assume) an entire year. My wife and I have cable TV here in the States but it's mostly junk TV. Other than an occasional show on The History Channel I don't watch much TV. :-({|=

Brian

Post by **DaveB** » 19 Oct 2006, 00:36

Hi Brian,

It's coincidental that TV licenses would be mentioned at some point but this has little to do with closure of Post Offices. As has been illustrated, you can now get most things offered by the Post Office online.. and this includes a TV license, which is all well and good as long as you have a pc :roll: I actually got my road tax online this year instead of going down to the PO and it was a lot less painful than standing in a queue with a bunch of oldies and it arrived in 3 days!

That said.. there is still a need for PO's (in my humble opinion) but like most businesses these days.. the accountants call the shots and they're not concerned with 'real people'

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Post by **Garry Russell** » 19 Oct 2006, 00:51

This is always the problem

A similar thing with public transport

In order to cut losses they close the regional out lying offices that have a small turnover.......but those are the areas wher they are most needed.

OK in town....you just go to the next street but a pensioner with no car and poor public transport as mentioned above, suddenly finds themselves with the nearest office 20 miles away and a bus twice a week and running on the wrong days.

Like Dave say's real people don't matter

Garry

jonesey2k · Post by **jonesey2k** » 19 Oct 2006, 01:30

I remember a friend of mine allmost got done because he had an old TV tuner PCI card in his computer even though it wasnt in use. Nuts.