Definition of a television for a TV licence

robbie1876

You need a television licence if you have "a television or equipment capable of receiving a television signal." So what if the situation is as follows:

No antenna, satellite dish or cable TV in the house. Plasma monitor (not a TV, classified as a computer monitor) with a DVD player as its only source. No other televisions in the house.

Would you still need a TV licence?

sceptre

Broadly speaking, if you don't have a device with a tuner you don't have a TV - it isn't capable of receiving those small people that fit inside the TV. I see those letters that licence people are sending out to businesses are also pushing the "an antenna needs a licence" line but you don't have one of those either. Does your plasma thingie have a tuner? If it does, it's a TV regardless of what you like to call it.

You don't have a VCR do you?

robbie1876

Thanks sceptre. No, the plasma display is just a monitor, no TV tuner in it. I do have an antenna on the roof, but it is not connected at all. I should probably take it down! I don't have a VCR, but if I did they could do me on the fact that it is capable of receiving a TV signal, right?

I have a feeling they have me under watch. There's been a few dodgy punters calling at the door, and quite a lot of 'reminder' letters. I just have to know my facts for when they question me on the plasma set up.

Thanks again,

Robbie

sceptre

Originally posted by robbie1876
I don't have a VCR, but if I did they could do me on the fact that it is capable of receiving a TV signal, right?

They could. To be honest I think that it's stretching it, but they could. Take down the aeriel as well, just to cover yourself. They've already seen the aeriel - it's probably part of the reason for the increase in letters (though they do tend to presume guilt)

You're totally covered. I assume they won't understand the idea that anyone would have a plasma screen with no TV though. I wouldn't let them into the house if I had such a setup, though you might want to take the easier route (I'd put on a DVD and turn up the volume to be honest).

robbie1876

(I'd put on a DVD and turn up the volume to be honest).

hehe, I like the idea of this. In fact, I'm going to buy a porn DVD especially for their visit - "come in and see, I just use this setup for watching DVDs..."

Owenw

What if you added a sky digibox to that type of setup? You get RTE channels but you are paying to view through your subscription.

I have a good mind to get rid of the telly and buy a projector to watch DVDs seeing as there is fup all on TV these days

Genghis

Presumably that monitor could not take a feed from a Sky Digibox, so you would then need to buy a telly and you would then have to pay a licence.

The TV licence is not to receive RTE (however you pay for it), it is to own a TV. Who you pay to receive programming is irrelevant.

robbie1876

Well, a digibox could connect directly to the plasma monitor, it has composite and svhs inputs too, but my understanding is that a satellite dish counts as equipment capable of receiving a TV signal.

Link

Every household, business or institution in Ireland with a television or equipment capable of receiving a television signal (i.e., an aerial, satellite dish, etc.,) must have a television licence.

Actually, this has made me think. A plasma monitor is basically just a big computer monitor. But potentially, a monitor is capable of receiving a TV signal, if it was fed to it in the right format. This example is a bit far fetched, but lets say my mate next door has a TV tuner for his PC, and sends the signal via Wi-Fi into my house where it is then routed through the PC and onto the monitor/plasma etc. Then my equipment is capable of receiving a TV signal, right?

So the argument I will use is that every business in the country with any kind of a PC must have TV licence because their equipment is the same as mine and is capable of receiving a TV signal....

...I'm getting too paranoid about this... :ninja:

Genghis

Originally posted by robbie1876
. In fact, I'm going to buy a porn DVD especially for their visit

Any excuse. Some people, honestly.

crazyFeet

ok, i know this thread is old but it did help me in some way...
the inspector called in last week and will be revisiting withing this week, we have no antena, satelite or even old analog cable... tv is being used a monitor for ps3 or laptop...
is it possible to take out the receiver from my tv, and argue that way that it's a screen and nothing can be done, i really don't have the extra 150e to pay these shower of flutes right before Xmas!

Mr E

Ask in Broadcasting forum.

Never ever ever dig up an 8 year old thread.

Oh, and you can pay €12 a month direct debit instead of the once-a-year hit.
That's what I do.