TV3 license free

OLDYELLAR

why the hell are tv3 proud to be showing license free ad`s?
they make me so angry sure if you have a tv you have to buy a license regadless of what your watching , or else as i have experienced they write to ya threatening to take you to court!
for starts what the hell is up with them showing the same news every half hour in the evening
and now there showing re runs of im a celebrity get me out of here which was enough punishment the first time round
and they think there great not making us pay extra for this rubbish??

Batbat

its so rte can pay for their 600k a year taxi cost

OLDYELLAR

whatever it is its flippin annoying "now we can all feck for free with tv3"
i have to turn it off sometimes it makes me so mad !:mad:

Mossy Monk

i thought tv3 got a slice of the license fee pie these days

Stephen

nope... they don't get a penny of it.

flogen

It's a bit rediculous, you need a tv licence to watch TV3, even if they dont get any of it... they should have 'none of our show are funded by licence fee', not that its not obvious they lack income.

I'd say give them a cut of it (maybe devide it in relation to their viewing figures) once they spend it on Irish only shows (their ad money can go towards US and UK pap). It might improve tv3's output, and might shake RTE up enough to sort out their accounts.

flogen

Mossy Monk

IIRC they are getting money for irish programming, or maybe i've finally lost the plot

monkeyfudge

Well there is 5% of the licence fee that anyone can apply for.

Broadcasting (Funding) Act, 2003

It's mostly around community broadcasting and cultural archiving. But any Radio or Television Station is able to apply for it, including RTÉ.

I'm working with a group set up to create a Community TV channel for Dublin, so we are hoping to get a slice of it anyway....

munkeehaven

i hardly ever watch it to be honest..but i'll be watching the re'runs of alan partridge:p on tuesdays...have you noticed that on the news team all the girls are totally caked in make up and all neat, whereas all the men are fat tubbies? and also..they show a lot more crap american tv.shows ie oprah and ricki lake...

OLDYELLAR

well we the viewer still have to pay so i think those adverts should be banned because they are bol*x!:mad:

PBC_1966

It's well past time that the whole system of TV licenses was scrapped, in Ireland, the U.K. and all other European countries that have them.

monkeyfudge

Originally posted by PBC_1966
It's well past time that the whole system of TV licenses was scrapped, in Ireland, the U.K. and all other European countries that have them.

oh that would be nice... then every channel could be just like TV3!

Mossy Monk

yeah, people seem to forget what kind of muck RTÉ would be without a license fee

PBC_1966

I can't speak for RTE, but despite the license fee increasing in price regularly, I haven't noticed the BBC getting any better.

Sure, they turn out a few good programs from time to time, but most of their output is just as bad as that from ITV or any other independent company.

Besides, it's the basic principle at stake that people should not be ordered to pay a fee to the BBC, RTE, or other state-sponsored organization just for receiving a TV signal.

monkeyfudge

True... The BBC is getting pretty poor at the moment. But they won't be allowed to continue with some of the poor programming choices they are making.

Shows like Strictly Come Dancing are currently being investigated as it is felt that it really isn't public service broadcasting.

Although, I blame the public myself... ha... they're the ones who make Reality TV junk so popular...

Licenced radio and television is important for me anyway, as I tend not to trust news services that are run by purely commercial interests. And the news is really the only thing I watch on RTÉ.

PBC_1966

Again, I can't speak for RTE, but I certainly wouldn't always trust the news put out by the Biased Broadcasting Company. They can be very one-sided at times.

Elmo

PCB_1966 about the BBC

Sure, they turn out a few good programs from time to time, but most of their output is just as bad as that from ITV or any other independent company.

This is very true.

Fortunately the BBC have to compete with ITV and the only way they can do this is by making british TV.

Unlike RTE who only have to compete with TV3 who are currently showing the same tripe RTE where showing 10 years ago.

Thus RTE are competing with TV3 by showing more and more imports.

Nice to see plan to rebrand N2 as RTE2 for 500,000 EURO, perhaps RTE should use it to make a TV series for N2.:mad:

IRISH TV IS GENERALLY GETTING WORSE AND I BLAME BOTH RTE AND TV3, THEY ARE BOTH AS BAD AS ONE ANOTHER.

Oh by the way TV3 you are backed by two of the largest media companies in the world, you should be able to make at least one show for Prime Time. Certainly Popcorn is no more then an advert for movies sponsored by Impulse.

elivsvonchiaing

When I moved to the UK I had a "dear occupier" letter within 2 months so I bought a TV licence. I had purchased a TV in Currys - I don't seriously imagine they shopped me in! I just think the local council (Croyden) were efficient. Back here I lived for 13 months before Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown worked out I didn't have a TV licence about 5 minutes before I moved. I have moved twice since then and recently decided I wanted to watch TV again. I returned in 1999. That is 5 years! Upon deciding on the TV option, I stopped paying the UK storage depot to store it and had it shipped over here - hand on my heart -honestly. Co-incidently, on the very same day I got a card from the TV licence inspectors. This was a waste of their time as being an honest person I was going to buy a licence anyhow.


I shudder to think how many people have done the same, only not kept their TV in another country!

I think there is a difference in our laws, but there is an element of "too busy scratching their balls" on just about every service here - it isn't better in the UK in my experience (taking a cross section of services into consideration). I think there is an element of screw RTE in this - we get to watch annoying ads; on BBC you don't have to (well commercial ads anyhow). So I uphold a previous reply advocating an abolition of licence fee. The ad suggests their are spongers - there should be no licence fee to start with!

We are paying a licence fee to fund tossers like Gabo and Kenny and Dunphy - we are paying their salaries and every cameraman/woman editors, producers, programme directors, and every other possible hanger-on.

The worst case senario is the licence fee is scrapped; that both RTE and TV3 in the absence of a licence fee show movies with 12 - 15 minute ad breaks (I have actually seen this on the mainland - Portugal (definitely 12 mins) and Greece (I think - 15 mins). Well hell we can always watch the BEEB!!!

Elvis

Ps. I lied about the storage and shipping it was more like a mate and he brought it over in the boot of his car - I guess I'm just turning into Del boy! Offers on chateau Chernobyl wine to follow:-)

clearz

Isn't RTE supposed to be a public channel. In England there are lisences but BBC dont show any ads worth talking about, where as RTE have both forms of Income. God I f*cking hate the bullsh1t in this country.

sceptre

We're not the only EU country to do that with the national broadcaster (I believe the Danes do likewise - spot the similar sized market - and I'm sure there are others). Dropping the adverts would mean a big licence fee increase, dropping the licence fee would mean an increase in adverts. File under small market and lack of economies of scale.

Victor

Originally posted by monkeyfudge
Well there is 5% of the licence fee that anyone can apply for. Broadcasting (Funding) Act, 2003 It's mostly around community broadcasting and cultural archiving. But any Radio or Television Station is able to apply for it, including RTÉ.

Isn't there also a public service clause <cough>party political broadcasts<cough>?

Originally posted by elivsvonchiaing
When I moved to the UK I had a "dear occupier" letter within 2 months so I bought a TV licence. I had purchased a TV in Currys - I don't seriously imagine they shopped me in! I just think the local council (Croyden) were efficient. Back here I lived for 13 months before Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown worked out I didn't have a TV licence about 5 minutes before I moved.

Councils have nothing to do with the TV licence, certainly not here.

elivsvonchiaing

Point noted. However, I maintain the personal belief that eveyone in TV3 who is on camera is paid according their ratings, RTE I don't honestly know the terms and conditios - I just don't like what I see.

Iam ultimateltely for the abolition of the TV licence!

Elvis

PBC_1966

Originally posted by elivsvonchiaing
When I moved to the UK I had a "dear occupier" letter within 2 months so I bought a TV licence. I had purchased a TV in Currys - I don't seriously imagine they shopped me in! I just think the local council (Croyden) were efficient.

Nothing to do with the local council. The letter you got would have been a standard form letter from TV Licensing in Bristol. They probably sent it out when the previous occupier moved on and either transferred his license to a new address or just let it expire (or it was one of their regular intimidation attempts if he hadn't had a license there).

Curry's most likely did report you to TV Licensing anyway. It's actually a legal requirement here for stores to report the purchase of a TV. Many smaller dealers accidentally "forget" a lot of the time, but the big chains seem to report details. Any letter you get subsequently as a result of that would most likely be addressed to you by name, rather than "Dear Occupier." (Tip for if you ever come back here: Pay cash, give a false name & address. )

I shudder to think how many people have done the same, only not kept their TV in another country!

Unless Irish rules are vastly different to the U.K., you need a license to install and use TV receiving equipment. You can have as many sets stored in your house sitting unused as you like -- No license required. Do the Irish TV license gestapo actually want you to buy a license if you even have a TV in the house?

elivsvonchiaing

Unless Irish rules are vastly different to the U.K., you need a license to install and use TV receiving equipment. You can have as many sets stored in your house sitting unused as you like -- No license required. Do the Irish TV license gestapo actually want you to buy a license if you even have a TV in the house?

As far as I know, if a TV licence inspector shows up - and you have a TV in a box. If he/she doesn't believe that it was in the box when they rang the doorbell - it's a date in court - you must prove that it was.

The scare advertising would suggest the inspectors are gestapo - but legally I think they are more like paper tigers.

Batbat

have you seen the lame ads on the TV about a person feeling ashamed being caught for not paying the TV license fee, stuipd ad I dont know anyone who could care less

Elmo

Isn't RTE supposed to be a public channel. In England there are lisences but BBC dont show any ads worth talking about, where as RTE have both forms of Income. God I f*cking hate the bullsh1t in this country.

I am sorry but the BBC make a fortune by selling their shows abroad. So not only do they have Commerical Money from sales of their show but they also have plenty coming in from the licence, this adds up to alot more than what RTE make from Adds and the licence Fee.

Point noted. However, I maintain the personal belief that eveyone in TV3 who is on camera is paid according their ratings, RTE I don't honestly know the terms and conditios - I just don't like what I see.

Yeah and how much did Dunphy get for the Dunphy Show and The Weakest Link?

Just look at how much Dunphy is getting for his new morning show.

Claire Byrne isn't far of Brian Dobson I wouldn't say.

Iam ultimateltely for the abolition of the TV licence!

Yeah and have more TV3 and N2/RTENETWORK2/RTE2/NETWORK2's.

Victor

Originally posted by PBC_1966
You can have as many sets stored in your house sitting unused as you like -- No license required.

AFAIK any working equipment needs a licence.

PBC_1966

I've had a quick search through www.irishstatutebook.ie and it does seem as though the Irish laws differ from British in this respect. Tracing all the amendments looks like it would take a month of Sundays, but a few relevant parts seem to confirm:

From WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY ACT, 1926

3.—(1) Subject to the exceptions hereinafter mentioned, no person shall keep or have in his possession anywhere in Saorstát Eireann or in any ship or aircraft to which this section applies any apparatus for wireless telegraphy save in so far as such keeping or possession is authorised by a licence granted under this Act and for the time being in force.

From BROADCASTING (RECEIVING LICENCES) REGULATIONS, 1961

"receiving licence" means a licence granted by the Minister under section 5 of the act to a person to keep and have possession of, in any specified place in the State or in any specified ship or in any specified aircraft, an apparatus for wireless telegraphy for receiving only

11.—(1) A receiving licence shall not apply to or authorise the keeping or having possession of any apparatus for wireless telegraphy which is used or is capable of being used for sending or broadcasting sound or messages, or signals or visual images of any kind

That last one also seems to prohibit the mere possession of transmitters for which a specific license is not held.

This is certainly in contrast with U.K. laws which license use of a receiver or transmitter, rather than just mere possession.

l3rian

anyone had any experience of not getting a tv licence even after recieving a letter?

i rarely use the tv, and dont have ntl or sky, if i never answer the door to the inspector, am i home free?

vector

Originally posted by PBC_1966
...That last one also seems to prohibit the mere possession of transmitters for which a specific license is not held...

Inland Unregistered ships, inter alia, seem to be exempt.

So if you want a loophole get an old ship put it in your garage, on a trailer if you wish, and use your radio/tv in it, you could even put a small boat in your living room, in a cool stylish way if the room is big enough

Possible problems are that the term ship may require a vessel of a minimum lenght, or a vessel to be in water. Also this act of the aforementioned exemptions may have beemn repealed of modified since.

Victor

PBC_1966 Those sections appear not to apply.

Section 5 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1926 (No. 45 of 1926) and S.I. No. 608/2002: Television Licences Regulations 2002 appear to be the relevant pieces.

PBC_1966

So SI 608/2002 says it revokes the Broadcasting (Receiving) Licences Regulations 1961. The relevant passage still seems to suggest licenses "to keep and have possession of" rather than the U.K. wording which is along the lines of "to install and use":

"television licence" means a licence granted by the Minister under section 5 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1926 (No. 45 of 1926) to a person to keep and have possession of a television set (within the meaning of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1972) in any specified place in the State or in any specified vehicle, ship or aircraft.

I don't doubt that if somebody cared to trace every one of the amendments and interpretations there may be a few loopholes.

The idea of registering an ocean liner in the living room sounds quite fascinating....

PBC_1966

Originally posted by l3rian
anyone had any experience of not getting a tv licence even after recieving a letter?

i rarely use the tv, and dont have ntl or sky, if i never answer the door to the inspector, am i home free?

No idea about Ireland, but here in Britain you'll just keep on getting a constant stream of letters reminding you that watching TV without a license is illegal and suggesting you buy one to avoid possible prosecution and fines, etc. They work on a process of threats and intimidation basically. They just assume that anyone without a license must be breaking the law by watching an unlicensed TV.

Depending upon where you live, they might even decide to send a member of TV License Gestapo to your house to see if you're actually using a TV. The correct action, of course, is to refuse him entry.

This website has a good outline of the system and some scans of the intimidating letters they send out:

http://www.tvlicensing.biz/

"TV Licensing: Pay up or we send Louie and his boys round!"

vector

Originally posted by PBC_1966
...The idea of registering an ocean liner in the living room sounds quite fascinating....

No, it must be unregistered.

PBC_1966

Sorry, should have said keeping an ocean liner in the living room. I think a bigger living room might be needed though!

Big Ears

any1 remember that ad , where a person had a white tv , and had a recording of some sort of meat (maybe chicken ) circulating like it was in a microwave , when the inspecter came round .

elivsvonchiaing

They don't have a vintner's license in the bar in the dáil. I'd be very surprised if they don't have a TV there and have a TV license.