TV licence soon required for PCs, laptops, and tablets?

Billy86 · 28-03-2017 10:21AM

batistuta9 wrote: »

The trouble with projectors is they're not very practical for most houses. Really need a room for them, even the tiny ones aren't that neat when you've everything connected up to them, can be a mess of cables going up walls over ceilings, etc.

You're right though you can get a v.good 1080p projector for about the price of a 42'' TV. however i wouldn't bother wasting money on any of the cheap or low resolution ones.

AHA! Many of them do wireless too, via apps and wifi connections.

In truth having taken a quick check that appears to up the price a bit closer to a 60" HD TV if you want 1920x1080 and wireless but again Amazon are great on sales (this one is £600 but currently £480, reckon with some patience you could get similar for £350) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/BenQ-Entertainment-Projector-Brightness-Correction/dp/B015OEK0OC/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1490692735&sr=8-6&keywords=benq+1920x1080+projector

You're probably right on lower resolution, though I just have a shockingly bad eye for quality once the image is clear and colours are vibrant.

Anyway I've strayed completely off subject so sorry about that, just think as they continue to get smaller in size while keeping resolution, lower in price, and tidier (e.g. wireless as standard) that projectors might be in for a bit of a boon not too far from now as more people switch to laptops, tablets etc as their primary source and on top of the TV licence, many won't want a TV taking up half the wall or needing a large table etc while costing so much and being stuck in one fixed location when they could have a tiny box that can be stored away when not in use. Not to say they'll be replacing TVs or anything, I just reckon we might be seeing a good few more in households 10-15 years from now that we do today.

EDIT: Completely off topic but randomly saw this and holy sh*t! http://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/2/27/14737824/sony-xperia-touch-projector-android-touchscreen-mwc-2017

Grayson · 28-03-2017 10:25AM

Míshásta wrote: »

I don't understand people who say they never view or listen to RTE programmes. How do they keep informed about news, current affairs, sports, investigative documentaries or entertainment/culture events, etc., relevant to this island.

RTE may have its faults but unless you want to live on a diet of Hollywood movies, Aussie soaps and Judge Judy, it's the best source. TV3 does provide some Irish content programmes but it's a very limited service.

I have a subscription to the Irish Times. I have YouTube, netflix and other services. I don't need RTE for anything. The thing is that I have two paid subscriptions means that I'm not stingy either. If RTE were worth it, I'd happily pay for it.

I love Sean nos · 28-03-2017 10:28AM

murpho999 wrote: »

It would cost you more than that to get up to the North and back.

It's just one idea, there must be loads of ways to get rid of the TV licence and collect money.

It would eliminate need for collectors, inspectors, administration, court costs etc.

Indeed it would if that was the only reason for the trip. I visit Northern Ireland regularly enough for family and work, so it wouldn't cost me anything. My situation cannot be unique. Anyone living or working in the border counties could do likewise. Amazon's click and collect service is available at border post offices.
In addition, for the more expensive purchases, the difference between UK and Irish VAT becomes more significant.

_Brian · 28-03-2017 10:30AM

Deleted User wrote: »

This will only affect those that don't already pay their TV licence.

How ?
Since I started having my own gaff mearly 30 years ago I've never paid a tv licence, it's just a poor service paying mediocre staff huge money, the "public seevice" they provode could be done on a shoestring with one tv station and broadcast the audio of this as radio.
So, I've never so far paid, I have no intention on starting to pay, how will I somehow have to pay when they haven't managed to make me pay on the last 30 years ?

valoren · 28-03-2017 10:33AM

RTE is an analog organisation in a digital age.
Viewership has evolved and RTE is in danger of becoming extinct.
There is bigger and better radio, television etc to be consumed over the internet.
As an entity it is going through the fumbling in the greasy till stage with these proposals.

Permabear · 28-03-2017 10:37AM

This post has been deleted.

Billy86 · 28-03-2017 10:44AM

Míshásta wrote: »

I don't understand people who say they never view or listen to RTE programmes. How do they keep informed about news, current affairs, sports, investigative documentaries or entertainment/culture events, etc., relevant to this island.

RTE may have its faults but unless you want to live on a diet of Hollywood movies, Aussie soaps and Judge Judy, it's the best source. TV3 does provide some Irish content programmes but it's a very limited service.

RTE are showing both Neighbours and Home and Away (twice!) along with another 8-10 foreign shows tonight alone that they used taxpayer funds to price TV3 and/or TG4 (and/or any other potential upstarts) out of, which otherwise those competitors could have got at a lower price for the most part. RTE should flat out not be doing this, with the rare, rare exception like Father Ted that has a deep seated place in Irish culture (and is probably quite cheap as 20 year old reruns); they also regularly show Hollywood movies. Most sports are available on other networks, and frankly with considerably better coverage. Television being the primary source of so many forms of entertainment and information is fast, fast becoming a thing of the past - for this demographic I would hazard a guess it already is.

Reeling in the Years (admittedly a great show, but by design only a half hour is made per year) aside, RTE's output of documentaries is pretty woeful for the most part - TG4 do much better on a sliver of their budget in this regard.

Most people I know under 40 read their news online (and as best I know, RTE is not a high priority source for many of them to put it mildly) rather than the [X] O'Clock news, so that's not important, likewise for coverage of cultural events. RTE's coverage of 'Irish celebs' entertainment is nothing to brag about, as young filmmakers and those in the arts rarely get a look in, passed over for "a day in the life of..." type crap.

If RTE made the effort to promote and assist young talent that the BBC does, I'd happily pay the TV licence even if I rarely watched it. I wouldn't even mind doing so at a considerably higher rate, so long as my own finances allowed. But RTE don't do that, they instead distort the market horrifically and inflate wages to comical extents.

Cienciano · 28-03-2017 11:04AM

jimbobaloobob wrote: »

using the rte player online should require your license number that way their fees are covering their services.

Silane wrote: »

They should just make the whole thing subscription based like sky, let the people who want it pay for it and then you can access the online services too.

You know the answer. Then no one would pay, this isn't about being able to watch RTE, this is simply a tax. Government promise to help get RTE more money, who in RTE is going to even debate this?

Míshásta wrote: »

I don't understand people who say they never view or listen to RTE programmes. How do they keep informed about news, current affairs, sports, investigative documentaries or entertainment/culture events, etc., relevant to this island.

RTE may have its faults but unless you want to live on a diet of Hollywood movies, Aussie soaps and Judge Judy, it's the best source. TV3 does provide some Irish content programmes but it's a very limited service.

I assume you're joking. I haven't watched the news on RTE since I moved out of my parents house 15 years ago. This might be "news" to you, but there's other tv stations, newspapers, magazines, radio stations, podcasts and websites not only provide all what you think are exclusive to RTE, but they're multiple times better and they're either free or optional to pay for. As for Aussie soaps, RTE are showing both Neighbours and Home and Away today.
Lets just see prime time on RTE1 tonight to see what amazing shows RTE have on.

http://www.rte.ie/tv/listings.html
7:30: Eastenders
8:00: Fair City
8:30: Daniel and Majella's B&B Road Trip
9:00: News
9:30

Well, cancel Netflix, that's the nights entertainment sorted :pac:

ancapailldorcha · 28-03-2017 11:25AM

It's been years since I watched RTÉ properly. It's a bit difficult living abroad but I'd no idea they were still filling their channels with foreign muck. Sounds like a subsidy for British and American studios to be honest more than a public service. The BBC is such an amazing service it's unreal. Cutting edge content and a wide array of public service broadcasts. Amazing that RTÉ couldn't have learned a few lessons from them but then that'd probably interfere with the handouts.

murpho999 · 28-03-2017 11:35AM

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

It's been years since I watched RTÉ properly. It's a bit difficult living abroad but I'd no idea they were still filling their channels with foreign muck. Sounds like a subsidy for British and American studios to be honest more than a public service. The BBC is such an amazing service it's unreal. Cutting edge content and a wide array of public service broadcasts. Amazing that RTÉ couldn't have learned a few lessons from them but then that'd probably interfere with the handouts.

Not defending RTE but comparing BBC to RTE is unfair as they receive a licence fee paid by 60 million people so the budgets are huge.

BBC have their fair share of rubbish along side top notch stuff as well though it must be said.

Grayson · 28-03-2017 11:36AM

Cienciano wrote: »

I assume you're joking. I haven't watched the news on RTE since I moved out of my parents house 15 years ago. This might be "news" to you, but there's other tv stations, newspapers, magazines, radio stations, podcasts and websites not only provide all what you think are exclusive to RTE, but they're multiple times better and they're either free or optional to pay for.

After Hours is probably better than RTE news.

ancapailldorcha · 28-03-2017 11:38AM

murpho999 wrote: »

Not defending RTE but comparing BBC to RTE is unfair as they receive a licence fee paid by 60 million people so the budgets are huge.

BBC have their fair share of rubbish along side top notch stuff as well though it must be said.

Fair enough regarding the source of funding. However, the BBC seem to take their duty a lot more seriously and host a wide range of public service programming. There's no reason why RTÉ can't do the same.

murpho999 · 28-03-2017 11:38AM

Grayson wrote: »

After Hours is probably better than RTE news.

I still don't believe that so many people don't watch RTE ever.

For Irish news alone it is the best source with actual video reports and interviews.

Akrasia · 28-03-2017 11:47AM

Karsini wrote: »

I guess this would also include any business with desktop computers but no TV.

And every shop with a touchscreen point of sale till...

And they say you need a tv licence for your caravan if you bring a tv with you on holiday, so will I need a tv licence for my tent if I bring my laptop with me?

Billy86 · 28-03-2017 11:52AM

murpho999 wrote: »

Not defending RTE but comparing BBC to RTE is unfair as they receive a licence fee paid by 60 million people so the budgets are huge.

BBC have their fair share of rubbish along side top notch stuff as well though it must be said.

True, but isn't it mostly/all muck that they've made themselves? There's nothing wrong with that in my opinion, just look at the film industry - some stuff always seems like a good idea until it's done and dusted, and the problem can often be something that happened during production (bad editing, changes that needed to be made on the fly, etc). I've tried to watch Ros na Run but just for the life of me can't... that said, TG4 made it themselves and it puts money back into the economy while giving plenty of actors, writers, camera ops, hair & makeup artists, set designers, editors etc employment and exposure, so it's very much a good thing.

And then in turn BBC I would assume get money from outsourcing their hits, like Match of the Day, Attenborough's stuff and Top Gear (if I recall the most watched show in the world before "the incident") which helps again. RTE would good as definitely not be able to match that, but even on a smaller scale it could be beneficial. As awful a show as it is, just look at Mrs. Browns Boys in this regard - aired in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and for some reason... Iceland.

*Random trivia: The Lyrics Board was sold to 15 different countries which each had their own version, from many European countries to even Lebanon and Vietnam! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lyrics_Board

Bob24 · 28-03-2017 12:01PM

murpho999 wrote: »

I still don't believe that so many people don't watch RTE ever.

For Irish news alone it is the best source with actual video reports and interviews.

I'd say more and more people prefer to spread their news consumption time across the day on their phone while in college, in the office, or on public transport rather than dedicating a longer timeslot watching them on TV at home in the evening.

Not necessarily that it gives a better viewpoint of current events, but probably because it is more convenient and a good way to kill time.

Permabear · 28-03-2017 12:46PM

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fxotoole · 28-03-2017 12:54PM

osarusan wrote: »

They should deal with this first:

This will just be another charge that people won't pay.

Yes. They need to enforce it properly. If they get close to 100% enforcement, they could even look at reducing the fee.

JackTaylorFan · 28-03-2017 12:54PM

Personally never understood why RTE are allowed to receive private revenue via advertisements when they also receive funding through the TV tax. The same rule should apply as does the BBC - no commercial adverts. RTE's product is also ****e.

ancapailldorcha · 28-03-2017 12:54PM

Permabear wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

At least you could argue that Road Trip might help local businesses. I do agree with your point. At the very least, the substandard imports shown during the day should be cut out entirely. I'd rather RTÉ went down during the day to be honest instead of frittering away money like that.

ancapailldorcha · 28-03-2017 12:57PM

JackTaylorFan wrote: »

Personally never understood why RTE are allowed to receive private revenue via advertisement whrn they receive funding through the TV tax. The same rule should apply as does the BBC. RTE's product is also ****e.

The licence fee alone might not be enough for a broadcaster to satisfy a public service remit. Obviously, the lavish handouts aren't helping but even if you could trust RTÉ to be honest, it might not be enough. I think the government should just sell it at this stage. It serves no purpose other than to enrich those on the inside at the taxpayer's expense.

Skatedude · 28-03-2017 01:03PM

Míshásta wrote: »

I don't understand people who say they never view or listen to RTE programmes. How do they keep informed about news, current affairs, sports, investigative documentaries or entertainment/culture events, etc., relevant to this island.

RTE may have its faults but unless you want to live on a diet of Hollywood movies, Aussie soaps and Judge Judy, it's the best source. TV3 does provide some Irish content programmes but it's a very limited service.

why would you even assume that? I get my irish news from the independent website and that's it, dont bother with football or gaa and I have zero interest in irish documentaries.
And rte produced radio is just rubbish, I only ever add nova fm to the car radio, don't have any others even programmed in.
And I'm certainly not unusual in this regard.

I could ask you why you don't follow gaming, skateboarding and tech documentaries, but I wouldn't assume you will have the same tastes as I do.

Cienciano · 28-03-2017 01:18PM

murpho999 wrote: »

I still don't believe that so many people don't watch RTE ever.

For Irish news alone it is the best source with actual video reports and interviews.

Sean Moncrieff said the same thing. He refused to believe when people said they didn't watch the news at 9pm. Just because you do something religiously doesn't mean everyone else does.
I haven't watched news on TV in years. If I want to check the news it's google news (which in fairness, could be rte) or irishtimes.com. RTE is never my first port of call. If any news site has a video of the news I won't watch, I prefer to read it.

Permabear · 28-03-2017 01:19PM

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Skatedude · 28-03-2017 01:33PM

Our house was renovated about 10 years ago, We ripped out the pipe tv cable at that stage as we had no use for it, I haven't even used anything with a tuner since before then anyway. Last time i even saw the late late show was when gay byrne was presenting.

_Brian · 28-03-2017 01:41PM

murpho999 wrote: »

I still don't believe that so many people don't watch RTE ever.

For Irish news alone it is the best source with actual video reports and interviews.

Nope, never, and aparrently I'm in the over 40's bracket that makes me a proper adult. There are far more concise, current and user friendly ways to get news now. The age old model of news being at 6pm and 9pm is ancient. I gather news when it suits me to see it and not at some prescribed time.
If there is some "world news" event on ill tune to Euronews or god forbid Sky News.

Never ever would I think "wow that's happening now I'll stick on an RTE station" they'd be showing Marty Wheelan or Neighbors or some similar drivel.

CodeMonkey · 28-03-2017 01:48PM

Just wondering if the following is true. People with a Virgin/Sky subscriptions and get RTE through their subscription package is already paying RTE. This is because Virgin/Sky pay RTE to carry the channels. If you pay your tv license and watches RTE through Virgin/Sky then you are double paying.

The J Stands for Jay · 28-03-2017 01:51PM

Míshásta wrote: »

I don't understand people who say they never view or listen to RTE programmes. How do they keep informed about news, current affairs, sports, investigative documentaries or entertainment/culture events, etc., relevant to this island.

RTE may have its faults but unless you want to live on a diet of Hollywood movies, Aussie soaps and Judge Judy, it's the best source. TV3 does provide some Irish content programmes but it's a very limited service.

Entertainment events? I can live fine without Lottie Ryan, thanks.

Boards fills me in on all the local news I need. I don't recall ever seeing decent rte documentary
*Awaits angry posts listing decent documentaries*

crossmolinalad · 28-03-2017 02:07PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Then its a property tax, and would be simpler and more efficient to collect as that.

They did in The Netherlands

Billy86 · 28-03-2017 02:14PM

McGaggs wrote: »

Entertainment events? I can live fine without Lottie Ryan, thanks.

Boards fills me in on all the local news I need. I don't recall ever seeing decent rte documentary
*Awaits angry posts listing decent documentaries*

Well Reeling in the Years is top, top class... but that's about it as far as I can recall (and it's one single half hour show a year) so definitely not disagreeing with you!!

TV licence soon required for PCs, laptops, and tablets?

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