TV Licence - ALL TV licence discussion/queries in this thread.

Does someone with an old CRT TV not capable of get saorview, and a sat box to uk freesat need a tv licence?

thanks, that's what i thought i was reading over the last few pages of this thread, just to confirm, it can't receive any irish channel, but its just the fact that it can receive any broadcast?

Sorry I forgot about that little anomaly in the legislation.

Tough to think you could be in trouble for having one without a licence.

Because its the law?

It's the law to pay the TV licence. Public service broadcasting is vital, and without the TV licence we'd be a much poorer society. You might say you don't watch RTÉ, but I'd be astounded if you could find anyone who doesn't use some RTÉ service (radio/TV/online) at some point. Plus the whole idea is that it means that RTÉ can produce content that might not be commercially viable. Look at the likes of the soccer last night - you could argue that the commercial viability of covering women's soccer wasn't there, but the TV licence allowed for that.

Yes Tubridy gets paid a lot, but in the grand scheme of things whether he gets paid that or not doesn't actually affect the TV licence charge...

1.Do you own a TV? Yes/no

2.Do you own a Saor view box? Yes/no

3.Do you have a subscription to a TV service, virgin media etc? Yes/no

if you answer no to points 2/3 above you can not get RTE etc…. Unless you’re doing it some other way which is a different discussion altogether.

Funding from general taxation puts a risk that if RTE go against the government, the government could cut the money that goes to RTE.

What would be better would be to include the licence fee as part of a household charge with the electricity bills. Would get rid of avoidance easily...

I renewed mine last week reluctantly I might add. Reason being I don't watch RTE, the last time I tuned into RTE to watch a programme was Love/Hate. I don't watch the Late Late including the Toy Show. I think it's completely outdated and something else should replace it. I pay cable, Netflix etc; because I use their service but No, not RTE yet I'm forced to pay them it's so frustrating. It's like paying Bord G'ais when I don't use Gas. Very wrong.

You will find that the government uses our taxes to fund all sorts of things that you don't use.

I don't know your interests but think of the National Museums, National Concert Hall, all the various sporting bodies etc.

They do this because they consider it is in the public interest.

A lot of people people think having a publicly funded TV and radios service falls into that category.

Think about Irish news, current affairs, culture, music, sport etc. You won't get that on Netflix/cable.

Your idea about replacing RTE is valid and a possible option but it would still need to be funded.

So if you had a TV licence, got rid of the TV, got a Statutory Declaration letter from them to say you've no TV, complete and send off that letter, what happens next if they call to see if you've no TV.

If you don't want anyone entering your home, they can't gain access without you inviting them in to have a look around, right? What's this I hear about them being able to come in if they're accompanied by a "permitted person"? Is that a Garda with a search warrant?

Does anyone know the exact legal position on this, including a link to back up what they claim?

Section 146, paragraph 3, of the Broadcasting Act 2009 seems to suggest that they can come in:

Sorry to hear about your father's problem.

There are some circumstances under which he may get some refund outlined here.

You will also notice that he has missed out on a much more substantial sum in electricity/gas allowances.

Just a bit of advice, there are no public servants who will be trying to deprive your father of any refund he is due.

They will just apply the rules as laid out in the legislation.

You're welcome.

If you need any further advice you could contact Citizens Information or a local politician.

As for the licence I believe it's an outdated way of paying for Public Broadcasting.

Unfortunately we seem to be stuck with it.

TBH they won't miss the 1760e but I'm sure your dad would like it back.

I'm ok with that, silly argument. You want people to pay for a service that they don't use so that the people who do use it and pay for it still have it? Also he barely uses it, he mostly watches sky sports. Can you pay my mortgage too, thanks

in the words of James T. Kirk , Let them die. It's not an essential service. It only provides entertainment. How many channels have come and gone over the decades. And if it's just for Public Service announcements then they could easily cut the budget, fire some of the higher paid staff and stop showing films than people can get by other means. It has become irrelevant in the last decade or more, we don't need it and we don't want to pay for it.