TV License

Drax · 13-10-2008 03:03PM

From Citizens Information

A television licence is a certificate that states that you have paid the appropriate fee to the government

Each year, the government provides a grant to RTE (the national broadcasting organisation), which is funded by your television licence fee.

Does anyone know what percentage of the fee actually goes back to RTE? I thought it all went to RTE... but of course the government has to get something out of it.

monkeyfudge · 13-10-2008 03:05PM

Drax wrote: »

Does anyone know what percentage of the fee actually goes back to RTE? I thought it all went to RTE... but of course the government has to get something out of it.

5% now goes to the Sound and Vision fund that anyone including RTÉ (and me) can apply for.

jaycen · 13-10-2008 03:07PM

Oh the shock - out of the blue you need a tv licence if you've got a tv - never :eek:
lol.

Come on folks, someone's got to pay for Pat Kenny ya know.

120_Minutes · 13-10-2008 03:08PM

with the remaining 95% split between your a star/pat kennys legal fees/gerry ryans alimony/offie bills

Vain · 13-10-2008 03:08PM

You shouldn't have to pay it if you don't watch Irish tv channels..

Biggins · 13-10-2008 03:14PM

Vain wrote: »

You shouldn't have to pay it if you don't watch Irish tv channels..

Hear, Hear.

If you go into a sweet shop and get Milk Tray, you don't pay for Roses just because they are there too!

jaycen · 13-10-2008 03:17PM

Vain wrote: »

You shouldn't have to pay it if you don't watch Irish tv channels..

No, you should be paying the UK version in that case.

Honey-ec · 13-10-2008 03:20PM

jaycen wrote: »

No, you should be paying the UK version in that case.

Only if you watch the Beeb.

jaycen · 13-10-2008 03:22PM

Honey-ec wrote: »

Only if you watch the Beeb.

Or ITV, Sky, or any of the channels on the Sky packages - all are based in the UK and would then fall under the UK licence.

Biggins · 13-10-2008 03:26PM

Its crazy when you think about it.
Supposing you have sky sports... (and never watch RTE - I don't - maybe twice at year at most - if EVER, and never longer than 10 minutes, after that I am reminded just how bad RTE is)

Fair enough you pay for that.
...thats after you pay Sky for the monthly fee.
...thats after you pay the government for... well for what! We're not exactly give a choice.
We are just told the equivelent of "here take this, you have no choice ...now pay me for it!"
I thought that used to be called extortion! The Mafia was good at that. They just changed their name - they are now called the government!

So your paying basically three times over to watch your Sports (or film, etc) channel!

javaboy · 13-10-2008 03:29PM

Biggins wrote: »

Its crazy when you think about it.
Supposing you have sky sports... (and never watch RTE - I don't - maybe twice at year at most - if EVER)

Fair enough you pay for that.
...thats after you pay Sky for the monthly fee.
...thats after you pay the government for... well for what! We're not exactly give a choice.
We are just told the equivelent of "here take this, you have no choice ...now pay me for it!
I thought that used to be called extortion! The Mafia was good at that. They just changed their name - they are now called the government!

It's not quite a case of "here take this, you have no choice ...now pay me for it!" since you don't have to get a TV. Still it is annoying having to pay for something you will never use. Especially since they make no effort to make allowances for cases where the TV is clearly not used to watch telly e.g. certain business.

Biggins · 13-10-2008 03:32PM

Fine, someone invent me a device to block RTE by signal or alternative method.
I will be quite happy to use such a device. Why is my money going to RTE service when I don't use it, don't want it, and never will do in future?

I can see the point that its the TV that is being taxed - but why the tv?
Lets all tax radios, cycles, toy dolls, walkmans (the Irish government was actually considering this at one stage I kid you not), etc!
Just because you own an item, by the same thought process according to the government lets tax the buggers for having one of those items!

I have box that has a screen. I watch Sky sports and the film channel. Tax me on those - fair enough.
..but don't tax me on a TV then give my money to RTE! Give my tax money to the channels I actually watch!

Vain · 13-10-2008 03:33PM

Biggins wrote: »

Fine, someone invent me a device to block RTE by signal or alternative method.
I will be quite happy to use such a device. Why is my money going to RTE service when I don't use it, don't want it, and never will do in future?

When you hit about 60 you will be crying out for the rte news and the late late show..

javaboy · 13-10-2008 03:34PM

Biggins wrote: »

Fine, someone invent me a device to block RTE by signal or alternative method.
I will be quite happy to use such a device. Why is my money going to RTE service when I don't use it, don't want it, and never will do?

You would still have to get a licence AFAIK even with such a blocker.

I don't know but the thing is that if they removed the TV licence altogether, you'd probably just end up paying for it through taxes anyway.

Honey-ec · 13-10-2008 03:37PM

jaycen wrote: »

Or ITV, Sky, or any of the channels on the Sky packages - all are based in the UK and would then fall under the UK licence.

Nope. The BBC are the only recipients of the UK licence fee, same as only RTE benefit from ours, TV3 don't get a penny of it.

jaycen · 13-10-2008 03:40PM

Honey-ec wrote: »

Nope. The BBC are the only recipients of the UK licence fee, same as only RTE benefit from ours, TV3 don't get a penny of it.

How the monies are divided has nothing to do with it, if you can view any UK television station you should hold a UK TV licence (in theory).

Biggins · 13-10-2008 03:41PM

Vain wrote: »

When you hit about 60 you will be crying out for the rte news and the late late show..

Thanks but no. I'd rather be put down than put through that pain. Seriously.
I'm 40+ now and I hate, can't stand, abhor RTE.

Supposing a government rep turned up at your door and told you "you have a (Daimler) bike - we are going to give you a tax on it and then give that tax money to Harley Davidson"
...you'd be incensed enough I hope to ask "why Harley Davidson?"

Now change "Daimler bike" for "Ferguson TV" and "Harley Davidson" for "RTE"!

Super Sidious · 13-10-2008 04:03PM

If you watch tv on ur pc monitor/ laptop... do you still need a licence?

javaboy · 13-10-2008 04:08PM

Biggins wrote: »

Thanks but no. I'd rather be put down than put through that pain. Seriously.
I'm 40+ now and I hate, can't stand, abhor RTE.

Supposing a government rep turned up at your door and told you "you have a (Daimler) bike - we are going to give you a tax on it and then give that tax money to Harley Davidson"
...you'd be incensed enough I hope to ask "why Harley Davidson?"

Now change "Daimler bike" for "Ferguson TV" and "Harley Davidson" for "RTE"!

But it's not the same thing because the licence laws exist before you buy a TV whereas in your example they are suddenly springing it on you.

flynner13 wrote: »

If you watch tv on ur pc monitor/ laptop... do you still need a licence?

Apparently yes if it's connected to a TV tuner or receiver or if you use it to receive slingbox style TV over the internet.

Biggins · 13-10-2008 04:10PM

But it's not the same thing because the licence laws exist before you buy a TV whereas in your example they are suddenly springing it on you.

...but the tv's were created/existed before they invented the tax for it!

Why is my tax money going to a service I don't use?
Give my tax money to an actual service I do use!

gaz wac · 13-10-2008 04:11PM

flynner13 wrote: »

If you watch tv on ur pc monitor/ laptop... do you still need a licence?

do you mean a tv licence? cos if your talking about a dog or driving licence you dont...but i could be wrong!

Vixen Sexlectra · 13-10-2008 04:15PM

Get rid of TV and look at your TV online.. no TV license then..

No matter what they say.. I looked into it.. Thats what I do

or.. you could just tell them to go f**k themselves.. maybe..

:mad:Stupid Government Taking our Mulla:mad:

javaboy · 13-10-2008 04:18PM

Biggins wrote: »

...but the tv's were created/existed before they invented the tax for it!

Do you only have televisions that you bought before the tax was introduced? If so then you might have a case for that argument. Otherwise it's your own fault for buying a TV when you knew it was going to be taxed.

Why is my tax money going to a service I don't use?
Give my tax money to an actual service I do use!

That I can't answer. It's a bit stupid in fairness.

Vixen Sexlectra · 13-10-2008 04:19PM

You can stream your TV channels through net,
easier if you use Linux I've found anyway.. I'm a student.. can't afford to
eat never mind pay stupid licenses...
arrrgghhh :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

pickarooney · 13-10-2008 04:19PM

If the TV, which doesn't receive the type of signal emitted by the broadcaster of the country, is in the basement, unconnected to the main apartment, does it need a license?

Not that I'm going to pay it, obviously, it's just a hypothetical-reality question.

javaboy · 13-10-2008 04:23PM

pickarooney wrote: »

If the TV, which doesn't receive the type of signal emitted by the broadcaster of the country, is in the basement, unconnected to the main apartment, does it need a license?

Not that I'm going to pay it, obviously, it's just a hypothetical-reality question.

Yes I think it still needs a licence. Why can't it receive the type of signal emitted by Orr Tee Eee? I'm sure it could be easily 'fixed' or connected to a device that would let it receive the signals.

Personally I think the laws are crazily far reaching. A broken TV still requires a licence because it could be fixed. Nonsense.

Mossy Monk · 13-10-2008 04:28PM

The television licence is not for watching RTÉ. It is for having any device that is capable of receiving a television signal.

machiavellianme · 13-10-2008 04:39PM

I bought a TV licence on Sept 30 but it runs out on Aug 31 next year. Do they not even last a full year?

pingpongz · 13-10-2008 04:43PM

Lol, you actually pay your tv licence?

oleras · 13-10-2008 05:50PM

machiavellianme wrote: »

I bought a TV licence on Sept 30 but it runs out on Aug 31 next year. Do they not even last a full year?

Did the previous licence expire on Aug 31 2008 ? If so, that should answer your question.

TV License

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