TV licence and analogue signal

lounakin · 07-12-2012 10:31PM #1

I am one of those people who don't watch tv, I do it all on my computer but I still like to watch DVDs and play Wii on a big screen. It's totally unfair that I should pay for a tv licence when I'm not watching tv. Up until recently any TV was capable of receiving, which was the whole point of the license. But now that they have switched off the analogue signal, couldn't you argue that the tv you are solely using for games and DVDs is NOT capable of receiving programs and you shouldn't have to pay for a license?

Fr_Dougal · 07-12-2012 10:34PM

As long as you don't have a saorview, UPC, Sky box etc. I would think you could argue that case quite easily.

girl in the striped socks · 07-12-2012 10:35PM

Let us know what the judge says when you end up in court.
I understand what you are saying & it makes sense.
Unfortunately the words sense, justice, court & judge rarely appear in the same sentence.

lounakin · 07-12-2012 10:43PM

We just read the statutes and it seems to say that if you have a TV, even if you need another device to receive it then you need a licence but it doesn't specifically say what would happen should you have the TV set and no device to receive broadcast...

The two exceptions are if you have a 'portable tv-set' or if you have a 'non-portable tv set capable of exhibiting television broadcasting services distributed by means of the publicly available internet'
Does someone understand how that last definition differs from the usual tv set that you have to pay a license for?

gurramok · 07-12-2012 11:59PM

Just don't answer the door to the TV licence inspector, you'll be fine. Oh, don't get registered post to your address, An Post do the collecting of the TV licence fee.

jimmycrackcorm · 08-12-2012 12:01AM

Buy a large screen monitor instead of a tv - no receiver = no license to pay.

rogieop · 08-12-2012 12:03AM

if you are not using saorview then they will have no way to know if you have a tv in your house or not.

They can only tell by checking if you are receiving a signal, the only other way they could know is if you let them through your door,

however, once they start introducing a "license" to watch tv online you're going to be screwed anyway.

areyawell · 08-12-2012 12:05AM

From Citizens Information:

With the analogue television service switched off, your analogue television set needs a set-top box to receive digital television. Your analogue television set, with or without a set-top box, still requires a television licence.

Fr_Dougal · 08-12-2012 12:14AM

areyawell wrote: »

From Citizens Information:

With the analogue television service switched off, your analogue television set needs a set-top box to receive digital television. Your analogue television set, with or without a set-top box, still requires a television licence.

I don't think that would stand up if challenged in court.

tuxy · 08-12-2012 12:18AM

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

Buy a large screen monitor instead of a tv - no receiver = no license to pay.

What's the difference between a TV with no digital decoder and a pc monitor?

kneemos · 08-12-2012 12:20AM

You are watching tv on your computer so why can't you pay for it,do you expect everyone else to pay for your convenience?

areyawell · 08-12-2012 12:23AM

kneemos wrote: »

You are watching tv on your computer so why can't you pay for it,do you expect everyone else to pay for your convenience?

Not required for a PC or phone, Only devices that can receive an analogue or digital signal and if the analogue or digital decoder is broken or not working it is capable of been fixed so you still need a tv license

goose2005 · 08-12-2012 12:25AM

areyawell wrote: »

From Citizens Information:

With the analogue television service switched off, your analogue television set needs a set-top box to receive digital television. Your analogue television set, with or without a set-top box, still requires a television licence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c3bhh8fqYs

B.A._Baracus · 08-12-2012 12:25AM

lounakin wrote: »

I am one of those people who don't watch tv, I do it all on my computer but I still like to watch DVDs and play Wii on a big screen. It's totally unfair that I should pay for a tv licence when I'm not watching tv. Up until recently any TV was capable of receiving, which was the whole point of the license. But now that they have switched off the analogue signal, couldn't you argue that the tv you are solely using for games and DVDs is NOT capable of receiving programs and you shouldn't have to pay for a license?

The sad truth is the government do not care what you do with your tv. Its as long as you got one, you gotta pay the tax license :rolleyes:

Its gotten so bad that if you moved in to a place and you arent currently paying the license. You will be red flagged and recieve a check from them. Totally illregardless of weather you have a tv or not. Your place is on record and you will be checked upon.

tuxy · 08-12-2012 12:26AM

Put pc monitors will work with the same set top box as a regualr tv uses.

kneemos · 08-12-2012 12:29AM

areyawell wrote: »

Not required for a PC or phone, Only devices that can receive an analogue or digital signal and if the analogue or digital decoder is broken or not working it is capable of been fixed so you still need a tv license

I know he doesn't need a licence for the pc but he's still using the service so why is he complaining about having to pay for it.

tuxy · 08-12-2012 12:31AM

PC monitor are really just a display with a hdmi input these days, the same as a TV.

Where in law are the two differentiated?
Does anyone know?

areyawell · 08-12-2012 12:32AM

kneemos wrote: »

I know he doesn't need a licence for the pc but he's still using the service so why is he complaining about having to pay for it.

Because the government are so stupid they don't realise you can watch tv via aertv.ie or getting a digital tuner card for the pc

B.A._Baracus · 08-12-2012 12:34AM

tuxy wrote: »

PC monitor are really just a display with a hdmi input these days, the same as a TV.

Where in law are the two differentiated?
Does anyone know?

I am not 100% clear if this is currently in or not. But the government was trying to include pc monitors apart of the tv license. Created a lot of angry replies on boards a few months ago.

tuxy · 08-12-2012 12:36AM

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

I am not 100% clear if this is currently in or not. But the government was trying to include pc monitors apart of the tv license. Created a lot of angry replies on boards a few months ago.

I'm not sure if they would have to change anything to include them, they both receive the same type of signal.

B.A._Baracus · 08-12-2012 12:42AM

tuxy wrote: »

I'm not sure if they would have to change anything to include them, they both receive the same type of signal.

True. As they are both capable of recieving the same thing. All I know is that its a load of bollix.

Think about it we have to pay a license for buying an electrical item. The biggest kicker is that Irish tv is "free" - or should I say "free to recieve, not free to watch" - its a joke.

I am honestly suprised there isn't an internet tax.

tuxy · 08-12-2012 12:51AM

I agree totally.
It's just some people are saying there is a difference between a TV and a PC monitor and I don't see the difference.

Fr_Dougal · 08-12-2012 12:56AM

areyawell wrote: »

Not required for a PC or phone, Only devices that can receive an analogue or digital signal and if the analogue or digital decoder is broken or not working it is capable of been fixed so you still need a tv license

What's to stop you saying that your TV cannot receive an analogue signal? They have no way of checking as no TV stations are now broadcast in analogue.

cookie75 · 08-12-2012 01:02AM

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

I am honestly suprised there isn't an internet tax.

SHUSH !!! Jesus man dont be giving them ideas :eek:

lounakin · 08-12-2012 01:17AM

kneemos wrote: »

I know he doesn't need a licence for the pc but he's still using the service so why is he complaining about having to pay for it.

He (me? Then it's she

) is using the service: nope i'm not. Don't watch tv on my computer either. I have netflix and watch youtube, i pay for an internet connection. I don't see why they can't find a way to tax people only when they watch tv instead of taxing everyone regardless of what they do. I would gladly pay a tax on what i use, not what I don't use.
That exception on the statue does mean pc and other monitors/computers, you wouldn't have to pay a license but you can't play the wii on them either

tuxy · 08-12-2012 01:22AM

lounakin wrote: »

That exception on the statue does mean pc and other monitors/computers, you wouldn't have to pay a license but you can't play the wii on them either

You definitely can play the wii on a PC monitor, I used to before I sold my wii.
As I keep saying a TV and PC monitor is practically the same thing.

shruikan2553 · 08-12-2012 01:34AM

If you own a device that can pick up a TV signal being TV or a TV tuner card in your PC you are meant to own a license. PC monitors on their own do not require one and many have HDMI ports for consoles, DVD players etc.

After my last experience with them I have learnt to be as unhelpful as possible with them. My girlfriend has been told they will be applying for a summons but after emailing them we dont know if they have held it back while we sort it out. Anyone have any idea how long it will take? Or if we can just say she has moved out seeing as there are 5 other people renting rooms in the house.

I have heard they want to make it a broadcasting license and cover internet and radios but not sure if that is true. They probably spend as much money trying to get people to pay than how much they get from them.

tuxy · 08-12-2012 01:38AM

shruikan2553 wrote: »

If you own a device that can pick up a TV signal being TV or a TV tuner card in your PC you are meant to own a license. PC monitors on their own do not require one and many have HDMI ports for consoles, DVD players etc.

But the point is that TVs with an analogue recieve can no longer recieve a singal. They must plug a saorview box into the scart or hdmi port. You can plug this same box into the hdmi port on any PC monitor bought in the last few years.

syklops · 08-12-2012 01:38AM

ITs amazing the number of urban legends, half trues, and just plan lies that exist regarding the TV license.

The latest changes to the statute do cloud the issue a bit, but still it still is pretty much black and white, unlike the TV signal which is color.

There was a big boards myth going on for a while that any device that could access the RTE player needed a TV license. This is false.

If you have a TV, even if you live in a house made of lead, submerged 300 metres beneath the earths service(and therefore can not recieve a television signal), you need a license.

If you have a large screen monitor, hooked up to a PC and a Wii and a PS3 in your drive way, you do not need a license.

PC monitor are really just a display with a hdmi input these days, the same as a TV.

Where in law are the two differentiated?

A TV on its own has the ability to receive a television signal, a computer monitor can not. That is whats stated in the statute.

tuxy · 08-12-2012 01:40AM

syklops wrote: »

A TV on its own has the ability to receive a television signal, a computer monitor can not. That is whats stated in the statute.

If this is correct that makes it very clear, you no longer have to pay a tv licence if you have a TV with no digital receiver.

lounakin · 08-12-2012 01:41AM

tuxy wrote: »

You definitely can play the wii on a PC monitor, I used to before I sold my wii.
As I keep saying a TV and PC monitor is practically the same thing.

I heard you need a special cable, that it doesn't always work and that the quality of the image suffers. This is why I never got a monitor to play the wii.
How did you manage it?

TV licence and analogue signal

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