Best Get Your TV Licence Sorted

Sparks · 06-05-2009 2:28pm

merlie wrote: »

I really think that if they decide to introduce a license then I would prefer a broadband tax which would be billed along with your broadband fee. This I would much prefer.

On what grounds could they tax your broadband fee? They don't own the network it's provided over, they don't own the links out of the country, they don't have claim over the medium, and no national resources are being used (because of their choices in the Eircom IPO). So how can a tax be justified? "We want more money" isn't a valid justification!

vibe666 · 06-05-2009 2:35pm

Sleipnir wrote: »

But for people who already posess a T.V. license for their T.V., it won't mean more tax. Or will it....?

you only need one TV licence per household so it's not going to affect anyone who already has a TV and a licence, unless they put it up.

they're just increasing the tax base.

it's like them deciding that instead of just taxing beer, they'll tax beer wines and spirits because they can all get you drunk and you pay tax on owning it, not using it. if you buy a bottle of whiskey and leave it on a shelf for your whole life and never touch it you've still paid the tax on it.

I'd like to point out at this point that I don't work for teh taxman and have no vested interest in people paying more (or less) taxes of any kind.

actually, come to think of it, since i already have a TV (with a licence) it's not going to affect me at all. :cool:

godskitchen · 06-05-2009 2:39pm

I will do jail time before I pay for a service I will never use.

hightower1 · 06-05-2009 3:09pm

As i have said previously , the amount of devices that area able to display tv is far more vast than the government realise.

Another point being that what now for all companies that use a computer which is just about all of them.... all able to accept a tv stream and will now need a license lol!

The impracticality of this idea is hilarious, they have wandered from an Analogue age into the digital one with less than half a clue lol.
I cant remeber the last business I saw that didnt use a computer.

christophicus · 06-05-2009 3:22pm

Sparks wrote: »

You can't deny access to tv licence inspectors legally.

What ?? Even the gardai need a warrent with a legitamit concern to search your house don't they ? How can a TV licenece inspector fall outside of that law ?

jor el · 06-05-2009 3:30pm

Sparks wrote: »

You can't deny access to tv licence inspectors legally.

You can deny them access, but they'll just get a warrant, and come back with the Gardai. This is how it works for TV inspection.

As for getting details from ISPs, if a law is passed (if it hasn't already), then they'll be able to do it. I'd imagine this is all be included in the bill that is currently being passed.

Sparks · 06-05-2009 3:48pm

christophicus wrote: »

What ?? Even the gardai need a warrent with a legitamit concern to search your house don't they ? How can a TV licenece inspector fall outside of that law ?

There are several classes of people who can gain admittance to your house like that. Customs inspectors, Firearms Range inspectors, etc, etc.

Like I've said a hundred times before, the more you look at Irish law, the less you like what you see.

Boston · 06-05-2009 3:54pm

Sparks wrote: »

There are several classes of people who can gain admittance to your house like that. Customs inspectors, Firearms Range inspectors, etc, etc.

Like I've said a hundred times before, the more you look at Irish law, the less you like what you see.

Customs inspectors cannot enter you premises without your permission or a warrent. Firearm inspectors have right of access as per your license. Show the legislation whereby a TV inspector can enter your premises without a warrent.

06-05-2009 3:55pm

Do I now have to get a licence for this

And what about cars that have in dash TV's

steve 0 · 06-05-2009 3:57pm

Sparks wrote: »

Hell, you can't even watch all the RTE programmes on their site (even if the player works, which it doesn't for me), they don't have the rights to 'broadcast' them online. :mad:

Based on this and the reduced quality, if they are to introduce it, the charge should be lower than for a standard TV license to reflect the reduced service.

In the UK you need a license if

you watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV. It makes no difference what equipment you use - whether it’s a laptop, PC, mobile phone, digital box, DVD recorder or a TV set - you still need a licence.

You do not need a TV Licence to

view video clips on the internet, as long as what you are viewing is not being shown on TV at the same time as you are viewing it.
If you use a digital box with a hi-fi system, or another device that can only be used to produce sounds and can't display TV programmes, and you don't install or use any other TV receiving equipment, you don't need a TV Licence.

Cabaal · 06-05-2009 4:08pm

hellboy99 wrote: »

Do I now have to get a licence for this

And what about cars that have in dash TV's

Ah the good old Gamegear, I used to have one of those years back...never had the tuner though.

To answer your question, legally yes you'd have to have a license "if" the gamegear had a TV tuner or you had the tuner in your home (even if it wasn't inserted into the game gear)

Sparks · 06-05-2009 4:09pm

Boston wrote: »

Customs inspectors cannot enter you premises without your permission or a warrent.

I'm not so sure about that, I was under the impression that they have scary powers of search and seizure in Ireland.

Firearm inspectors have right of access as per your license.

Firearms inspectors don't exist. Firearms Range inspectors however, can enter wherever they want whenever they want if they suspect there's target shooting going on. See the last few paragraphs here. Note that there is no legal definition of 'target shooting' anywhere in Irish law btw.

Show the legislation whereby a TV inspector can enter your premises without a warrent.

I didn't say they didn't need a warrant - I said you couldn't deny them access (they're granted warrants almost by default by the DC and then they come back with a Garda in case you get stroppy).
Same goes for Comreg btw (anyone remember the pirate radio raids?).

hightower1 · 06-05-2009 4:10pm

hellboy99 wrote: »

Do I now have to get a licence for this

And what about cars that have in dash TV's

lol I am weak with laughter thats another excellent example ! Very good hellboy lol.

Garda checkpoints will be like mobile tax offices lol

Boston · 06-05-2009 4:19pm

Sparks wrote: »

I'm not so sure about that, I was under the impression that they have scary powers of search and seizure in Ireland.Firearms inspectors don't exist.

They do, but not in your home.

Sparks wrote: »

Firearms Range inspectors however, can enter wherever they want whenever they want if they suspect there's target shooting going on. See the last few paragraphs here. Note that there is no legal definition of 'target shooting' anywhere in Irish law btw.

If you hold a firearms license you are required to allow access to the area where there firearms are stored, regardless of warrent.

Sparks wrote: »

I didn't say they didn't need a warrant - I said you couldn't deny them access (they're granted warrants almost by default by the DC and then they come back with a Garda in case you get stroppy).
Same goes for Comreg btw (anyone remember the pirate radio raids?).

Thats completely different to what you implied. Of course you can't deny access to someone with a warrent. They need a Gardi with them to serve a warrent and no they don't get on by default since A) most people grant them permission to enter and

it cost prohibitive to get warrents for every inspection. As other posters have said, if you refuse entery, they fuk off and then come back with a warrent and a garda officer.

Sparks · 06-05-2009 4:39pm

Boston wrote: »

If you hold a firearms license you are required to allow access to the area where there firearms are stored, regardless of warrent.

Actually, I'm not.
But that's irrelevant because I'm talking about Firearms Range Inspectors here, who have power of search and entry into any place whatsoever (dwelling, office, car, plane, hovercraft, etc, etc, etc...) without a warrant or permission to inspect that place for evidence of target shooting if they suspect there is target shooting going on. Whether the owner of that place has a firearms certificate or not is irrelevant to the Inspector's power of search.

Of course you can't deny access to someone with a warrent.

Yes, but there's no stopping them getting the warrant either, which is what I was (clumsily, I'll admit) trying to say. They don't need the Gardai to get the warrant as the DC will issue a warrant to them directly, and "I want to check to see if he has a TV" is all the justification they require.

christophicus · 06-05-2009 5:41pm

Sparks wrote: »

Actually, I'm not.
But that's irrelevant because I'm talking about Firearms Range Inspectors here, who have power of search and entry into any place whatsoever (dwelling, office, car, plane, hovercraft, etc, etc, etc...) without a warrant or permission to inspect that place for evidence of target shooting if they suspect there is target shooting going on. Whether the owner of that place has a firearms certificate or not is irrelevant to the Inspector's power of search.Yes, but there's no stopping them getting the warrant either, which is what I was (clumsily, I'll admit) trying to say. They don't need the Gardai to get the warrant as the DC will issue a warrant to them directly, and "I want to check to see if he has a TV" is all the justification they require.

Ok, so they won't come to your house with a warrent initially ? Thats grand, so when they do come to your house you deny them access. You get all your stuff up in the attic/to a friends house then wait till they come back, let them in and they will see you have nothing. Then you're grand

:P .

Btw if its true that you only need one licence per household then the new legislation does not affect me anyway.

Boston · 06-05-2009 7:01pm

Sparks wrote: »

They don't need the Gardai to get the warrant

I didn't say they did. I said they need a Garda officer for when they wish to use the warrent. This is the way it works with CAD, and Customs and a whole host of others, I fail to see why a TV license inspector would have extra powers. So your position has changed from "you can't refuse entry to a TV inspector" to "you can't refuse entry to a TV inspector if they have a warrent". You might want to edit you original post to reflect that.

Sparks · 06-05-2009 7:12pm

Boston, my original post was

You can't deny access to tv licence inspectors legally.

Now that we've gone round and round to get back to the spot where we're both saying that same thing (albiet in more detail), can we move on?

To, for example, www.IrishInternetTax.com?

Calebmcd · 06-05-2009 7:13pm

Well i'm still not getting a licence!

I have a PS3 with a PC Monitor(Not a TV). No tv card either. And the PS3's browser is no good for watching tv.

I sold my TV so i didn't have to buy a TV Licence. (Left the licence i had at my old residence) RTE is the biggest load of rubbish, i dont want to be to hard on them though(my dad works for them, but thats radio not tv) I had Sky that was rubbish too.

Boston · 06-05-2009 7:32pm

Sparks wrote: »

Boston, my original post was Now that we've gone round and round to get back to the spot where we're both saying that same thing (albiet in more detail), can we move on?

You're original post is miss leading, if it wasn't so, you wouldn't have had so many people jump on it.

Capt'n Midnight · 06-05-2009 7:33pm

merlie wrote:

I prefer TV3 to RTE anyday and they are not in the licence fold but you dont hear them grumbling they just get on with it.

Yes they grumble about it

and Yes they are entitled to a slice of the pie, all they have to do is produce some public service broadcasts. RTE and TG4 do this both in house and contracted out.

Isaac702 · 06-05-2009 7:58pm

I do not have any experience in this area however I would like to bring up the actual definition of a “broadcasting service” from the Broadcasting Act 2008 which appears to nullify any complaints in this area. It is on page 12 of the document under the section on Preliminary and General matters.

The definition is as follows:

“broadcasting service” means a service which comprises a compilation of programme material of any description and which is transmitted, relayed or distributed by means of an electronic communications network, directly or indirectly for simultaneous or near simultaneous reception by the general public, whether that material is actually received or not, and where the programmes are provided in a pre-scheduled and linear order, but does not include:
(a) a service provided for viewing in a non-linear manner where each viewer chooses a programme from a cata- logue of programmes, or
(b) other audio and audiovisual services provided by way of the Internet;

As far as I can see this eliminates concerns on two fronts.
Firstly part (a) which excluded catalog based services which is exactly what RTE are doing with their online service.
But also part (b) which excludes the Internet as a method of distribution.

As I said though I have no experience in this area and so I could be reading the definition wrong. It would be nice to have this confirmed by someone who can actually clarify this. From what I can see however we are in the clear.

Belfast · 06-05-2009 9:30pm

http://www.itwire.com/content/view/24166/1090/
Australia introduces licences for internet users
by Sam Varghese
Wednesday, 01 April 2009
Internet users in Australia will have to take out licences from the next financial year else they will not be allowed to use the web, official sources told iTWire today.

The above was an april fool joke.

In the reaL world.

Looks like RTE are introducing licences for internet users.

I just got rid of my TV because I objected to the his salaries of the top staff and the poor quality programmes are are doing.

dxhound2005 · 06-05-2009 9:59pm

How many people here apart from Calebmcd have no television?

A TV licence covers any number of sets at an address and it will also cover any other device capable of receiving or displaying a picture if they are deemed to be subject to the licence. Whole lot of paranoid stuff going on here about TV Inspectors coming to look at your Ipod, Playstation etc.

Boston · 06-05-2009 10:04pm

dxhound2005 wrote: »

How many people here apart from Calebmcd have no television?

A TV licence covers any number of sets at an address and it will also cover any other device capable of receiving or displaying a picture if they are deemed to be subject to the licence. Whole lot of paranoid stuff going on here about TV Inspectors coming to look at your Ipod, Playstation etc.

Its money for nothing.

Belfast · 06-05-2009 10:49pm

dxhound2005 wrote: »

How many people here apart from Calebmcd have no television?

A TV licence covers any number of sets at an address and it will also cover any other device capable of receiving or displaying a picture if they are deemed to be subject to the licence. Whole lot of paranoid stuff going on here about TV Inspectors coming to look at your Ipod, Playstation etc.

I have No Television.

Sparks · 06-05-2009 11:19pm

Belfast wrote: »

I have No Television.

Ditto. Was offered one; refused. Whatever I watch comes from the 'net.

bk · 06-05-2009 11:29pm

Calebmcd wrote: »

I have a PS3 with a PC Monitor(Not a TV). No tv card either. And the PS3's browser is no good for watching tv.

Actually RTE Player works very well on the PS3 browser, as does youtube.

charybdis · 07-05-2009 4:58am

Wow. Slashdot.

BaconZombie · 07-05-2009 8:43am

Lets see if Boards.ie can hold up to be /.'ed

If this is picked up by Reddit and Digg I think the Server may blowup....

charybdis wrote: »

Wow. Slashdot.

Sparky · 07-05-2009 9:44am

Two words

fuck this!

Where does it end really?

jor el · 07-05-2009 10:56am

Sparky wrote: »

Where does it end really?

When every man, woman and child in the state is each paying a TV licence for every game console, mobile phone and TV in their possession.

OK, that's probably not true, but it's ridiculous to think that having a PS3, a monitor and broadband may mean you need a TV licence, even though you don't or won't use it for watching TV.

It's not even a licence, it's just another tax, which can currently be avoided by not having a TV, but now it will be more difficult to avoid, as you'll have to get rid of all computer equipment, and possibly mobile phones, too.

yawnstretch · 07-05-2009 11:02am

Can anyone say when this comes into effect?

I purposefully purchased a gaming monitor (no RF or scart) to play with my ps3 and xbox 360 and now it looks like I've wasted my money trying to avoid the tv licence.

I was all ready to show off my monitor to any inspector (actually received an inspector notice two days ago)

christophicus · 07-05-2009 11:31am

They give you a notice ? Just ship your stuff over to a friends house during the period that the inspector is set to come.

A_SN · 07-05-2009 11:53am

I wouldn't be opposed to this (no more than I'm opposed to the whole TV license concept) if at least we could get what we pay for. I want live streams to all the RTE channels, not just RTE News which is the same **** repeating every 10 minutes. So that we can at least get what we're supposed to get for what we pay for.

jor el wrote: »

You can deny them access, but they'll just get a warrant, and come back with the Gardai. This is how it works for TV inspection.

Gives you enough time to hide the TV in the attic ;-).

Calebmcd wrote: »

Well i'm still not getting a licence!

I have a PS3 with a PC Monitor(Not a TV). No tv card either. And the PS3's browser is no good for watching tv.

You can install Linux on your PS3 ;-).

dxhound2005 wrote: »

How many people here apart from Calebmcd have no television?

I don't either. No room for it.

By the way, at that point, why even bother checking people for a long list of devices that's even remotely capable of receiving TV, I mean if you make people pay for owning a TV enabled telephone they're gonna be pissed, so you might as well just make it another tax and don't bother inspecting?

Sponge Bob · 07-05-2009 11:53am

jor el wrote: »

When every man, woman and child in the state is each paying a TV licence for every game console, mobile phone and TV in their possession.

OK, that's probably not true, but it's ridiculous to think that having a PS3, a monitor and broadband may mean you need a TV licence, even though you don't or won't use it for watching TV.

It is a tax on every "Premises" as defined in section 140 and which premises is under your control and where a device is used and where that device is not Excluded by Minister Ryan by ministerial order .

If the iPhone becomes a Television because Minister Ryan did not exclude it then you only need a €170 licence for your home and a €170 licence for your car as they are 2 separate premises ...not forgetting a further licence for the Caravan / Holiday home .

Technically a Tourist with iPhone in pocket must also buy a Television Licence as they drive their caravan or camper van or car into the state . They also become liable as they sit into the hire car at Dublin Airport !

jor el · 07-05-2009 12:58pm

Sponge Bob wrote: »

IIf the iPhone becomes a Television because Minister Ryan did not exclude it then you only need a €170 licence for your home and a €170 licence for your car as they are 2 separate premises ...not forgetting a further licence for the Caravan / Holiday home .

Not to mention that you're employer will also need one if you bring it to work.

A_SN wrote:

By the way, at that point, why even bother checking people for a long list of devices that's even remotely capable of receiving TV, I mean if you make people pay for owning a TV enabled telephone they're gonna be pissed, so you might as well just make it another tax and don't bother inspecting?

As Sponge Bob mentioned earlier in the thread, this could lead to various companies becoming agents for licence inspection, not just an Post as is currently the case. Your broadband provider would therefore become an inspector, and look for you to pay the licence. Your mobile operator could do the same, and you'd also have An Post calling at the door looking for your licence.

This situation shouldn't happen, as the system should be set up to avoid such problems, but as Sponge Bob also said, look at how well eflow has worked (also remember e-voting, PPARS, PULSE). This state has a history of fu*king everything up, and this has the potential to be no different.

Sparks · 07-05-2009 1:00pm

Hmmm. Does this counteract it?

"broadcasting service" means a service which comprises a compilation f programme material of any description and which is transmitted, relayed or distributed by means of an electronic communications network, directly or indirectly for simultaneous or near-simultaneous reception by the general public, whether that material is actually received or not, and where the programmes are provided in a pre-scheduled and linear order, but does not include:
(a) a service provided for viewing in a non-linear manner where each viewer chooses a programme from a catalogue of programmes, or
(b) other audio and audiovisual services provided by way of the Internet;

Or am I mis-parsing that bit?

07-05-2009 1:16pm

I say ditch the tax completely let rte fund itself - tv3 do it

they are no good anyway:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obnGVSf6-gA

throw them to the wolves

nuttz · 07-05-2009 2:30pm

BOFH_139 wrote: »

Lets see if Boards.ie can hold up to be /.'ed

If this is picked up by Reddit and Digg I think the Server may blowup....

I was pleasantly surprised to see boards loading up alright

ceret · 07-05-2009 2:50pm

Cabaal wrote: »

However if you have Broadband and are running some variant of Linux or another OS that can't view the stream they will claim its still capable of receiving it you just got to undo the "modifications" by changing to another OS.

And what about a computer, eg an eeePC, that was bought with Linux installed. it's pretty much impossible to install MS Windows on one of them legally, since it doesn't have a CD drive. Does that count?

To think that changing the OS is just a minor modification similar to reinserting a circuit into the back of a TV is ridiculus.

Sponge Bob · 07-05-2009 2:51pm

Sparks wrote: »

Hmmm. Does this counteract it?

LOL

. That is the sneaky bit . The definition of Broadcast .

The RTE Player is not an Internet Service in that it is a Timeshift service derived from a programme that was Broadcast . That is the opinion the minister has.

It is RTE+1 and RTE+2 up to RTE+500 or so .

The Act could have been worded very simply as in .

'Content sent across the Internet is not deemed to be Broadcast within the meaning of this Act '

But No. They did not do that . How hard is it to exclude the Internet in a 200 page act ?

If RTE made Internet ONLY programs and showed them in the Player that exemption would apply . Same with eircom 'Broadcasting' its AGM by Internet for example but not over the air at any stage .

Here are the definitions you mean Sparks, I enclose another key one from the following page that you did not highlight .

“broadcast” means the transmission, relaying or distribution by electronic
communications network of communications, sounds, signs,
visual images or signals, intended for direct reception by the general
public whether such communications, sounds, signs, visual images or 5
signals are actually received or not;
“broadcaster” means a person who supplies a compilation of programme
material for the purpose of its being transmitted, relayed or
distributed as a broadcasting service (whether that person transmits,
relays or distributes that material as such a service or not); 10
“broadcasting code” means a code prepared under section 42;
“broadcasting contract” means a contract entered into under section
63, 64, 68 or 70;
“broadcasting contractor” means a person holding a broadcasting
contract; 15
“broadcasting rules” means rules prepared under section 43
“broadcasting service” means a service which comprises a compilation
of programme material of any description and which is transmitted,
relayed or distributed by means of an electronic communications
network, directly or indirectly for simultaneous or near- 20
simultaneous reception by the general public, whether that material
is actually received or not, and where the programmes are provided
in a pre-scheduled and linear order, but does not include:
(a) a service provided for viewing in a non-linear manner
where each viewer chooses a programme from a cata- 25
logue of programmes, or
(b) other audio and audiovisual services provided by way of
the Internet;

That is the bit you quoted from page 11 of the Act . Had you kept going to the VERY NEXT page you would have found this

“electronic communications network” means transmission systems
10 including, where applicable—
(a) switching equipment,
(b) routing equipment, or
(c) other resources,
which permit the conveyance of signals by wire, by radio, by optical
15 or by other electromagnetic means, and such conveyance includes
the use of—
(i) satellite networks,
(ii) electricity cable systems, to the extent that they are used
for the purposes of transmitting signals,
20 (iii) fixed terrestrial networks (both circuit-switched and
packet-switched, including the Internet),
(iv) mobile terrestrial networks,
(v) networks used for either or both sound and television
broadcasting, and
25 (vi) cable television and internet protocol television networks,

Sponge Bob says WATCH THE COMMA here
irrespective of the type of information conveyed;

This lumps the Internet equally in with cable satellite and wireless broadcast ...and fibre.

Now go back to Section 140 in the first post , Eamon Ryans Television Set definition

“television set” means any electronic apparatus capable of receiving
and exhibiting television broadcasting services broadcast for general
reception (whether or not its use for that purpose is dependent on
the use of anything else in conjunction with it) and any software or
assembly comprising such apparatus and other apparatus;

The 'anything else in conjunction with it ' is the RTE Server that Serves RTE Player content :cool:

Sparks · 07-05-2009 2:56pm

SB, I wasn't taking a swipe, it's just that that question came up in comments on the slashdot article and on my blog post about this. I'm still waiting for a reply from the Minister for my own email as well, btw, so thanks for posting his earlier opinion!

07-05-2009 2:56pm

doesnt anyone agree that we should ditch the license altogether? It seems silly that we debate these definitions instead of debating funding the "rte lifestyle" and the allegation George Lee made!

Capt'n Midnight · 07-05-2009 3:14pm

christophicus wrote: »

They give you a notice ? Just ship your stuff over to a friends house during the period that the inspector is set to come.

I've heard of one inspector getting the run around while the other people in the house moved the TV thorough sliding doors between him seeing the rooms

Belfast · 07-05-2009 3:15pm

iPlayer Doesn't Require A TV Licence... Yet

« Previous | Main | Next »
iPlayer Doesn't Require A TV Licence... Yet

Post categories: iplayer, licencefee

Ashley Highfield | 15:20 UK time, Wednesday, 9 January 2008

A question I often get asked is whether you need a TV licence to watch BBC programmes over the internet.

At the moment, the legal position is that you don't need a licence to watch TV purely on-demand, but you do if you are watching TV live (through any receiving device in the home).
more detail in the link below
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2008/01/iplayer_does_not_require_a_tv_1.html

The British seem to be taking a different approach.
Legal issues

When a TV licence is required on TV licences

According to Act of Parliament, a TV licence must be obtained for any device that is "installed or used"[28] for "receiving a television programme at the same time (or virtually the same time) as it is received by members of the public"[29].

According to TV Licensing, "You need a TV Licence to use any television receiving equipment such as a TV set, digital box, DVD or video recorder, PC, laptop or mobile phone to watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV"[30].

Specific exclusions not requiring a TV licence are:

* digital box used with a hi-fi system or another device that can only be used to produce sounds[30]
* television set installed and used solely for some purpose other than watching or recording television programmes (e.g. closed-circuit TV monitor, DVD or video player or games console)[31][32]
* If you are only watching on-demand services, after programmes have already been broadcast, you will not need a TV licence[33]. (This includes the BBC iPlayer service [34].)

The BBC have stated that a licence is not needed simply because a television receiver is owned[35].
more detail in the link below
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom

Sponge Bob · 07-05-2009 3:19pm

We are looking at a government that is desperately trying to widen its tax take Blindjustice.

I explained on page one of this thread that there are now 1.43 million licences issued for at least 1.73m households and businesses nationally which is quite a considerable shortfall . The Census tells us that over 90% of households have a TV .

The definition of "premises" also brings private cars into the net . I would think that this Act can realistically expand the number of 'licenceable' 'premises' to 2m quite easily as well as expand the number of collection agents who can hound you for that money .

Politically this means that Ryan can spin freezing the headline licence fee as a great success .

Typical of Ryan to dress his abject failure up as a glorious success may I add but at least a bicycle is not a premises I suppose

Belfast · 07-05-2009 3:21pm

Deleted User wrote: »

doesnt anyone agree that we should ditch the license altogether? It seems silly that we debate these definitions instead of debating funding the "rte lifestyle" and the allegation George Lee made!

I do.

Time to end the RTE Tax.

Perhaps it time to copy the example of the protests in the 1960s and publicly burn our TV Licences.
0212.1947_Draft-card-burnin.jpg

jor el · 07-05-2009 3:34pm

Sponge Bob wrote: »

“television set” means any electronic apparatus capable of receiving
and exhibiting television broadcasting services broadcast for general
reception (whether or not its use for that purpose is dependent on
the use of anything else in conjunction with it) and any software or
assembly comprising such apparatus and other apparatus;

The 'anything else in conjunction with it ' is the RTE Server that Serves RTE Player content :cool:

Stall the bleedin' ball there for just a minute, I have an even worse interpretation of that. If you have a computer, but no Internet access, then you would think you don't need a licence. However, "whether or not its use for that purpose is dependent on the use of anything else in conjunction with it", that word dependent is very sneaky. Your computer is dependent on an Internet connection to display a television broadcast like RTE Player, but this may not exclude you needing a licence, as having the computer equipment alone would seem to be enough. The same could be applied if you have just a PS3, or Xbox360, and no TV or Internet access.

Am I being overly cynical here?

dubhthach · 07-05-2009 3:44pm

Time to install NetBSD on the home PC's given that there's no native port of Flash to it

I'm curious how this will affect Businesses. After all every business that has an internet connection will now have to Purchase a TV license even those who don't at the moment have a physical TV set. I wonder if blocking all traffic to RTE's IP block on the auld Cisco ASA would work with a TV inspector

Best Get Your TV Licence Sorted

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