I write with great respect and thanks for a terrific site. But the advice throughout this page, that merely possessing TV-capable+connected equipment without a licence is illegal, is simply wrong.
You DON'T need to ensure you put beyond use any TV signals. Just don't use them, even briefly or inadvertently.
You can NOT be sent to prison if you say you can't watch live television and you can. Because you are not required to say you can't, only that you don't and won't.
You DON'T need to remove TV signal cables from your home, or use exclusively computer screens. Just don't use them, even briefly or inadvertently. Might as well unplug them from your equipment, certainly (why not, they're unused now). But you don't need to rip them out of the walls.
Merely connecting a Freeview PVR/TV or a Skyreceiver with connection to a display screen does NOT alone mean you then need a licence (whether or not you switch it on). Freeview radio stations are still fine to listen to using your TV, for example.
In all cases, a licence is only required if you do, or intend to, watch or record live TV. If you never do or intend to watch or record live TV, than you don't need a licence - no matter what equipment or connections you possess. If you don't unplug stuff (cables or boxes or whatever), then you must make sure you don't accidentally watch live TV, e.g. by turning on the TV while it's tuned to a live channel instead of an non-live AV source such as a DVD player. (Quickly switching to a recorded source isn't good enough).
But you don't HAVE to unplug or remove anything.
Of course if you're faking the 'Cord Cutting' to dodge the Fee, then having everything still connected might look suspicious to a Licensing Inspector (should you invite one in to see). But that's a different issue. If you're genuine, and don't watch or record live TV, even briefly or inadvertently, then your conscience and the law are aligned, not matter what you don't uninstall.
"One simple question makes it easy to know if you need a TV Licence:
Am I watching or recording live TV on any device?
Live TV means any programme you watch or record at the same time as it's being shown on TV or an online TV service. An online TV service is a service that mainly aims to provide TV programmes over the internet, e.g. on a website or through an app or Smart TV.
If you only ever watch on demand programmes, you don't need a TV Licence. On demand includes catch-up TV, streaming or downloading programmes after they've been shown on live TV, or programmes available online before being shown on live TV."
"Part 4 of the Communications Act 2003 makes it an offence to install or use a television receiver TO WATCH OR RECORD ANY TELEVISION PROGRAMMES AS THEY'RE BEING SHOWN ON TELEVISION without a valid TV Licence. It also makes it an offence for anyone to have any television receiver in their possession or under their control who intends to install or use it in contravention of the main offence (above), or knows, or has reasonable grounds for believing, that another person intends to install or use a television receiver in contravention of the main offence."
It's ONLY what you do, or intend to do, which counts, not what equipment or connections you have.
Monday 15 February 2016 11:09AM
I write with great respect and thanks for a terrific site. But the advice throughout this page, that merely possessing TV-capable+connected equipment without a licence is illegal, is simply wrong.
You DON'T need to ensure you put beyond use any TV signals. Just don't use them, even briefly or inadvertently.
You can NOT be sent to prison if you say you can't watch live television and you can. Because you are not required to say you can't, only that you don't and won't.
You DON'T need to remove TV signal cables from your home, or use exclusively computer screens. Just don't use them, even briefly or inadvertently. Might as well unplug them from your equipment, certainly (why not, they're unused now). But you don't need to rip them out of the walls.
Merely connecting a Freeview PVR/TV or a Sky receiver with connection to a display screen does NOT alone mean you then need a licence (whether or not you switch it on). Freeview radio stations are still fine to listen to using your TV, for example.
In all cases, a licence is only required if you do, or intend to, watch or record live TV. If you never do or intend to watch or record live TV, than you don't need a licence - no matter what equipment or connections you possess. If you don't unplug stuff (cables or boxes or whatever), then you must make sure you don't accidentally watch live TV, e.g. by turning on the TV while it's tuned to a live channel instead of an non-live AV source such as a DVD player. (Quickly switching to a recorded source isn't good enough).
But you don't HAVE to unplug or remove anything.
Of course if you're faking the 'Cord Cutting' to dodge the Fee, then having everything still connected might look suspicious to a Licensing Inspector (should you invite one in to see). But that's a different issue. If you're genuine, and don't watch or record live TV, even briefly or inadvertently, then your conscience and the law are aligned, not matter what you don't uninstall.
From the official site:
Official TV Licensing website - Live TV and how you watch it
"One simple question makes it easy to know if you need a TV Licence:
Am I watching or recording live TV on any device?
Live TV means any programme you watch or record at the same time as it's being shown on TV or an online TV service. An online TV service is a service that mainly aims to provide TV programmes over the internet, e.g. on a website or through an app or Smart TV.
If you only ever watch on demand programmes, you don't need a TV Licence. On demand includes catch-up TV, streaming or downloading programmes after they've been shown on live TV, or programmes available online before being shown on live TV."
Or in more legal terms (with my capitals):
Official TV Licensing website - Legislation and policy
"Part 4 of the Communications Act 2003 makes it an offence to install or use a television receiver TO WATCH OR RECORD ANY TELEVISION PROGRAMMES AS THEY'RE BEING SHOWN ON TELEVISION without a valid TV Licence. It also makes it an offence for anyone to have any television receiver in their possession or under their control who intends to install or use it in contravention of the main offence (above), or knows, or has reasonable grounds for believing, that another person intends to install or use a television receiver in contravention of the main offence."
It's ONLY what you do, or intend to do, which counts, not what equipment or connections you have.