Wednesday 19 September 2018

UK TV licencing - useful information

The UK has a TV Licensing Authority, which collects money for the BBC. 

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/ 

'TV Licensing' is a trade mark of the BBC and is used under licence by a number of companies contracted by the BBC to administer the collection of the television licence fee and enforcement of the television licensing system - chiefly Capita Business Services Ltd. 

The BBC is a public authority in respect of its television licensing functions and retains overall responsibility for the TV License.

The UK Government web-pages on TV Licensing:

https://www.gov.uk/tv-licence

Do you need a TV License?

https://www.licenceplus.co.uk/tv_licensing

Wikipedia page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom

Here are some useful quotes:

• "Members of the public who do not require a television licence are under no obligation to inform TV Licensing of the fact." Shaun Woodward M.P. , Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, May 2006 https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2006-05-15c.69812.h

•  Lord Carder of Barnes (Cm 6474, March 2005) “The BBC has informed me that it does not have any legal right to demand that people without a television receiver contact them”.

• Department of Culture, Media and Sport report (First Report, HC 82 2004--005, 16 December 2004) states “ While payment of the licence fee by households which actually have a TV is a legal obligation, we remind the BBC that the finances it receives from the licence are a privilege. The Corporation should use a less menacing style of advertising campaign."

• "TV Licensing implied right of access is withdrawn" This is far from straightforward, with many differing opinions and interpretations. See:
http://www.bbctvlicence.com/Withholding%20implied%20right%20of%20access.htm
http://info.fmotl.com/RemovalOfAccessRights.htm


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