A LICENSE? to own one? this is amazing to me that you need a license to own a TV. It's not like a dog that if it gets loose they can fine you and return it to you. Do your TV's tend to go wandering on their own or what is the reason for a license? just money in the gov. pocket? How do they prove you do or don't have a TV? honesty system or through the cable company? just wondering if you care to share.
It's my undestanding that the license is not required to own a TV if you are going to use it to watch pre-recorded TV programs and movies, use it as part of a game system or a computer monitor. But if you want to watch any TV programs that are broadcast you must have a license to receive them. The fees pay for the BBC services...TV, radio and online services. There was an attempt to set up a similar system in the U.S. back in the 1950's or 60's but it did not go over at all.
Hi Carolyn, toni is correct about the use of the television,..but there is no getting away with the licence fee if you use the television even briefly,..as one would,..the post ofice have vans with signal detectors,..and that is mostly how they know you have a television,..if they find you have no record for a licence,..you get 7 days to get one or be fined,..the licence fee is 160 euro or $211+,..far above what i imagined,..i don't have to have a licence,..thats a long story .
So do you have to have a license for each TV or can you have multiple TV's on one license?.... (I am thinking I wouldn't NEED to spend any time watching the TV at all). Maybe I am just waaaay too frugal. I can't stand the thought of PAYING to SIT in my own house and spend and endless amount of time channel surfing (which is what I would be doing, never leaving it on one station for any amount of time...I must have ADHD) or focused watching, on any thing. Needless to say, my furniture will last a long time, since we never sit on it for any length of time. I'll have to throw it out just because I am soooo tired of the same pattern for how long we have had to look at it .
Its one licence for an indefinite number of sets in the house. It has its good uses,..Open University programmes for students ect,..and other educational courses,..and gardening,..now that i like,..in particular as its nearly all year round,..like the following, Video===Gardeners World This is one i follow.
I never knew you had to have a license for TV there. I refuse to pay for satellite or cable. We have an old-fashioned antenna and get plenty of stuff to watch. And I have to have my X-Factor and American Idol. And Antiques Roadshow and I try to watch the news at 10pm. Other than that... it's just something to have around in case I'm bored and stuck inside the house.
It sounds as if you must have better programming than what is available here. Those programs do sound more interesting than what is available here. A lot of what is on the tube here is trash. I can't get the video to start...I'll have to try it on a different computer later.
Hi Cheryl, there yo go,..its a lot of cash to fork out,..on the other hand water was free and still is but not for long,..water meters will be installed soon,..they have started the installation in some towns,..oh and there will be a charge for septic tanks soon,..well we had it good for years,lol. I never miss the Antiques Roadshow,..great discoveries to be seen and so interesting information. ==================================================== Hi Carolyn, here is another link to Gardeners World, Gardeners World they cover everything from flowers to Veg,..and shows,..very well explained How To Do's on everything.
Philip, many of the BBC programs are shown on our PBS station, Masterpiece Theater, Downton Abbey, a few years ago the entire Upstairs, Downstairs series ran several times. We get some of the old Britcoms...Keeping Up Appearances, Waiting for God, Coupling, Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister, in the past we have seen Good Neighbors (The Good Life), To The Manor Born, Benny Hill and of course Monty Phython's Flying Circus (our PBS station was the first in the U.S. to air in 1974) and lots of others. My favorite was Good Neighbors. They have aired the UK version of Antiques Roadshow but mostly they show the US version.
Hi Toni, gosh you get about every program showing on this side of the water,..in all the years i have communicated with people on your side of the pond nobody has ever informed me how much of our TV programs you get,..maybe i never asked the question,..though i do recall being told,..em no we don't get that,..when i would mention some programs,..of course we get nearly all your programs,..everything from "Cops" to CSI,..the soaps,..Presidential elections and the build up as well,..not to tease anyone but just last week i ate an "Idaho Spud",..handmade very thick bar with soft center and chocolate coated with coconut,..mmmmmmm very tasty, :-D . Now for the good news on the Television saga,..i turned on the set at lunch time for the news,..and SURPRISE,...no black and white in the middle of the picture and no rainbow circles around the edge??. Somebody up there must like me,..after three days of a bad picture,..and a tube blown to say the least,..i get a reprieve,..but for how long,..fingers crossed. ( photo / image / picture from Philip Nulty's Garden )
Most of the PBS stations across the U.S. do not air very many of the British TV programs, those are just a very few of the ones that do show on KERA. We have also seen some from Australia and Canada. They are not broadcast on regular networks...ABC, CBS, NBC, etc. though so you have to have a well rounded Public Broadcasting Station to see them. Idaho Spud....ummmm, those haven't even made it to Texas yet that I have ever seen I forgot to add that we have seen all the classic Dr. Who programs...my all time favorite being Tom Baker. They have been airing the newer ones but we really don't care for them very much.
