bbc iplayer'loophole' to be closed

[unclebulgaria67]

I think it will be scrapped in 10 years time, by whichever government is in power.

I think BBC will receive a taxpayers subsidy for public sector broadcasting output, which will be topped up by advertising and some channels moving to subscription only.

Public sector broadcasting output, might include educational type programmes, BBC World Service radio. But the taxpayers subsidy would not include support for Eastenders or other drama output.

Other countries have scrapped TV licences already or now charge them in other ways. Check the Wiki pages on TV licencing around the world for details.

[Consumer dude]

I was thinking about buying a tv but to be honest, its more trouble then its worth, I seriously get confused with all the terminology, smart tv, digital stuff and all that. Think I stick to me radio. It may be sad but I'm happier that way..

[vengeancedemon]

It states that you need a licence to watch Live broadcast, now assuming not using slightly behind watching of live programmes, how is it l enforceable or indeed legal to claim that "Catch up" ie I Player is "live TV? for example watching a programme 3 or 4 days after transmission?

[Consumer dude]

I've no idea, I've decided I'm better off without the stupid thing and I'm better off creating my own entertainment..

[Guest]

similar to live net streams of footy games, which are streamed a minute or so after, so are not technically 'live'.

but, i assume the beeb will get the legislation changed to include its iplayer. which doesnt make sense since the 'public' remitted 4oD isnt applicable, as in that link posted.

it seems, as said, that the only way forward is something similar to ch4, which is 'public' under a statutory remit, but with no 'fee' and available for advertising.

[merlin100]

Even though I've got a TV licence, I hardly ever watch the BBC. It's the biggest pile of leftie garbage that I gave up on years ago. I don't care what rubbish the others churn out, like Emmerdale and Coronation Street because I'm not paying for it. But I certainly get annoyed when the other half has Eastenders on - I've paid for that crap!

And as for so-called politically correct presenters like the dreadful Graham Norton and the cringing Johnathon Woss - don't even get me started!

On the plus side, Radio 2 isn't at all bad once we've got past that early morning over-reactive, high-pitched Ginger One!

[Stigman]

better off creating my own entertainment

 

Mrs Stig and I did that, now we have two children so we should have just paid the TV Licence, would have been better off financially and less grief

[pmailkeey]

My laptop's not a TV or radio.

Phew !

The battery in my telly's gone. Turn it off at the mains and it's suddenly not tuned to receive signals.

Actually hold that thought - telly's still analogue and I've no digital receiver ))))))

It's illogical to insure harmless cars - it's the drivers that need insurance.

Logic and GB aren't always together.

IP no good, would have to be registered MAC addresses.

My suggestion would be abolishment of licence fee.

Instead, sell 'in-programme' advertising - such like Blue Peter actually mentioning Fairy Liquid bottles and a new Asda opening in Albert Square instead of 'cost mart'.

[Pader]

Using a MAC address would create far more problems. It would restrict usage to a single machine or modem connected to the internet. There would be a necessity to register all of the devices such as Sky boxes or other satellite receivers. The licence covers any receiver in a household, not just one receiver that is registered. An encryption device, whilst not infallible, would be the best alternative if rented for each receiver at much less than the licence fee for each one, then the consumer would only be paying for actual usage.

[pmailkeey]

Your suggestion is quite different. It's a move toward commercial operations. While I like the method of only paying for what you watch, would it deter people from watching ? Maybe not as possibly the cost would be a fraction of the electricity consumption. Certainly the idea of broadcasters knowing precisely who is watching what ought to improve programme selection.

[Mr.P]

Spoofing a MAC address on most computers is a relatively trivial process so is about as reliable as an IP address to identify a user.

[pmailkeey]

I'd suggest using the MAC address of the modem. It is fixed. IP addresses aren't necessarily.

[Guest]

The router MAC? what if in a cafe etc using its wifi router, and want to access iplayer. i guess the cafe wld have to have its router mac registered, similar to for eg watching the footy in the pub, the pub being the subscriber for public viewing.

otherwise, the lan mac i guess, similar to sky. which allows a couple of devices to be added/removed. then wld need the subscription user/password.

[physicsgraduate]

So I can still watch ITV Player and 4OD now. No great loss.

 

They've been chasing me for years. I just ignore all their threatening letters and close the door in their faces.

Edited September 4, 2016 by Conniff
Off topic remarks removed.

[baz28]

From savethestudent.org.. A loopholefor students etc, which is even featured in the official press release on the TV Licensing website, states that: In limited circumstances, students can be covered by the licence at their parents’ address. The device must be powered by its own internal batteries – e.g. a tablet or mobile phone – and must not be plugged it into the mains when receiving television. This use is enabled by the Regulations governing TV Licensing. So essentially, as long as you only watch iPlayer on a mobile device that can function without being plugged into power mains and that you avoid charging while you watch on demand shows, you’re exempt from paying (as long as your parents have a TV Licence, of course, and that their home is registered as your primary address – so your home when you’re not at your temporary accommodation during uni). Also on the TV Licensing website it says... The licence fee is not a payment for BBC services (or any other television service), although licence fee revenue is used to fund the BBC. Yet only specific related services are included (at the moment)

[woad]

MAC addresses do not cross switches, let alone routers, so would be impossible unless BBC engineer a new traffic class to carry iPlayer data, as a two-way protocol which returns the MAC address. Reinvents the wheel for streaming video, increases bandwidth usage, runs the risk of resetting transmission streams if packets arrive out of sequence, and not needed as ACK packets are sent anyway.

[Conniff]

Completely off-topic posts removed. 9/11 has nothing to do with TV Licensing.

You can bring this subject up in the Bear Garden if you want.

[Guest]

re a recent survey

 

'..Opinion was divided over closing the iPlayer loophole, whereby consumers using the BBC iPlayer streaming service have not had to have a TV licence. Strategy Analytics found that 40% agree with the loophole being closed but 47% disagree...'

http://tbivision.com/news/2016/12/uk-public-backs-bbc-licence-fee/692831/

 

seeing that it seems that atm all someone has to do is click on 'yes, i have a licence'....!

[honeybee13]

re a recent survey

 

'..Opinion was divided over closing the iPlayer loophole, whereby consumers using the BBC iPlayer streaming service have not had to have a TV licence. Strategy Analytics found that 40% agree with the loophole being closed but 47% disagree...'

http://tbivision.com/news/2016/12/uk-public-backs-bbc-licence-fee/692831/

 

seeing that it seems that atm all someone has to do is click on 'yes, i have a licence'....!

 

That's interesting, isn't it, Ford? So the don't seem to ask for a licence number or anything?

 

HB