TV Licensing has just launched a new campaign aimed at members of the armed forces.
The "Know The Drill" campaign reminds our brave service personnel of the circumstances in which a TV licence is needed. If this was any kind of a country at all, they would be exempt from the TV licence entirely.
Alas, in the twenty first century UK, a TV licence is still required for any service accommodation where equipment is being use to:
- watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, or live on an online TV service (such as All4, Sky Go and YouTube), or
- download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer - live, catch-up or on demand.
A TV Licensing spokesperson said: "The Ministry of Defence fully supports us in applying the law regarding TV Licensing. It’s your responsibility to check if you need a TV Licence and to buy one if you do.
"You could be prosecuted if we find that you have been watching or recording live TV programmes on any channel or device, or downloading or watching BBC programmes on iPlayer, without being covered by a licence.
"The maximum penalty is a £1,000 fine plus any legal costs and/or compensation you may be ordered to pay."
TV Licensing reminds that those in shared accommodation, like a barrack room, should also be covered by a valid TV licence if they intend to receive TV programmes or watch or download on-demand programmes via the BBC iPlayer. A single TV licence will cover everyone sharing a room.
The reception of TV programmes using equipment in service messes, guardrooms, classrooms and communal areas is usually covered by the establishment's own TV licence.
Service personnel living aboard one of Her Majesty's Ships are covered by the TV licence of the ship and do not need an additional TV licence to cover their room.
Of course this is all hypothetical. As every member of the armed forces will already realise, the chances of TV Licensing turning up to a service establishment and expecting to conduct spot checks is virtually nil.
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4 comments:
Readers of this blog might also like to look at the interesting net forum ARRSE (a strictly unofficial British Army blog). The bloggers in uniform have some very interesting views on the BBC and its licence.
Try:
https://www.arrse.co.uk/community/threads/bbc-sink-to-new-low.291794/
When I was in the Army TV Licensing tried it on with us. However, the Commanding Officer refused them access to the barracks, as is his right. In effect and occupiers of service accommodate have the same right as the occupier of domestic property and those right start at the Guard Room enforced by the authority of the Commanding Officer. So yes, the chances of a goon knocking on your door is virtually nil.
This particular commanding Officer also once refused access to the Military Police. No doubt he saw the Military Police and TV Licensing goons as coming out of the same mould, a complete waste of space,
When I was living in single accommodation in the RAF, we were told to have a TV licence taped to our TV's at all times in case an inspection was carried out. Any airman not showing a licence would be charged for the offense.
Most of us had 14" TV's in those days so we'd just lock them away if we were likely to be inspected. Never had an inspection without being notified first either! I finally succumbed and got one when I upgraded to a 21" TV, was far too much effort hiding it all the time!
I don't recall anyone ever actually getting done for not having a license in the 10 years I was in.
I cant see that being used now as TV Licences are all digital. Which means the only record of anyone having a TV Licence is on a computer, no paper licence is issued, so nothing to pin on the side of the TV.
I cant really see the Commanding Officer getting a list of airmen in his unit that have TV licence from TV Licensing. No least of all as it will likely be out of date in six months as personnel get posted and new people come in.
Another example of the Government and TV Licensing thinking up a brilliant scheme to raise money with little thought as to how they are actually going to implement it.
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