Why needing a TV licence for your computer at work seems like a complete nonsense
2nd October, 2009 by Alick
Did you know that if you have a computer at work connected to the Internet then it’s possible that you might need a TV licence? This would even apply if you were using your laptop or mobile phone in the office and it was plugged into the mains, because once it is, then it’s no longer covered by your home licence. If however you don’t use your computer or phone to stream live TV then you are exempt, but how the TV licence bods determine whether you do or don’t, I don’t know.
This law just strikes me as a nonsense. As an employer, unless I find some way of restricting my staff from accessing live TV streams then it would seem clear that I’d need to buy one just in case one of my team decides one day to catch the latest on a breaking news story, rather than focussing on their miggly endeavours!
The thing is, it was never ‘our’ decision, as business owners, for broadcasters to start streaming TV content online. It’s inevitable that they would and I’m really glad that they do, but then to decide that this now means businesses need a TV licence too places just another unnecessary cost on firms.
On Radio 5live this morning they had some chap on from the licensing gestapo and he said the process for catching unlicensed businesses involves sending out letters, and then if these are ignored, visiting the premises with a view to proving that computers are being used for this. I really wonder how they’re going to get this proof. Unless they actually catch someone in the act of watching a live TV stream, I don’t think they can have any actual rights to start looking at the histories of browsers on machines, or to demand business owners demonstrate how they restrict this content from being viewed.
Of course, they make out they will catch you, and, of course, they don’t disclose how. But I don’t think there is a how which is definitive enough to stand up against all arguments, although by maintaining this stance proprietors and directors will of course just get the licence anyway. Which of course we all should, if its the law – and let’s be clear here, I’m not advocating we break it either. That doesn’t change the fact though that its a stupid law, and the confusion over it is just another reason why convergence of media makes it harder to keep the licence system running. TV licenses will go the same way as Radio ones… In general, if a law is easy to understand, then it’s a law that makes sense. Murder is against the law. Easy. When laws are shrouded in confusion, it generally a sign that it’s a lousy law, which has, at best, a tenuous reason for existence. In this instance, as an additional tax on businesses.
If a licence fee is justified for being able to watch broadcast TV on a PC, then maybe the TV Licence authority should ask to get a law passed which makes all broadcasters have to run a pre-roll message before any TV stream which states the need for a licence. Or even to check your right to watch that sort of content via some kind of database and a sniffer that determines location, hardware type and if its connected to the mains or not. The point being, somehow, on an open web, it needs to be made crystal clear to users when they are just about to break the law.
Of course this won’t happen, but until then, I don’t think any business need fear a visit – but if you do get a knock, pull your power lead out of your phones and laptops, use Safari with Private Browsing turned on to stream your content on all other PCs – and if they demand to look at your PC’s settings to see what you’ve been up to just refuse.
Based in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, contact miggle.co.uk for website development, content management and online media services in the UK and worldwide.
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Tags: BBC, Broadcast, TV, video content
October 12th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
TV licence for streaming tv on internet… O dear, how many more way will the men in suits think of taking money of us! There is no way business will pay for a tv license per computer even if they knew employees were watching streams, because they know they wont get caught. If you knew someone was coming to check your computers you would simply clear any history, not that they have the right to do so as you say. If this law is passed then I feel sorry for the people that will pay for it!
December 14th, 2009 at 10:38 am
This is a great article dealing with the stupidity of our legal system. What the fuck should you pay a licence for doing something that is technically feasible and FREE !? Maybe the people who pay would be scared of being caught, but let’s be honet, how can anyone know when you watch and prove it legally!? The answer is NO ONE, so ignore this nonsense that has been created in view to make money and without adding value to licensees.