Be prepared to pay a UK TV Licence Fee for BBC iPlayer etc.

[SatelliteCyprus]

At the moment, a UK TV Licence is required to watch Live UK TV on the internet, whereas online 'catchup' TV does not.

It is being reported on the BBC News, that a new law may be introduced to make a TV Licence necessary to use BBC iPlayer, ITV Player and other similar catchup TV services.

If this is true, this move is going to force changes in the way that 'online' TV companies supply services which will probably make it more difficult for people to access these services (especially non-UK residents)

To speculate, there may even be charges introduced (on top of the UK TV Licence fee) to be able to access and use these services.

[jacob]

If this happens, it will not be introduced before 2018 and it will over a 5 year period, no need to start worrying yet.

[jacob]

It could be long term good news for those who are hoping for the return of Sky.

[Keithcaley]

Hi jacob,

None of this will necessarily negate the requirement for viewers of this programme material to be located within the UK because of geographical licencing constraints.

I don't believe that it implies any sort of relaxation in the licencing, but rather, a desire to extract as much cash as possible from each of the programme distribution streams...

Sorry about that!

You can always keep hoping, of course

Regards,

Keith.

[jacob]

Keith, are you trying to pee on my chips the BBC aka the Biased Broadcasting Company will, imho, lose the right to burden the UK licence payer with this stealth tax and non payment will de-criminalised. They will be forced to fund themselves via pay per view, they will then need Sky to collect their fees for them, the satelite beam will be extended again.

[jacob]

Oh and if you argue with me, I will put you across my knee

[jofra]

According to a website that specialises in information relating to satellite TV for caravanners (and also expats) in Europe, Sky satellites -as they are replaced/updated - are transmitting ever-more tightly focussed signals, to ensure the reception area is reduced to the UK only - and this is due solely to copyright issues and legislation. I would guess that some of these copyright issues are the BBC's - and ITV's - choice for content of their own creation, but it may also be due to the makers (USA, etc?) of other content that BBC/ITV have bought....?
I think the introduction of charges for IPlayer and the like are merely(!) a way to claw back the money that internet-savvy people are saving - for once(!), I think SKY are relatively innocent.....

[erol]

The EU would like all EU based internet TV services to be equally available across the whole EU. If this happens it should make accessing such services easier for anyone with an EU (RoC) IP address. So yes BBC iPlayer may become a paid for service (2018 onwards) but it also may well become legitimately available as well to those outside the UK but in the EU.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-32607246

[woodspeckie]

The BBC services will be paid for to fund the cost of the BBC taking over the TV licence cost of free licences for the over 75's an agreement has been made between the Government and the BBC that the BBC will fund the cost.

[terry2366]

So it will mean we all need VPN,s then as now.

[jacob]

Not if you have a Sky box and you pay your subs in UK, oh and of course have suitable dish. You will need VPN if you don't.

[Lottidotti]

Out of interest,How would anybody know if/when Sky TV returned.All the sky boxes have not been getting a signal for sometime now.My understanding is that SKY send signals to a Sky box very regularly and if the signal is not received Sky will switch off the signal to that particular box.I only know this because if I go on holiday and unplug box,when I return I have to contact Sky for them to resend a signal to make it work again.I was told I should leave the box in standby all the time,which I refuse to do in case of electrical storms.

[jacob]

When in UK I never turn my box off as I am always recording programmes. I cannot speak for boxes over in TRNC as I don't bring mine over any more.

[Lottidotti]

BBC to implement charging for catchup content on I player from next year.The government has agreed to bring forward legislation for this to happen.