By Andy McCue, 9 June 2006 15:35
NEWS
Businesses could face stiff penalties if they are caught allowing staff to watch World Cup matches broadcast over the internet at work without a TV licence.
The World Cup kicks off this week with the BBC showing all its games from Germany on TV as well as live on the internet - and desktop viewing is likely to prove popular with many office workers who would otherwise miss the afternoon games.
The TV Licensing authority said it will be targeting traditional licence fee dodgers who watch the matches on TV during the World Cup but warned that the law also covers online broadcasting.
That means businesses which provide TVs in the office for staff to watch matches and allow their workers to follow the goals at their desks through the Beeb's online broadcasts could face prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000 if they don't have a TV licence.
A TV Licensing spokeswoman told silicon.com: "Businesses still need a TV licence for watching matches on a PC. Whether you work in an office, a building site, a hotel or anywhere else, there's really no excuse for breaking the law."
Stephen Alambritis of the Federation of Small Businesses also urged companies to take note of the warning and check they are correctly licensed.
Only one TV licence is required to cover all the TV equipment a business uses on a single site. A regular household TV licence will also cover PC broadcasts at home.
Comments
There are 13 comments. Join the discussion
1. Warren Swaine
Has anyone challenged the assertions of TVL? It would appear actually reading the legislation rather than believing what we are being told that a pure internet feed not involving a tuner and received by a computer IS NOT covered by the regulations and therefore you do not need a TV licence to receive it.
Go on journalists, do your jobs properly. Challenge, don't regurgitate press releases!!!
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11. - (1) In Part 1 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1967, "television set" means any apparatus which (either alone or in association with other apparatus) is capable of receiving (whether by means of wireless telegraphy or otherwise) any television programme service but is not computer apparatus.
(2) In this regulation, "computer apparatus" means apparatus which -
(a) is designed or adapted to be used (either alone or in association with other apparatus) for storing or processing data, but not for doing so in connection with the reception by means of wireless telegraphy of television programme services; and
(b) is not offered for sale or letting as apparatus for use (either alone or in association with other apparatus) primarily for or in connection with the reception (whether by means of wireless telegraphy or otherwise) of such services;
2. Steve
I don't disagree with the Beebs sentiment apart from the old question of what exactly do you get for your license fee anyway?
I haven't watched anything on the beeb for years and anything I did like I own on DVD.
That aside, I am interested in why the law applies to web based streaming. Presumably any laws concerning TV licenses are so old that they pre-date modern internet technologies so I am curious as to how this applies.
Could it also be said that this all sounds like an idle threat given that detector vans don't generally pick up TFT monitors. I am obviously aware that things can be tracked through the internet but scale of the job is vast and corporates can have an internet connection on one site but used by many others, even in different parts of the world so how exactly do they plan to police this? Sounds like a bit of "oh dear we forgot they could do that..."
3. Richard
What about mobiles & laptops?
Do mobiles & laptops need TV licences?
Also, will a mobile or laptop need a extra TV licence for each location, whenever it's away from home not using just its internal battery and antenna? (eg. When using a mains or car adaptor?)
What about laptops using Wi-Fi eg. in coffee shops, trains & airport lounges?
It's time to scrap this silly unfair "Poll Tax" and the whole unnecessary TV tax collection industry.
The BBC should be supported from general taxation and be given clear responsibilities for true "public service" broadcasting.
The BBC's coverage of news & current affairs shows how little real independence it has of government policy.
4. Paul Wingfield
Warren is right!
Regardless of the challenge Warren has put towards the press, it is the BBC’s decision whether or not they broadcast over the internet as well as over their allocated “wireless” UHF bands and as such they should not be able to demand a licence fee for use of an otherwise free medium. Bear in mind that, like adult sites, they have the option to set up access controls that permit paying users only if they wish!
Re-transmission of BBC copywrite covered programmes by a third party is a separate issue and people doing so should be vulnerable to prosecution.
Just think of the fun all those students staying in halls of residence with lap tops can have, given their unfair licence position, once the independent TV companies realise the potential of this market over this medium.
5. anonymous
It isn't the BBC, it's the TV Licencing Authority.
Ignoring the debate about how the BBC is funded, read the article properly: it's the TV Licencing Authority that are making the fuss.
The TVLA are in general heavy-handed & thugish in the way they go about their business. When I responded to their demands for payment by pointing out that I don't have a TV in the property (or any form of computer based tuner) their reply basically translated as "Thanks for telling us you don't own a TV. We don't believe you. The detector team will call to your property to find your hidden TVs."
They write to me about once a month, persisting in this. Now I just ignore their letters.
6. anonymous
Concerning the legality of watching streamed feed of football matches... are the BBC going to send round the licence detector vans to all those who choose to watch their unlicensed reception outside the UK.
Or, alternatively, if the BBC *choose* to broadcast on an international medium, why should the national license payer subsidise this?
7. Dave
...and what about all those non-UK residents who could be watching on the internet. How does the Beeb propose to charge them?
8. Richard Pettigrew
It would seem that the asserts the TVL is definitely wrong!
The TVL does only cover use of equipment capable of receiving TV Tranmissions via the UHF band, regardless of wether it is a traditional TV, VCR, set-top-box or Personal Computer fitted with a TV Tuner card.
IPTV or streamed content via the internet can not be deemed as using Wireless Receiving Equipment under Wireless Telegraphy Act. Any assertion to the contrary is absurd and flawed.
Although, now that they may be aware of this oversight, they may make moves to amend the legislation accordingly, or simply turn-off the video stream, or protect it with DRM and Pay-per-view technology etc.
This MUST be challenged regardless of the outcome. We live in a democracy and that gives the suffrage the right to challenge the descision of the elected representatives who make and pass legislation on out behalf.
If we don't, we'll just be a nation of panzies how let their government get away with things like this.
And this includes bodies like the BBC.
Excercise your democratic rights or loose them.
9. Steve Johnson
doesn't this count as a portable device which is covered by your home licence?
10. galley slave#41
According to Brussels if what you download on your computer is uploaded for public use by any person or entity.
It is not covered or controlled by any licence.
THE IDEA IS THAT INTERNET IS FREE.
FREE from government control and /or interferance.
CHINA TAKE NOTE!
Anyway it is about time the BEEB came into the real world and became a S**T or BUST business and not freeriders.
11. Guy
Whilst I agree that they are wrong under the Act and cannot charge for streaming media,
With regard to subsidising people outside of the UK the video feeds on the BBC site are protected by a form of DRM in that they can only be viewed by certain ISP's users, ie only those from the UK, although even some of those don't work, such as the current Grid for Learning connection still used by some schools we are on as it is not registered with the BBC.
12. Colin Sharpe
Your anonymous corresponder from Ipswich doesn't seem very familiar with watching streamed video or listening to streamed radio from the BBC in places other than the UK.
I live in the USA, and am told by the BBC that many sporting events, like the World Cup and Formula 1 are only available within the UK.
I would happily buy a licence if that would permit me to watch BBC TV and listen to BBC radio in its entirity on my computer.
13. Emrys Jones
The European Court made its view clear some years ago that they disliked TV Licence fees but said they would accept them within country. They regarded them as historical and anachronistic, contrary to the spirit of European Law. That is why you do not need a TV licence to watch exclusively non-British Satellite channels. I have that confirmed in writing from The TV Licensing Authority.
It is very much open to question wether they would accept an extension of Licence obligations to include internet traffic. My bet is that they would not