In article , "Al Reynolds" ajr-
says...

"Grunff" wrote in message
...
Harvey Van Sickle wrote:

Well, that's what it states on the back of the licence itself, in
writing:

You need a TV licence to install or use any equipment to
receive television programme services -- for example a
television set, video recorder, set-top box, PC with a
broadcast card or any other TV receiving equipment. So if it's an
illegal statement, they're doing it in writing -- which strikes me as
unlikely, as I'd have thought it would have been challenged in court by
now.


Now you made me go and look it up!

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/nw/index/your_world/communications/television_licences.htm#who

See the section entitled "You do not use your television set or video
recorder to watch or record authorised broadcast programmes".

Interesting.

"... the television set and/or video recorder must be incapable
of receiving all authorised broadcast programmes. This could
be done, for example, by making sure that neither the television
set nor the video recorder are tuned into any channels and
ensuring that they are not connected to an aerial."

I'd be fascinated to know what would happen if the inspectors
came 'round and someone used this line on them. My TVs
aren't tuned into any channels and aren't connected to aerials,
because I have cable boxes. Theoretically I could just hide the
cable boxes and this would make me "acceptable".

Cable counts as broadcast reception, so you're liable to pay.