Hi Kevin, I've pasted below what it says. Note, although the heading is sound only receivers it refers to a digi box, none of which are sound only.
Sound only receiversYou do not require a TV licence if you use a digital set-top box solely to listen to television programmes through a hi-fi or stereo system. The set top box must be incapable of recording and must not be connected to a device capable of showing images.
John.----- Original Message ----- From: "Kevin Cussick" <the.big.white.shepherd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2011 8:01 PM Subject: [access-uk] Re: TV licensing again
This is correct, you need a TV license if you equipment that can get a picture.It don't matter if you don't have a screen connected and I don't think the Rnib actually said you didn't need a license if you don't have a screen.The only way you don't have to get a license is if you use something that can only get the sound a TV receiver, this has always been the case.I think if your blind you get the license half price anyway.So If the rnib have actually said you don't need a license with the smart box they are wrong I know I am sticking my neck out saying this but I have spoken to lots of people over the years and I know we get the sound free but not the picture.I can't remember when this was written up I think it's an old wireless telegraphy rule dating back to 1948 I am not going to post any more about this this was my findings.And if I am now wrong fare enough I would love to be proved wrong but I don't think I am wrong.On 09/11/2011 14:47, Richard Godfrey-McKay wrote:When I looked at this quite some years ago, the licence was required if youpossessed equipment capable of receiving a TV transmission. Look as if they're saying that that position hasn't changed. Richard Richard Godfrey-McKay Telephone: 01738-445 880 Mobile: 07791 452 593 -----Original Message-----From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Ofjohn coley Sent: 09 November 2011 14:06 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] TV licensing again Hi everybody, a few months or so ago there was a thread regarding theGoodmans Smarttalk freeview box, and whether or not a licence was requiredif someone was using the box for sound only, with no TV plugged into it, just speakers.The general consensus was that a licence wouldn't be required. Checking onthe RNIB website seemed to confirm that.As that applies to me I rang the TV licensing authority today to cancel my direct debit. I explained the situation to them, and told them what the RNIB had to say on the matter, and the guy, having gone away to check came back and said that since the box could receive a tv signal at time of broadcast Iwould require a licence, whether a TV was connected to the box or not.Further to that he said that if I had a computer in my home I'd require a TV licence, since a computer has the potential of receiving TV broadcasts.Since this was completely at odds with what the RNIB said, and whatposters to this list had said I rang the RNIB to check. I haven't heard backfrom them yet, but it will be interesting to see what they say. According to the guy at TV licensing the only circumstance in which alicense isn't required would be if the box wasn't able to receive a picture, and was a sound only receiver. Mind you, given what the guy said about theneed for a licence if there was a computer at the address it sounds as ifeveryone needs one, since if computers do so would mobiles, since they alsohave the potential to receive a TV signal. John. ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq-- All The Best Kevin Cussick ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq
** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq