Should I get rid of my TV?

[Gazjam]

I don't do that every night but I do like to be able to do it. My brain sometimes needs switching off after a day at work.

I hear ya.

used to kinda lose myself in it.
Before I knew it hours had passed!

Probably not disciplined enough to resist...

[Marco]

Got rid of my "broadcast TV" a couple of years ago when I realized that realistically I was watching maybe 5% of what I was paying for.
Why am I giving money away every month says I?
The idea of coming in from work, slumping down on the couch and turning on the idiot box and switching my brain off...naa.

Kept my TV and associated kit, just got rid of Virgin Media and never looked back.
Netflix, YouTube and a whole universe of online stuff...watch what you want when it suits you, and spend the money on Blurays.

Works for me...

And would work for most folk who had no interest in watching live sports and/or following certain continued dramas, broadcast on certain TV channels, and sometimes wishes to record them (if they're out) onto a set-top box, such as is available from the likes of Virgin and Sky.

Unfortunately, as that's the case, what works for you doesn't work for me

In terms of TV, I watch it much more to be entertained, than educated (or 'intellectually taxed'), so that's why some mindless 'disposable froth', after a hard day at work, or in my case, just simply because that's what hits the spot, is what is desirable.

Marco.

[struth]

Still toying with the idea. its expensive the licence, for all i watch it... almost always use my own stuff or netflix etc at night. i often have the yesterday channel on for company during day, but mostly could do without i think.

[Gazjam]

Of course, different strokes different folks...
Wisnae saying otherwise

Big Live Sport events I tend to watch in the Pub anyways, dont miss F1 on C4 to be honest, though might get the Sky Sports F1 Add on for next season as it seems to be picking up again.
Be different too if the spawn hadn't grown up and moved out.
Just depends on your own circumstances.

And would work for most folk who had no interest in watching live sports and/or following certain continued dramas, broadcast on certain TV channels, and sometimes wishes to record them (if they're out) onto a set-top box, such as is available from the likes of Virgin and Sky.

Unfortunately, as that's the case, what works for you doesn't work for me

In terms of TV, I watch it much more to be entertained, than educated (or 'intellectually taxed'), so that's why some mindless 'disposable froth', after a hard day at work, or in my case, just simply because that's what hits the spot, is what is desirable.

Marco.

[Marco]

Of course, different strokes different folks...
Wisnae saying otherwise

Big Live Sport events I tend to watch in the Pub anyways, dont miss F1 on C4 to be honest, though might get the Sky Sports F1 Add on for next season as it seems to be picking up again.
Be different too if the spawn hadn't grown up and moved out.
Just depends on your own circumstances.

Yups, no worries, muchacho. In terms of lives sports, and it's mainly SPL footy and Celtic games I'm interested in, I'm sure you can appreciate why I'd feel safer and more comfortable watching it at home, than in a pub, certainly in Glasgow!

Marco.

[Gazjam]

You utter Wuss!


Buy...yeah, your right.

[Marco]

Lol - I've been in plenty of Celtic and Rangers pubs in the past, and enjoyed a bit of banter with the reasonable Rangers supporters, but I don't really miss that down here, and in general I prefer putting my feet up in the comfort of my own home, with a beer, whilst watching the footy, then being sat in a noisy pub

Marco.

[Barry]

Still toying with the idea. its expensive the licence, for all i watch it... almost always use my own stuff or netflix etc at night. i often have the yesterday channel on for company during day, but mostly could do without i think.

You still pay for TV whether you watch it or not, or even own a TV.

[Tim]

You still pay for TV whether you watch it or not, or even own a TV.

That's not the case any more Barry, used to be, but the rules have changed over the years. The licence used to apply to just owning the equipment, now it relates to the use of said equipment. You can own and watch anything you like on a TV without a licence, such as Netflix, DVDs, media files, on demand services and so on, as long as it's not broadcast programming (any channel) that you watch at the time of broadcast, or record to watch later. You also need a licence for the iPlayer now, which you didn't a few years ago.

"You need to be covered by a licence to watch or download almost all BBC programmes on iPlayer. At the moment, there are just a few exceptions – watching S4C TV on demand, listening to radio, and watching films or TV shows you’ve bought on the BBC Store. There may be other exceptions in the future.

Remember, you also need a TV Licence to watch or record any live TV programmes on any channel, no matter what device you use"

Do I need a TV Licence for all on demand programmes?

No. You don’t need a licence if you only ever watch on demand or catch up programmes on services other than BBC iPlayer* (and you also never watch live TV programmes on any channel, including on iPlayer).
You don’t need to be covered by a licence to watch any films or TV shows that you buy online.
*You don’t need a licence to watch S4C TV on demand or listen to radio on iPlayer. You also don’t need one to watch films or TV shows on iPlayer that you’ve bought on the BBC Store.

Source

They also have to prove you have been watching broadcast TV, either by physically seeing/hearing it occur and then confirm by entry, with a warrant if you refuse entry.

So just owning a TV these days does not require a licence.

Funny . . . your comment about the Radio Times? I used to do exactly the same, read through and then circle what I wanted to watch. I even had one of those leather Radio Times covers! What a daftee Marco is, on-line programming guides indeed - and him the lover of all things vintage

[narabdela]

...and enjoyed a bit of banter with the reasonable Rangers supporters.