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Just When You Thought You had it Figured Out
Ok, we have UK readers out there, so what I want to know is: do you actually have to buy a license to own a TV in Britain? Why would I ask such a weird question? This story:
The Daily Telegraph said Richard Butler-Stoney, owner of the Norman-era Mileham Castle in Norfolk had received two demands for payment of 1,000 pounds for having failed to buy a licence to watch BBC television.
Well, ok, maybe not have a TV, but watch TV? Isn't BBC free?
No accusations or implications, just a confused Yankee (oh be quiet... anyone not from the US thinks we're all Yankees) trying to puzzle it out.
Sounds like it's the same as here in Denmark.
We actually have to pay something called license, and the money goes to the two national "public service" TV stations.
The rule is: If you have a TV (or a radio, yes even a goddamned car radio), you have to pay the TV license (or the radio license).
So how they're gonna check out on you? Well, they go around knocking on people's door and ask if you have a TV or radio. If you say no, hopefully they will go peacefully away, but they might try to put a food against the closing door or scare you in some other way to let them go in and check.
Yes, our constitution holds the home sacred, but there are just so many laws anyway that permit the authorites to force their way in.
A few years ago another rule was added: Whenever you buy a TV, you have to get registered as a license payer...
Stupid, stupid. If they really want to make state sponsored TV, at least they could charge us through the ordinary taxes.
Heck, as I see it, THEY should pay ME to send radio waves through my home.
Posted by: Daghtator on March 10, 2003 11:28 AMSounds like us paying for cable or Digital TV here. Only we pay for reception not the TV itself. BTW, if we didn't have cable or satellite TV, we'd be watching the snow channels (all day every day).
Posted by: Cindy on March 10, 2003 11:44 PMoooh handbags at dawn huh!and a sudden interest in my primitive country, you do need a licence and scanner can detect households not paying, the BBC recieves no funding and does not use commercials to generate money like some of the other channels we have do. Just one of those crappy thing.
oh by the way, comments on the range, cmon-only having a laugh....
maybe you can open a section on your site for me:
''brit on a mission''
seriously i was only jokin, and dont panic im not likely to hang around commenting on everything!
Posted by: simon on March 11, 2003 05:09 AMNo worries mate! Always remember, there are 2 authors on the site. Just because one yells doesn't mean the other is gonna. Plus Ellen tends to yell on principle. It usually means she likes you (imagine my life...)
Posted by: scott on March 11, 2003 08:28 AMYep, it's true. If you buy a T.V in Britain that is capable of receiving the BBC channels, i.e every set produced, then you do have to pay for a licence. If said licence isn't bought, then you receive a hefty fine.
At one time you could actually go to prison for this. I should know, my sister was sentenced to a week in Risley prison (nick-named Grisly Risly) but thankfully only did three days.