OK< response from TV licensing people
Quote:
Tel: 0870 243 0229
Fax: 0870 240 1187
E-Mail: [email protected]
Our Ref: EMAIL/ /laptop
Dear Mr Entwistle
Thank you for contacting us.
A television licence is required if you use television receiving equipment to record and/or receive television programme services. Television receiving equipment could be a television, video recorder, DVD recorder/player, PCTV (computer with facility to receive television programmes), or a television card for a computer. If your lap top computer is capable of receiving live broadcasts, whether on-line, or through an aerial or satellite dish, then it is classed as television receiving equipment. This means a licence is needed to receive BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, digital television, other terrestrial services, satellite television and cable television.
If you receive programme services (as defined above), live via the Internet, BBC Online for example (Newsnight is one such broadcast), then a television licence is required. If you are using the Internet to browse archived programme services websites, then a television licence is not required.
If you are using your laptop powered solely by its own internal batteries to receive programmes, a licence held for your main address will cover its use in other places. However, if you use an external power source then a separate licence will be required.
If your equipment is not used to receive or record television programmes, please let me know your address. I will then make sure our records are changed to show you do not need a television licence.
I hope this information is helpful.
Yours sincerely
Ian Coghlan
Customer Services
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So it seems that if you watch archived programmes you don't, if its live even if it comes over the net and NOT a broadcasted(although that term could be applied to a Netcast) signal you do.
The bit that surprises me is the bit about if I am using a laptop somewhere away from home, on batteries I am covered by my home license, if I plug it in I'm not!