Opting to not have a TV set

Advertising makesmost tv unwatchable for me. I used to record programmes but when my recorder packed up, I didn’t replace it and don’t miss it. Most tv is garbage. I listen to BBC radio whichis fantastic. I get films from the library sometimes but I have a dvd collection which I rewatch. Iplayer is great. No ads.

About 6 years ago Christmas TV was so awful we never bothered turning the set on. It got to May and we realised we had never put it back on so it went. we listen to music, podcasts and You Tube

BlueBelle

I like my TV it’s a smart one my kids bought me and I d be lost without it Even if I didn’t watch much I d still be lost without one When you live alone it’s lovely to have something to give you a bit of entertainment I grumble about the programmes of course I do but hey ho that’s life isn’t it
Cobden if you watch news on your laptop or listen to the radio you still need a license and it s no longer free to over 75 s So be very careful
Do you listen to the radio Blossoming ?
I think you do need a license Bohemian if you are watching BBC on anything and there’s is No over 75 freebies now

You are misinformed BlueBelle. A licence is not required to listen to the radio. It was abolished in 1971.

I can usually find something to watch, and am happy to pay the licence fee.
Interestingly, two of my children do not have a television, and all four of them are Draconian in what their children are allowed to view - mostly films, and/ or animations by subscription .My youngest GC is nearly three and has allegedly never seen television -although the other grandparents might have been " outed" by GC recently!

Got the radio bit wrong didn’t I ? but the rest was right
The over 75 business stopped the year I was 75 so I know I got that right 🤣

BlueBelle

Got the radio bit wrong didn’t I ? but the rest was right
The over 75 business stopped the year I was 75 so I know I got that right 🤣

I’m not over 75. I simply don’t have a TV set or watch or record live TV . Therefore I don’t need a licence. It isn’t so hard to understand.

I love my telly couldn’t do without it. Retiring in three weeks time probaky watch it more then. Each to their own.

I couldn’t manage without a TV.
I don’t watch soaps, but do spend a lot of time watching Netflix Documentaries and YouTube.
Thinking about it, do I still need a TV Licence if I don’t watch terrrestrial TV ?

Well that’s me told blossoming hand firmly slapped

Calendargirl

Although there often isn’t ’much on’, I would hate to be without my tv.

I don’t have Netflix or any channels you pay for.

If there is ‘nothing on’ that I fancy, I can watch stuff on my I pad, though prefer the tv. Haven’t got a Smart tv either.

If all else fails, I read a book.

Which is why DH and I pay for channels.
If we didmt, we wouldnt watch hardly anything either.

Interesting this about the licence.
We do watch tv - quiz shows on a Monday mostly - so pay our licence. But I much prefer to listen to the radio and a few podcasts.
I would happily pay a licence fee for that in the same way as a cyclist I would happily pay road tax towards the road maintenance.
It doesn’t seem fair to me that some service users pay for the benefit of many more.

Ooops, grovel. I should have added I'm on Guaranteed Pension Credit, that's why I don't pay for a licence.

Yes you do need a licence to listen to the radio.

Looked up radio and a licence. This is what I found. Definitely no need for one.

www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ102

Mine got shifted out of room to make space for grandchild visiting and all the extra baby stuff. Only used once in past year to watch tennis final. I use laptop to watch streaming sites/youtube/news. Being a bit deaf it suits me to have sound via laptop even earphones. Also dont need glasses....

Well said argymargy. I do think a lot of gransnetters like saying they never watch soaps or reality. Who cares what anyone else watches if it entertains them.

We haven’t had a TV for over ten years as we felt we were watching too much rubbish snd repetitive content. We have never missed it and it does spark interest when people come and see no television set or we mention it in discussions. We do pay for a licence though as we both watch programmes on iPlayer occasionally on our iPads

I have never been a fan of TV. The things I want to watch or listen to, (news, concerts, etc. I can use my computor for.

We think the license is great value for money, and fully support the BBC in its endeavours. Don't support everything it does of course, but the range of programs, and the World Service on radio is wonderful.

I got a free license when i turned 70..
Same for everyone.

I love my television! I don't resent paying the licence at all. There's plenty of quality amongst the Love Island etc, which I don't care for.

boheminan

I haven't had a TV for around 20 years and don't feel I'm missing out on anything. If there's anything I have a yearning to watch, which isn't very often, I'll watch it on the BBC/ITV website.

As I've turned 75yrs I don't pay a licence.

I think you can only get a free TV licence at 75 if you're on Universal Credit. Otherwise I'm pretty sure you now have to be over 80 (or even 85? I'll Google..)

I haven’t watched the actual tv since April but I like having the option to do so. Plus I like my iPad and watch Netflix or BBC iPlayer so the tv licence still needs to be paid heee.

I did an interactive quiz recently in the Telegraph. I watch no tv and listen only to Global Radio but because I watch bbc iPlayer my usage of the tv licence was calculated on that format alone.

It was 11% and would only cost me £19 p.a. (If it could be separated out - which obviously it can’t). Gave me food for thought anyway.

butterandjam you express my thoughts about tv better than I could do.

Still need a licence I think if you watch BBC on your laptop??