Opting to not have a TV set

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

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.

A tv licence isn't needed to listen to the radio.

When I was young in the 1960s and 70s there was a sort of snobbery about TV. If you admitted to having a set at all, it had to be a small one, and in certain circles it was social suicide to admit you enjoyed it. Very silly. I’m like others here in that I don’t watch soaps or celebrity stuff, but enjoy news, current affairs, documentaries and some comedy, usually on BBC.

eazybee

I would remove your television set from your house, and also your radios. TV licensing authorities do not give up easily.
I believe they quite extensive powers to investigate your possible usage.
They certainly used to when I had student children with TVs (and regularly updated licences for different addresses,) and also when my parents entered a nursing home: why had they cancelled the licence; where was the TV set; had they taken it with them; who was using their empty house while it was for sale?
They had visited the house while it was empty, peered through the windows and seen the TV set, unplugged, against the wall.

Times have changed.
The BBC lost over £1 billion last year to non payers.
They don’t enforce it as much as they did.

www.theguardian.com/media/2025/nov/21/bbc-losing-potential-licence-fee-revenue-say-mps

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

I hardly watch mainstream tv either these days but I do listen to BBC and watch some things on iplayer so i continue to pay the fee

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.

windmill1

cobden28

Is there anyone who's opted not to have a TV set, and if so why?

I've finally decided to do away with my TV set because I very rarely watch it _ I loathe soaps and anything to do with so-called 'celebrity culture'. News and entertainment I get via my laptop and my collection of dvd box sets.

A couple of weeks ago I cancelled the direct debit payment for my TV licence and told the licencing authority I was doing this because I was getting rid of my TV set. I then disconnected the TV set from the aerial and although the set is physically still mounted on my wall, it's unplugged everywhere and I've not attempted to use it in any way whatsoever since I contacted the licencing authority.

Has anyone else done away with their TV set and how did your friends & family react?

Well done! I ditched the TV around the time that Reality Television took off.
Utter tripe and certainly nothing to do with any "reality" I've ever encountered, and peopled by 'celebs' past their sell-by date.

We don't watch a lot of tv programmes as they are broadcast, preferring the catch up channels and we subscribe to the major streaming services including Apple.
We like to watch films or series on a large screen, so our tv is staying put 😊
There is more to tv than soaps/reality shows windmill it just sometimes takes a bit of finding.

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.

You're misinformed about TV licenes related to age. So you probably don't know what else you're missing out on.

I love having TV. It's a much more comfortable way to record and watch what I like, when I like (than on a laptop screen).

I too hate game shows and celebrity trash.

But I really enjoy quality TV programs about travel, other cultures, politics, news, cooking, arts, debates, nature, wildlife , gardening history, archaeology. Films and some dramas.

Especially in winter when it's dark by 4 pm.

I don’t think TV is bad argymargy but I don’t want to pay for something I don’t use. YouTube has some excellent content on diverse subjects and I find it useful and informative.

Goodness me no! I would be lost without my TV. I watch a lot of things and no-one needs to watch soaps or celebrity stuff if they don't want to, as there is infinite amount of stuff available now. Why the attitude that TV is "bad"? I learn a lot from what I watch, as well as being entertained. I also read a lot and from varied genres. It makes me a more interested and interesting person, I think.

cobden28

Is there anyone who's opted not to have a TV set, and if so why?

I've finally decided to do away with my TV set because I very rarely watch it _ I loathe soaps and anything to do with so-called 'celebrity culture'. News and entertainment I get via my laptop and my collection of dvd box sets.

A couple of weeks ago I cancelled the direct debit payment for my TV licence and told the licencing authority I was doing this because I was getting rid of my TV set. I then disconnected the TV set from the aerial and although the set is physically still mounted on my wall, it's unplugged everywhere and I've not attempted to use it in any way whatsoever since I contacted the licencing authority.

Has anyone else done away with their TV set and how did your friends & family react?

Well done! I ditched the TV around the time that Reality Television took off.
Utter tripe and certainly nothing to do with any "reality" I've ever encountered, and peopled by 'celebs' past their sell-by date.

We got rid of the TV because we never watched it. We don’t live stream anything or use iPlayer.

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.

If you are watching BBC iPlayer, whether live or on demand, then you need a TV Licence.

If you are watching ITV live through that channel's website, then you need a TV licence.

The universal free TV licence for all people aged 75 and over was withdrawn in August 2020. Now only those age 75 and over receiving Pension Credit can claim a free licence.

I go in fits and starts watching tv. No soaps or reality programmes, but, as I live alone, there’s always something I can find to watch in these cold, dark nights.
At £15 (ish) a month, it barely equates to a weekly coffee in Costa.
I don’t think I’d want to give my tv up.

I only watch 2 programmes regularly on mainstream tv, but I love the dramas on Netflix.

It’s not free for everyone over 75 boheminan.

I would remove your television set from your house, and also your radios. TV licensing authorities do not give up easily.
I believe they quite extensive powers to investigate your possible usage.
They certainly used to when I had student children with TVs (and regularly updated licences for different addresses,) and also when my parents entered a nursing home: why had they cancelled the licence; where was the TV set; had they taken it with them; who was using their empty house while it was for sale?
They had visited the house while it was empty, peered through the windows and seen the TV set, unplugged, against the wall.

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.

Oopsadaisy1

If you use your radio or watch TV shows on your laptop you will still need a Licence.

If you don't watch/record live TV or iPlayer you don't need a licence.

We don’t watch soaps or anything ‘celeb’, or e.g. Strictly, or GBBO, but I’m still happy to pay for the licence because of all the BBC offerings we do still watch/listen to - documentaries, podcasts, all the radio output.

Not to mention the World Service. During our many years abroad in pre internet days, the World Service was a lifeline.

I know you can watch films on e.g. a laptop, but it’s not the same. Last night (after watching the BBC documentary on Richard Attenborough the previous evening) we watched Shadowlands, about C S Lewis (directed by Attenborough) - simply one of the best and most moving films I’ve ever seen.

Unfortunately we had to pay a fee to Amazon prime to download it, but it was worth it - and it wouldn’t have been the same on my iPad screen.

I lived with a TV for about 30 years .
I was much slimmer and fitter and I read so many books ,wrote and dud my art and craft work . I also socialised a lot.
Now I have become a complete telly addict.
Most of my friends enjoy soais and reality programmes .
I hate them .
I like Art and History and enjoy old films .
I'm watching all the repeats as they are new for me.
But it's having a detrimental effect on my health.
I get so tired during the day and it's easy to snuggle under a blanket and watch the box!

I watch minimal tv it’s mostly on catchup ar stick but I still need the licence for some of the catch up stuff. I prefer to watch things on the tv on the wall it’s just easier and I can get comfy on the sofa rather than propping up an iPad or laptop on my lap or table. So I will be keeping mine but if your decision suits you why not.