How to cancel and stop paying your TV licence

[Ho3n3r]

Just curious, though, has anyone actually ever seen this so-called TV Licence Inspector?

When I was a very young kid(around 1994), they seemed to come around often to my parents' home. But obviously as the unrelenting uselessness of the new government and their institutions set in more and more, they just seemed to disappear off the face of the earth.

Can say with 100% certainty that they never came around in, or after, 1998, at the latest.

 

[xrapidx]

My doorbell doens't work anyway

And when I replace it it'll be with a video feed....

 

[furpile]

No not so. Analogue or digital, if the TV has a tuner in it, it is capable of receiving a broadcast signal and MUST be licensed.

Hi. You have said the same thing a few times in this thread, but I don't agree.

From the SABC's Q&A:

Q: WHO NEEDS A TELEVISION LICENCE?
A: In terms of the Broadcasting Act, No 4 of 1999, as amended, any person or entity that has in its possession and/or uses a TV set.

According to the Broadcasting act regulations:

“television set”: means any apparatus designed or adapted to be capable of receiving transmissions broadcast in the course of a television broadcasting service; and includes computers fitted with electronic broadcast cards (television tuner cards) and the electronic broadcast cards themselves;

Now, once the digital migration is complete, and the analogue signal is switched off, there will no longer be an analogue broadcast. Thus all current TV's will no longer be capable of receiving a broadcast. Thus the "TV license" will no longer be applicable to TV's, but instead to STB's and decoders that comply with the digital signal (once the DoC and the courts have finished fighting over encryption etc). From what I have read, the majority of new TV's with digital tuners will also not be able to receive the digital signals because the DoC decided to use a standard that is not widely used ( I might be wrong on this but it is what I remember).

Please comment on the above, your insights are appreciated.

 

[Geoff.D]

Hi. You have said the same thing a few times in this thread, but I don't agree.

TV licence is generally interpreted as being applicable to STB's as well as TVs. so a "TV Licence" is required anyway. The whole debate around the delays in the implementation of DTT goes around a few things, one of which deals with using STBS to enforce payment of "TV licence" fees. The first time this was debated at DoC was way back in the late nineties. Unfortunately, DoC has not had a track record of sorting out things properly.


Digital TVs generally available anywhere in the World now have digital tuners in them, so practically speaking in the future it is unlikey the TVs we get in this country will NOT be equipped tuners ..

I will have to check if the authorities have done anything about making any amendments regarding the legislation to remove any confusion, but certainly in all the discussions I have been part of over the years about DTT, the understanding is that a "TV Licence" will still be required in SA. What is messing the DoC up a bit now is the ruling by the Minister that those with subsidised STBs do not have to pay for a TV licence, which makes the whole matter even more difficult to regulate and "police".

From the SABC's Q&A:


According to the Broadcasting act regulations:


Now, once the digital migration is complete, and the analogue signal is switched off, there will no longer be an analogue broadcast. Thus all current TV's will no longer be capable of receiving a broadcast. Thus the "TV license" will no longer be applicable to TV's, but instead to STB's and decoders that comply with the digital signal (once the DoC and the courts have finished fighting over encryption etc). From what I have read, the majority of new TV's with digital tuners will also not be able to receive the digital signals because the DoC decided to use a standard that is not widely used ( I might be wrong on this but it is what I remember).

Please comment on the above, your insights are appreciated.

No, the standard chosen (DVB T2) is used in many countries certainly in ITU region 1 which includes all of Europe, parts of Russia and the whole of Africa. It is not the only standard around though. What should happen (assuming that the current nonsense in court gets resolved), is that all TVs imported into SA will have to either have no tuners in them, or, if they do that the tuner supplied is a DVB -T2 standard tuner.

The issue is the name "TV Licence".

Of course, there is nothing to stop anyone proposing to abolish the need for having a licence to receive "broadcast signals", which is how this all started all those years ago .....

Either way, an amendment to the current legislation and regulations is required before anyone can simply assume that the current "TV licence" is no longer required .....

 

[furpile]

TV licence is generally interpreted as being applicable to STB's as well as TVs. so a "TV Licence" is required anyway. The whole debate around the delays in the implementation of DTT goes around a few things, one of which deals with using STBS to enforce payment of "TV licence" fees. The first time this was debated at DoC was way back in the late nineties. Unfortunately, DoC has not had a track record of sorting out things properly.


Digital TVs generally available anywhere in the World now have digital tuners in them, so practically speaking in the future it is unlikey the TVs we get in this country will NOT be equipped tuners ..

I will have to check if the authorities have done anything about making any amendments regarding the legislation to remove any confusion, but certainly in all the discussions I have been part of over the years about DTT, the understanding is that a "TV Licence" will still be required in SA. What is messing the DoC up a bit now is the ruling by the Minister that those with subsidised STBs do not have to pay for a TV licence, which makes the whole matter even more difficult to regulate and "police".



No, the standard chosen (DVB T2) is used in many countries certainly in ITU region 1 which includes all of Europe, parts of Russia and the whole of Africa. It is not the only standard around though. What should happen (assuming that the current nonsense in court gets resolved), is that all TVS imported into SA will have to either have no tuners in them, or, if they do that the tuner supplied is a DVB -T2 standard tuner.

The issue is the name "TV Licence".

Of course, there is nothing to stop anyone proposing to abolish the need for having a licence to receive "broadcast signals", which is how this all started all those years ago .....

Either way, an amendment to the current legislation and regulations is required before anyone can simply assume that the current "TV licence" is no longer required .....

So will the encryption system they choose (if they eventually do?) work with any DVB T2 tv from another region?

Also, as an example, you currently own a TV with only the standard analogue tuner. And magically , the complete the digital migration in our lifetime and shut down the analogue broadcast. Now your tv cannot receive the digital broadcast, and you do not buy a STB or any other decoder. In this instance, with current wording of the legislation, you would not need a tv license? Since there is no way you can receive any broadcast, and your tv is basically just a monitor?

You are correct though, at this point it is just assumption that a license will not be required just for a tv anymore, so hopefully the legislation is amended to make the situation clear.

 

[Geoff.D]

So will the encryption system they choose (if they eventually do?) work with any DVB T2 tv from another region?

Also, as an example, you currently own a TV with only the standard analogue tuner. And magically , the complete the digital migration in our lifetime and shut down the analogue broadcast. Now your tv cannot receive the digital broadcast, and you do not buy a STB or any other decoder. In this instance, with current wording of the legislation, you would not need a tv license? Since there is no way you can receive any broadcast, and your tv is basically just a monitor?

You are correct though, at this point it is just assumption that a license will not be required just for a tv anymore, so hopefully the legislation is amended to make the situation clear.

Unfortunately, as the current situation stands and to a certain extent confirmed by the article OP posted, is that the onus is on the user to prove he is not using the tuner in a TV set anymore. Have you tried to scrap a TV set in such a way that you will have the necessary documentation available to prove to the SABC that the TV is now UTR?

I have a letter in my TV licence file dated in the early nineties from a TV repair company, that had to be certified by a commissioner of oaths to get a TV damaged by lightning off my account ... It was a schlep ........

Here is a link to the DVB organisation that may be interesting for you. https://www.dvb.org

and a map updated in August 2015. As you will notice, the DVB -T and DVB T2 standard is by far the most used standard in terms of coverage ......, if not in terms of total population served world wide.

https://www.dvb.org/resources/public/images/site/dvb-t_map.pdf

 

[Icemanbrfc]

a 55" monitor will put you in debt for the rest of your life

 

[Icemanbrfc]

I think if the inspector comes into my area, he might leave without his car, clothes, money, etc.. so i will give them good advice, be safe and rather dont come into my area. Its my good deed for the year to keep these okes safe lol

 

[Ho3n3r]

I think if the inspector comes into my area, he might leave without his car, clothes, money, etc.. so i will give them good advice, be safe and rather dont come into my area. Its my good deed for the year to keep these okes safe lol

Lol

By the sounds of it, you probably don't have a TV anyway.

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

Buy TV's secondhand off gumtree, carbonite or here... Half the price of new and no TV license crap.

 

[Ho3n3r]

Buy TV's secondhand off gumtree, carbonite or here... Half the price of new and no TV license crap.

Yeah. Just wondering who's gonna buy TV's for us to buy off them again when everybody does the same.

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

Yeah. Just wondering who's gonna buy TV's for us to buy off them again when everybody does the same.

Luckily there is no shortage of people who are oblivious to the world of online second-hand trading.

 

[Geoff.D]

So will the encryption system they choose (if they eventually do?) work with any DVB T2 tv from another region?

It depends on what form of encryption you are referring to and what why you are "encrypting" the signal.

Certainly a DVB-T2 tuner (and most are DVB-T downward compatible), will work anywhere in principal.

It is the next "layer" of encryption which is the source of all the confusion. "Encryption" used to prevent anyone from decoding and viewing a signal even if the device is capable of receiving the signal .....

To enforce "licence legislation"? That was one of the drivers for including "encryption" in the STBs initially.
Preventing Piracy? Another use of "encryption"
Implementing "Conditional Access"? Mostly for Pay-TV services. Normally provided with a SC module as an add on.

Which one is being referred to? Can all the above be implemented with one system? And if so then which system should be used?

 

[Geoff.D]

Luckily there is no shortage of people who are oblivious to the world of online second-hand trading.

Yeah. Just wondering who's gonna buy TV's for us to buy off them again when everybody does the same.

Enjoy while you can, and make money off the suckers out there, but do not cry when all those TVs you have hoarded become totally obsolete overnight ........

 

[Geoff.D]

Buy TV's secondhand off gumtree, carbonite or here... Half the price of new and no TV license crap.

And here is the heart and soul of many problems in SA at the moment.

Civil disobedience and a lack of respect for the law ..........

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

Enjoy while you can, and make money off the suckers out there, but do not cry when all those TVs you have hoarded become totally obsolete overnight ........

WTF are you on about now? I somehow doubt my FHD LED brand new in box TV bought off carbonite for half-retail is going to go obsolete "overnight".

And who's hoarding or making money? I've bought 2 TV's ever, only bought the second cos the first one died.

Me thinks someone is a tad bitter at getting ripped off on the tree...

And here is the heart and soul of many problems in SA at the moment.

Civil disobedience and a lack of respect for the law ..........

I don't watch, nor even have the capability of watching SABC(I have no antenna, nor DSTV, nor a radio), why should I pay?

It is an archaic law from a time when the only thing you could watch on a TV was SABC, back then it was entirely fair to require a TV license for every TV, now not so much.

 

[Icemanbrfc]

Lol

By the sounds of it, you probably don't have a TV anyway.

that too, so im all good for now thanks lol

 

[Geoff.D]

WTF are you on about now? I somehow doubt my FHD LED brand new in box TV bought off carbonite for half-retail is going to go obsolete "overnight".

And who's hoarding or making money? I've bought 2 TV's ever, only bought the second cos the first one died.

Me thinks someone is a tad bitter at getting ripped off on the tree...



I don't watch, nor even have the capability of watching SABC(I have no antenna, nor DSTV, nor a radio), why should I pay?

It is an archaic law from a time when the only thing you could watch on a TV was SABC, back then it was entirely fair to require a TV license for every TV, now not so much.

So maybe you should tell us why you introduced the topic of buying TVs off the Internet and then referring to " half price and no TV licence crap"?

This was a reasonably well behaved thread about TV licencing, dealing what you have to do to be able use a TV for non broadcast reception. You missed the entire point about what the regulations are about. It is NOT about whether you use the TV for broadcast reception at all , it is about the device being capable of receiving broadcast signals and that is why you need a licence just to own it.

So, either way, it does not matter how you acquire the device, it is about you suggesting that buying it second hand somehow justifies your defiance of the law.

If that is not civil disobedience and a lack of respect for the law then what is?

If you believe in the democratic process, then you know what you need to do, start campaigning for the law to be changed, but until it is changed as a responsible citizen of any country, you need to obey the law .....

 

[gimpex]

do they have Tv Licences overseas? Im guessing no, but how is it overseas?

In some they do.

I remember in Austria the guys unpacking the container were morally obliged to fill out a form that they unpacked a tv. A few days later there was a form in the post. Can't remember exactly how much but something like 50 euros a quarter comes to mind.

Czech Republic even radios in your car need a license ( one off when imported - normally paid for by the manufacturer ). Tv licence also needed but I haven't met many people who bothered with it. ..... Bit like here

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

So maybe you should tell us why you introduced the topic of buying TVs off the Internet and then referring to " half price and no TV licence crap"?

This was a reasonably well behaved thread about TV licencing, dealing what you have to do to be able use a TV for non broadcast reception. You missed the entire point about what the regulations are about. It is NOT about whether you use the TV for broadcast reception at all , it is about the device being capable of receiving broadcast signals and that is why you need a licence just to own it.

So, either way, it does not matter how you acquire the device, it is about you suggesting that buying it second hand somehow justifies your defiance of the law.

If that is not civil disobedience and a lack of respect for the law then what is?

If you believe in the democratic process, then you know what you need to do, start campaigning for the law to be changed, but until it is changed as a responsible citizen of any country, you need to obey the law .....

Because you can get a TV for half the retail price(just like I did) and the seller won't ask for a TV license so you don't have to deal with the "crap". I'm not sure how much simpler I can say this... I would still like to know where you got the assumption that I am making money off suckers, hoarding TV's and they will all soon be obsolete?

My device is not capable of receiving broadcast signals, it has no antenna plugged in, you may come try to receive an SABC signal on my device as it currently stands if you so wish.

I have never watched or listened to anything produced/owned/broadcast by the SABC on any device(be it radio or TV) I have ever owned. I have never had the capability of watching or listening to anything produced/owned/broadcast by the SABC on any device(be it radio or TV) I have ever owned, either because it's not tuned or because it has no antenna. In fact I do not even know how to tune my current TV or if it even has a tuner.

I will not pay for something I do not use nor ever have intention of using. And I am not justifying anything, it's how to avoid this unnecessary tax, bullying, incompetence, extortion and corruption of the SABC. But I spose you enjoy lauding over people that you help pay for Cloudies salary...

If your entire argument is that you must pay because "it's the law" I have some SANRAL bills for you and an unqualified BEE candidate to replace you, after all that's the law...

Self-righteous arse.