You don't need a TV licence if you don't have a TV — Best big monitors to replace your TV

[Jan]

Goodbye TV licence — The best big monitors to replace your TV

There are several monitors and smart displays available in South Africa that don’t require a TV licence to buy or own, but still offer the big screen viewing experience of a TV.

Over the last few years, many households in the country have shifted from watching broadcasted content to primarily using online video streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Showmax.

If you only use these services to watch content, your display actually does not require a built-in TV tuner to receive the analogue or digital signals used to transmit free-to-air channels such as SABC 1, SABC 2, S3, and E-tv.

This hardware is also necessary for a display to be classified as a TV, and is specifically named as a requirement for the set to be subject to TV licence payment.

 

[deweyzeph]

I've got the Mecer 55inch smart panel, and it's great! The built-in Android media player is absolute rubbish, but I just bought a Xiaomi Mibox media player and connected it via HDMI and boom, I've got everything I need, without paying a single cent to the SABC.

 

[gotaway]

I'm using the 43" Mecer panel, linked to a 4th gen AppleTV. Been working very well for non-broadcast media consumption.

 

[Unreal]

I haven’t used a TV in years. Do you still need to plug in that bunny aerial thing, or even have those outdoor ones?
Is that still a thing?

 

[deweyzeph]

I haven’t used a TV in years. Do you still need to plug in that bunny aerial thing, or even have those outdoor ones?
Is that still a thing?

Only if you want to watch a snowy picture.

 

[Stalker]

So if your TV only has an analogue tuner now that they are switching off the analogue signal, your TV will effectively become a monitor- no license required ?

 

[wingnut771]

So if your TV only has an analogue tuner now that they are switching off the analogue signal, your TV will effectively become a monitor- no license required ?

Now you know why they're taking so long.

 

[Petec]

I've got the Mecer 55inch smart panel, and it's great! The built-in Android media player is absolute rubbish, but I just bought a Xiaomi Mibox media player and connected it via HDMI and boom, I've got everything I need, without paying a single cent to the SABC.

That MiBox is a little beast! SO happy with it!

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

dont worry, the struggling SABC will soon tax air,
got to steal them all.

 

[ToxicBunny]

I've got the Mecer 55inch smart panel, and it's great! The built-in Android media player is absolute rubbish, but I just bought a Xiaomi Mibox media player and connected it via HDMI and boom, I've got everything I need, without paying a single cent to the SABC.

Be interesting to know what panel and processing engines and such are in the Mecers actually...

 

[minkukel]

I'm using the 43" Mecer panel, linked to a 4th gen AppleTV. Been working very well for non-broadcast media consumption.

How many HDMI ports does it have ?

 

[ConfusedR]

I haven’t used a TV in years. Do you still need to plug in that bunny aerial thing, or even have those outdoor ones?
Is that still a thing?

Yes
And then get someone to get up on your roof with your antenna and you yell to them.......little bit to the left.......no, no, little bit to the right

 

[D tj]

Wow, profound thread.

I May be mistaken (likely am) but big monitors are taxed more heavily than a TV....could be cheaper in the long run to buy a TV and Lic.....??????

 

[Crumbl0x]

That 55" Dell from pclinkshop will probably never ship / isn't currently in stock (the people who run this and the laptop sister site work on an ask and know basis) so it's most definitely not a good idea to place an order on that site without waiting for a reply first.

 

[gotaway]

How many HDMI ports does it have ?

 

[minkukel]

Thanks, the specs just say HDMI not how many ports.

 

[Beyond.Celsus]

'For now'

 

[Ninja'd]

I haven’t used a TV in years. Do you still need to plug in that bunny aerial thing, or even have those outdoor ones?
Is that still a thing?

I dont have an aerial. One time this chick came to visit me and asked if she could watch Uzalo on Sabc 1.

 

[ToxicBunny]

I dont have an aerial. One time this chick came to visit me and asked if she could watch Uzalo on Sabc 1.

You kick her out the house at that point...

 

[BuckRogers]

So if your TV only has an analogue tuner now that they are switching off the analogue signal, your TV will effectively become a monitor- no license required ?

Now only if our government could share your very valid point of view.