I mean we have free over the air TV here in the states too, just don’t need a loicense for it
Comment on Anon is Bri’ish
JadedBlueEyes@programming.dev 2 days agoNope. You can just plug your TV into the aerial to get BBC + free channels. Netflix and whatever costs extra tho
turkalino@lemmy.yachts 2 days ago
DJDarren@sopuli.xyz 23 hours ago
Yes, and it’s ad-riddled nonsense.
The BBC runs no adverts, save for trailers of its own stuff.
turkalino@lemmy.yachts 23 hours ago
Yeah and even cable/satellite, paid services, are ad-riddled lol. Always kills me how the older generations criticize us for being financially irresponsible when they’re paying to watch a service that’s 20-25% ads
MacNCheezus@lemmy.today 2 days ago
I’m surprised that according to the website, they actually let you get away without a license if you only use commercial streaming services and don’t watch any BBC content. In Germany, that excuse doesn’t fly. As long as your device has the capacity to receive aerial broadcast, you have to pay.
Knuschberkeks@leminal.space 2 days ago
afaik in Germany you even have to pay if you have no device that to receive anything. Every household has ro pay wirth a few exeptions.
MacNCheezus@lemmy.today 2 days ago
Pretty sure not owning ANY broadcast receiving devices is the only way to get around it, but that’s extremely difficult to accomplish. Keep in mind radio counts as well (though you can be eligible for a reduced rate if you only have radio access and no TV), including the one in your car, your stereo, or your alarm clock. Owning a TV with no antenna hooked up does not count either, since it’s trivial to do so, and you could just be hiding an antenna in your attic or your basement.
Basically, the only way to legally skirt the fee is to live under a bridge or in a forest without any electronic devices besides a flash lamp.
ThoGot@feddit.org 1 day ago
That was a thing years ago, but nowadays everyone has to pay (except if you have a low income and receive social benefits)
shadowedcross@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
In theory, but the BBC has been known to harass people into paying, even pressuring you into letting them into your house even though they don’t have the right to do so.