We pay to watch the telly (television) in the UK, no matter how much or how little we watch TV. The licence fee has been increased today to £142.50 for colour and £48.00 for black and white. The licence fee will increase every year until it reaches a maximum £151.50 in 2012.
A valid TV Licence is required by law in the UK, if you watch or record television programmes as they’re being shown on TV. It makes no difference what equipment you use – whether it’s a laptop, PC, mobile phone, digital box, DVD recorder or a TV set – you still need a licence.
You do not need a TV Licence to view video clips on the internet, as long as what you are viewing is not being shown on TV at the same time as you are viewing it.
Why do we pay a TV Licence?
There are no advertisements during BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) programmes. The TV licence pays for BBC’s programmes and services.
Not every one pays the full amount for a tv licence
People over the age of 75 are entitled to a free TV Licence. (People over the age of 74 can apply for a short term TV Licence, which will cover them until the month they turn 75.)
People who are blind or severely sight impaired, can apply for a 50% concession on the cost of the TV Licence.
People living in residential care, may qualify for a TV Licence at the cost of just £7.50 per year.
Does any other country other than Britain pay for a TV licence?
Please leave a comment below
Vocabulary
Licence or license
In British English the noun is spelt licence e.g. TV licence and the verb is spelt license e.g. licensing your TV
In American English, however, the noun is spelled license.
(note difference for spelt and spelled too)
Programme or program
British English uses programme unless referring to computers
American English always uses program
Australian English recommends program for official usage, but programme is still in common use.
Further reading
UK Media
TV Licensing website
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Wednesday, April 01, 2009
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1 comments:
Well, in general, we cannot receive television programmes unless we pay for cable, which I would equate to nearly the cost of a TV license spread over the year. For instance, the very basic cable level costs around $20-$30 a month. This will give you about thirty stations with some locals. Yes, you can use rabbit ears for free and perhaps pick up one or two local stations, albeit with terrible reception and the programming is extremely limited. Unlike the BBC though, we pay for cable and still have to put up with the adverts. Thank goodness for DVR’s.
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