TV licensing to fine unlicensed offices where staff watch TV online

[Paule]

Employers face a £1,000 penalty if staff are caught watching TV online and the business does not have a TV licence. TV Licensing has warned that its officers are visiting unlicensed addresses throughout this summer's sports tournaments.

Euro 2008, Wimbledon and the Olympics are all being broadcast online this summer. Whereas staff sometimes took a day off in the past to watch such events on TV, this year they can watch them from their desks.

While not all businesses have a TV set, most will have computers with broadband connections, capable of receiving programmes as they are broadcast, meaning that more businesses will now require a TV Licence if staff are watching programmes in this way. The number of TV stations broadcasting online is steadily increasing. The BBC announced recently that it will start online broadcasts of BBC One within the next year.

TV Licensing spokesperson Joanna Pearce said: “Watching TV on a computer at work is no different from watching on a TV set at home – if you’re watching programmes as they’re broadcast, you need to be covered by a valid licence."

Businesses can be held liable if someone is caught watching TV on unlicensed premises, even if they are unaware that their employee is doing so. Any business where people are caught watching TV illegally risks prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.

“TV Licensing would always rather businesses are correctly licensed than risk a court case and a fine, which is why we’re making sure that managers are aware of the need to be covered if staff are watching online," said Pearce.

A colour TV licence costs £139.50 per year. One licence will cover all the TV equipment that a business uses on a single site. The only exception to this is hotels, which have separate licensing requirements. A licence is not required if the TV equipment is never used to receive or record television programme services, but is only used for closed circuit monitoring or to watch pre-recorded videos.

TV Licensing is also reminding electrical retailers to keep up to date with notifications over the coming months or risk a fine.

Dealers must notify TV licensing of each sale of a TV set, DVD or video recorder, digital box, computer with TV card or TV card. Full details of buyers or hirers must be provided within 28 days of the transaction and retained for 12 months.

The Communications (Television Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 do not require dealers of mobile phones that are capable of receiving TV programmes to notify TV Licensing of purchases. Sales of computers without TV cards are also exempt.

[stevokenevo]

Re: TV licensing to fine unlicensed offices where staff watch TV online

TV Licensing is also reminding electrical retailers to keep up to date with notifications over the coming months or risk a fine.

Dealers must notify TV licensing of each sale of a TV set, DVD or video recorder, digital box, computer with TV card or TV card. Full details of buyers or hirers must be provided within 28 days of the transaction and retained for 12 months.

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It wont be long before it will be a requirement to have a tv licence just to own a PC, you dont need a tv card to watch live streaming.

The above quote is also something that affected me, when i bought a new TV last year. The sales assistant asked for my surname, post code and house number at the till, to which i asked why? She said it was just for their records, but, within days i started receivin letters from the tv licencing people telling me that i did not have a Tv licence for the address which my new tv was 'registered'?

i ignored the letters, to a point, until someone turned up at my door.

At this point i informed them we do in fact have a TV licence, it just happens to be in my wifes name.

I must have received about 6 letters in total before the visit, what a complete waste of time and effort. How they missed the fact the house does in fact have a licence i will never know, as i chased the clown from the door quickly.

[wino]

Re: TV licensing to fine unlicensed offices where staff watch TV online

Where my husband works they have a television. It is never on but they got a licence anyway. This week someone came in to advise them that they need, I think he said an entertainment licence to listen to the radio in work.

The boss said that they only have radio 2 on and that is covered under the TV licence. He has been told this is not true and he has to get a entertainments licence or face a fine.

[stevokenevo]

Re: TV licensing to fine unlicensed offices where staff watch TV online

It is a PRS (performing right society) Licence.

Ive had a letter about that too, It is ridiculous.

I will scan in the letter and post it up

[wino]

Re: TV licensing to fine unlicensed offices where staff watch TV online

It is a PRS (performing right society) Licence.

Ive had a letter about that too, It is ridiculous.

I will scan in the letter and post it up

That was it performing rights. They said that is is perfectly legal to have the radio on as they have a TV licence. The problem is if Joe Public walks in then they have to be covered under the performing right licence!!

[stevokenevo]

Re: TV licensing to fine unlicensed offices where staff watch TV online

here you go

[Happyolddog]

Re: TV licensing to fine unlicensed offices where staff watch TV online

WHAT NEXT?

Will we need a licence to fart? Perhaps a meter on our bottoms and pay by the cubic metre.

This overbaring government is a sham.

[stevokenevo]

Re: TV licensing to fine unlicensed offices where staff watch TV online

Not sure if a licence would work?

Would it be a 'provisional' licence for learners? maybe those who could only do a single tone, progressing onto a 'Full' licence for those capable of a multi toner?

And what about fragrance? would there be a reduced fee for 'black + white' i.e a definitive aroma?

[wino]

Re: TV licensing to fine unlicensed offices where staff watch TV online

Perhaps a meter on our bottoms and pay by the cubic metre.

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Just how much wind do you suffer from Happyolddog? :tung:

[Happyolddog]

Re: TV licensing to fine unlicensed offices where staff watch TV online

Just how much wind do you suffer from Happyolddog? :tung:

Just ask anybody here, I'm well known as being full of hot air!

[stevokenevo]

Re: TV licensing to fine unlicensed offices where staff watch TV online

Just ask anybody here, I'm well known as being full of hot air!

We love you though HoD

[Paule]

Re: TV licensing to fine unlicensed offices where staff watch TV online

Where my husband works they have a television. It is never on but they got a licence anyway. This week someone came in to advise them that they need, I think he said an entertainment licence to listen to the radio in work.

The boss said that they only have radio 2 on and that is covered under the TV licence. He has been told this is not true and he has to get a entertainments licence or face a fine.

Workplaces need a music licence – but enforcement is unfair, says FSB

A British trade body has called for new rules to exempt small businesses from music licensing fees that are payable if they let staff listen to a radio or watch TV. Some employers have received demands for unpaid licence fees dating back several years.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has criticised actions of the Performing Right Society (PRS) which represents music creators and publishers. PRS licenses the public performance of music in all workplaces.

"The PRS collects money on behalf of artists and musicians and we've noticed in the past few weeks that they've become extremely aggressive with small businesses, demanding back-dated licenses which can cost thousands of pounds," FSB spokesman Simon Briault. "We think there should be an exemption for small businesses."

A public performance licence from PRS is required for any 'mechanical performance' of copyright music as a background to work, meals, rest rooms or breaks at work places in the UK. The term covers recorded music played on CD as well as music playing on a radio or television set. So providing a TV in a staff canteen requires an employer to buy an annual PRS music licence, not just a TV licence. If employees are listening to music through headphones a music licence would not be required because it does not constitute a public performance.

For many businesses, the typical fee is a few hundred pounds a year. A licence for music played in a canteen or rest room costs 14.99 pence per day, per unit of 25 employees. So an annual licence for 250 days for a canteen available to 135 employees would cost £224.85, according to PRS.

Briault said that while it was fair for a business playing music that could be heard by the public to pay licence fees, small businesses that play a radio that only a few staff can hear should be exempt.

"Our complaint with the PRS is that they are not accepting the arguments of small business owners," he said. "Technically they [PRS] are within the law. We think they're taking it way too far, though, and their interpretation of it is far too stringent."

"PRS have taken it out of all proportion," he said. "Small business owners who happen to have a radio in their back room are being told 'you owe us'."

"The vast majority of people have never heard of the PRS," he said. "It seems in the past month or so they've gone completely unreasonable. Someone who used to work at PRS told me they were having to chase one business for over six years' unpaid licence fees – in total over £21,000."

Another FSB member complained about receiving eight calls in 10 days about unpaid licences.

Briault said the FSB's main objection was in the tactics of the PRS. "If it was conciliatory, you know, 'this is a warning – you need to have a licence; get rid of your radio if that's what you choose' – that would be fair."

The FSB is also calling for an exemption for micro businesses, defined by the Government as any business employing up to 10 people.

"Anyone with less than 10 staff should be exempt. That would require an amendment to the 1988 law [the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act]. But also a change of attitude from the PRS," said Briault.

"Instead of harassing small business owners and trying to get money out of them whatever the cost, they should be more conciliatory. Use their generous percentage of the money that they do take to inform business owners about what the law is and, if appropriate, they can stop listening to the radio," he said.

A spokesperson for the PRS: "Under the statute of limitations we are able to legally back charge up to six years. Our charges are based purely on our customers' declarations and agreement."

She said that 350,000 businesses across the UK currently have PRS licences and last year it contacted over 100,000 businesses.

"All businesses first receive an introductory letter and informative brochure before being contacted by phone to establish if they need a PRS Music Licence," she said. "We also run advertising campaigns in print and on radio throughout the UK to help businesses understand the requirement for a PRS Music Licence if they are playing music in their business. We only wish to charge for the correct level of music usage and we will always aim to determine this with the customer."

The PRS said has invited the FSB to discuss its views and ideas for a micro business exemption directly with the PRS.

"We aim to ensure that our charges and processes are fair and reasonable," said the spokesperson for PRS. "Unfortunately, the FSB has not contacted PRS to discuss these complaints or any of its suggestions. PRS has invited the FSB to discuss its views and ideas directly with PRS."

She said that many of the PRS's 60,000 members "are themselves small businesses and many rely on income from royalties." She added that small businesses pay less, as little as £69 per year or less than £1.35 per week.

[enaid]

Re: TV licensing to fine unlicensed offices where staff watch TV online

I was in a small cooked meat shop only yesterday and they had a letter from PRS. They thought someone had shopped them, as none of the other shops had received the same letter. They have to remove their radio or face a big fine.
When we were in the pub after six weeks we had them round they charged us per square foot and fined us 50% of the original cost because we hadn't obtained the license straight away. They didn't give any leeway either, or time to pay.

[Sapphire]

Re: TV licensing to fine unlicensed offices where staff watch TV online

Same thing happened to me di when I had the pubs. Mind you when we had the tanning shop they didn't get us and we had the radio on all day long in those sunbeds.
Now here's a thought we now work from home and have the radio/tv on all day, how do we stand regarding the licence? Is it a home licence or a work place licence?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[wino]

Re: TV licensing to fine unlicensed offices where staff watch TV online

If employees are listening to music through headphones a music licence would not be required because it does not constitute a public performance.

The boss aked about this and the guy from PR said its true but 'what would health and safety make of that if someone was to tell them'
AAAARRRGGGGHHHH!!!