UK Mobile Phones Need TV Licenses
Owners of mobile phones which can show TV shows in the UK will still be required to buy a TV License, or could face a US$1,700 fine. In the UK, all people who own a television, or watch internet broadcasts of television shows are required to purchase an annual license which is used to fund the state broadcaster, the BBC. Using a TV or any other device to receive or record TV programmes (for example, a VCR, set-top box, DVD recorder or PC with a broadcast card) without a valid TV Licence is against the law.
The TV Licensing Authority is now busy working to ensure that broadcasts to mobile phones are also covered by the same legal requirements.
An exemption may exist for students however - as televisions powered by internal batteries used by students living away from home are covered by the TV License held by their parents. The clause was originally introduced for black & white televisions which were powered by batteries, but could now offer an opening for mobile phones and their colour screens.
Vodafone and Three have already signed up to offer sports and news over 3G networks while O2 has trialled DVB-H mobile TV broadcasting.
The TV Licensing Authority is now busy working to ensure that broadcasts to mobile phones are also covered by the same legal requirements.
An exemption may exist for students however - as televisions powered by internal batteries used by students living away from home are covered by the TV License held by their parents. The clause was originally introduced for black & white televisions which were powered by batteries, but could now offer an opening for mobile phones and their colour screens.
Vodafone and Three have already signed up to offer sports and news over 3G networks while O2 has trialled DVB-H mobile TV broadcasting.
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