TV Licence? WTF?

[Roomys]

The ironic thing is, in our family I am the only one without a tv license, since they have decided we owe over R20k on a license that has been paid in full each year (we have proof of payment), but even though we have sent proof of payment, we cannot buy a new tv with my dad's license until we pay up. . . .

In Durban i can organise a TV for him no problem eh man!

[Wyvern]

In Durban i can organise a TV for him no problem eh man!

Hahahahahaha ^5!

[Mister 44]

Speaking of daylight robbery posing as outdated license fees, do you still need a dog/cat license or fishing license? I own a dog, a cat and I even fish on occasion, but I do not own any of the aforementioned licenses.

[AlphaJohn]

Speaking of daylight robbery posing as outdated license fees, do you still need a dog/cat license or fishing license? I own a dog, a cat and I even fish on occasion, but I do not own any of the aforementioned licenses.

Pet licence for cat and dog, not anymore, but fishing and exotic pets... Hell yes. I totally understand why you need one for fishing. In theory its to prevent over utilization of our limited natural resources.

Bicycle licence also scraped some time ago. <-- that one was a pain in the neck
TV Licence <-- take a family member with that pays licence fee to buy a new TV and dont get on that list... ever. Its next to impossible to get off it. I mean I had to pay TV licence for the 5 years I can prove I was out of the country simply because I did not inform them.

[brendanvb]

I also had to get a TV license to buy my TV a few years back, and I regret it every year as not once have I ever plugged in an antenna to receive an SABC signal. I've heard the only way to get out of it is to go have your receiver within the TV removed and fax proof of this (from a TV repair company or something) to SABC along with your cancellation request. Although I've heard some horror stories of even trying to do that. They do their very best to keep you from cancelling.

[Tom]

Ya they got me too... Now i just seem to keep paying and paying and paying... All for my one TV... That gets everything off the PC iv got plugged into it...

My advice to anyone that needs to buy a TV... Take someone with you that already has a TV licence...

[Wyzak]

A TV license is the only reason I hope they encrypt the signals in the set top boxes. That way they can disconnect those who don't pay and allow those of us who don't want to watch the propaganda on TV to buy TVs for other purposes without requiring a TV license.

Once you sign up you can never get off of their list.

[Clive Woofer]

A TV license is the only reason I hope they encrypt the signals in the set top boxes. That way they can disconnect those who don't pay and allow those of us who don't want to watch the propaganda on TV to buy TVs for other purposes without requiring a TV license.

Once you sign up you can never get off of their list.

Yeah, you and I both know that's never going to happen. Why would they cut off such a viable stream of revenue? If TV licenses became optional, nobody would have them.

[Wyzak]

Yeah, you and I both know that's never going to happen. Why would they cut off such a viable stream of revenue? If TV licenses became optional, nobody would have them.

Yep agreed, but I find it peculiar that the state is arguing so hard for the encryption when other players like ETV etc are begging for it to be free of encryption.

[James]

While you might be moaning about R250 a year for a TV licence fee, here it costs me 2,076 SEK per year (R3,500-odd).

Despite the fact that our TV isn't even plugged into an antenna and we don't watch the local TV at all, we have to pay it simply because we have internet devices that can be used to watch the streams online.

Yep, it really is that batshit.

So R250 for a TV licence a year isn't that bad. Bearing in mind that I'm of the devout opinion that TV licences are a draconian model and should be utterly scrapped.

That is expensive, but being a socialist country and all, you knew what you were getting into, and at least everything is highly functional there.

Yep agreed, but I find it peculiar that the state is arguing so hard for the encryption when other players like ETV etc are begging for it to be free of encryption.

Wrong way round. E.tv wants encryption, DStv and SABC are fighting it.

We just published an article that touches on why this may be. TL;DR - DStv is scared of competition (i.e. more Pay TV operators working over digital TV signals, which would be predicated on an encrypted signal).

Cut DStv prices if you really care about consumers: minister
http://mybroadband.co.za/news/broadc...-minister.html