[leslie123]

Are there people out there honestly,genuinely and solely watching black and white television. I don't think so. Lets look at the facts. Unless you are in the Tyne Tees or UTV areas then no black and white tv can receive off air tv signals under its own steam. It was once stated to me that if you have a VCR connected to a black and white tv then you had to have a colour television license as the VCR is a receiver of colour television signals.These days VCRs with analogue tuners are virtually defunct. However Freeview, Satellite and Cable boxes can also be regarded as receivers of colour television signals. In order for any black and white tv to display pictures then one of these boxes would have to be connected at RF level as most black and white sets have no AV inputs. But what I would like to know is where do these sets come from? How do keep them running?Who do you turn to when they need servicing? Where do you get spare parts from? I personally have not seen any table size 20 and 24 inch sets on sale for over thirty years. Late seventies, early eighties although I did see some 5 inch portables incorporating an AM/FM radio made in Eastern Europe on sale for a tenner in Woolworths about ten years ago and thats about it. These days I find massive numbers of colour tvs mainly CRT being thrown out because they are either broken or can no longer receive off air tv channels due to DSO or people wishing to upgrade to flatscreen, HD,etc. I do believe that there are some people who purchase black and white tv licenses even though they have colour because they believe it is better than no license at all and it keeps them off the radar of the Tv License Records Office although I would be inclined to ask questions.The only reason the black and white license exists at all like the license in general is because the people in the corridors of p-ower have no understanding whatsoever of the technical side of television.The way I see it, if there are people genuinely watching a black and white tv and are so far behind that they cannot afford any alternative, then they should be given the service for free and should not have to pay a license at all.Finally if you are watching a black and white set and would care to post, then I would be most fascinated to know how you manage and would care to answer any of the questions raised above.

[eyeblink]

Former MP Chris Mullin was one person (a few years ago) who only had a b/w television - as was revealed during the MPs' expenses claims' scandal. He only watched it for the news.

[Bedsit Bob]

Originally Posted by leslie123

Are there people out there honestly,genuinely and solely watching black and white television. I don't think so.

Do you have any evidence to support your belief, or do you, like the BBC, simply assume guilt?

However Freeview, Satellite and Cable boxes can also be regarded as receivers of colour television signals.[/quote]

Provided the Freeview, Satellite or Cable box does not record, then a B&W TV licence would be sufficient.

But what I would like to know is where do these sets come from?

B&W TVs available.

How do keep them running? Who do you turn to when they need servicing?[/quote]

There are still electronics engineers around you know.

Where do you get spare parts from?

You could try contacting a suppliers of electronic components.

I personally have not seen any table size 20 and 24 inch sets on sale for over thirty years.

Why do they need to be "table size", or in the "20 to 24 inch" range

I do believe that there are some people who purchase black and white tv licenses even though they have colour because they believe it is better than no license at all and it keeps them off the radar of the Tv License Records Office

It doesn't.

although I would be inclined to ask questions.

They do.

The only reason the black and white license exists at all like the license in general is because the people in the corridors of power have no understanding whatsoever of the technical side of television.

That's your opinion. It's not a fact.

The way I see it, if there are people genuinely watching a black and white tv and are so far behind that they cannot afford any alternative

Why do you assume they can't afford the alternative?

[BMR]

You can still use a black and white TV set providing it is connected to a Freeview box that doesn't record.

Which, IMHO, is a bit of a legal fudge, since the Freeview box will still be receiving colour signals. But I kind of like it. Black and white rocks!!

[swills]

From TVL:

Forty years since the first colour transmissions on BBC1 and ITV, new figures from TV Licensing reveal today that over 28,000 homes across the UK are still enjoying their programmes in black and white.

Despite many developments in new ways of watching TV, and sales of flat screen sets soaring, the figures show black and white sets are not ready for the dump just yet.

TV Licensing has published the figures to celebrate the 40th anniversary of colour broadcasts on BBC1 and ITV, which were first aired on 15th November 1969 - and to remind people that a TV Licence is needed to watch or record programmes as they’re being broadcast, whatever device you use to view your favourite shows.

The biggest urban areas are unsurprisingly the places with the most black and white sets, with nearly 5,500 homes in London owning black and white TV Licences, followed by over 1,300 in Birmingham and almost 1,000 in Manchester.

While the figures show there may be life in the oldest TV equipment yet, new BBC statisticsi show that emerging technologies are changing the way many of us watch TV. In September, the iPlayer attracted over 1 million unique users a day, who watched 60.8 million TV programmes - on the internet using computers, smart-phones and games consoles and on TV using Virgin Media set-top boxes.

[Shrewn]

An old ex farmer up the lane by me only had a B&W until a couple of years back, had it since the 60's, he only watched the news and MOTD, his eyesight had been faltering for sometime, when Wales switched over he got a colour TV (a relative's cast off) though because he is well turned 90 he doesn't have to pay a fee

[blueisthecolour]

The b/w license should have been abolished decades ago, it just down to political cowardice that it's still around.

Can anyone give one logical reason why people watching b/w shouldn't pay the same as everyone else?

[BMR]

Originally Posted by blueisthecolour

Can anyone give one logical reason why people watching b/w shouldn't pay the same as everyone else?

No I can't.

But here's one for you. Can you give a logical reason why cars built before 1973 should be exempt from road tax?

[mikw]

Originally Posted by Bedsit Bob

Do you have any evidence to support your belief, or do you, like the BBC, simply assume guilt?

"Assuming guilt" = "asking you for information using strong terms because you haven't replied to earlier requests....."

[Dan's Dad]

Originally Posted by leslie123

....The only reason the black and white license exists at all like the license in general is because the people in the corridors of p-ower have no understanding whatsoever of the technical side of television. ....

To whom are you referring when you use the term "people in the corridors of p-ower" [or even "people in the corridors of power"]?

Can you justify this allegation?

License - verb : Licence - noun.

[BrianWescombe]

I've always found it rather amusing (ie stupid) that a b/w licence is cheaper than the colour licence for blind people (who I believe get a small discount?) So someone who can't see the tv at all pays more for a licence than someone who has a b/w telly

Correct me if I'm wrong

[Bedsit Bob]

Originally Posted by mikw

"Assuming guilt" = "asking you for information using strong terms because you haven't replied to earlier requests....."

Assuming guilt = assuming all properties need a TV Licence.

[BMR]

Originally Posted by BrianWescombe

I've always found it rather amusing (ie stupid) that a b/w licence is cheaper than the colour licence for blind people (who I believe get a small discount?) So someone who can't see the tv at all pays more for a licence than someone who has a b/w telly

Correct me if I'm wrong

Remember that a blind person may have other people in their house who have perfect sight. This applies to a friend of mine with a blind mum.

In the analogue days a piece of equipment used to be available to blind people which picked up the sound only on UHF. I've no idea if such a thing exists for DTV (my instinct says 'no')

[Bedsit Bob]

Originally Posted by BrianWescombe

So someone who can't see the tv at all pays more for a licence than someone who has a b/w telly/

Unless the "someone who can't see the tv at all", has a B&W TV.

Or, better yet, has a STB connected to an audio amp, instead of a TV.

[BMR]

Originally Posted by Bedsit Bob

Unless the "someone who can't see the tv at all", has a B&W TV.

Or, better yet, has a STB connected to an audio amp, instead of a TV.

Yes, the RNIB website confirms this "You do not require a TV licence if you use a digital set-top box solely to listen to television programmes through a hi-fi or stereo system. The set top box must be incapable of recording and must not be connected to a device capable of showing images."

http://www.rnib.org.uk/livingwithsig..._licence.aspx/

[Bedsit Bob]

Originally Posted by BMR

In the analogue days a piece of equipment used to be available to blind people which picked up the sound only on UHF. I've no idea if such a thing exists for DTV (my instinct says 'no')

It does.

It consists of a STB, connected to an audio amp.

[Bedsit Bob]

Originally Posted by BMR

Yes, the RNIB website confirms this

As do TV Licensing.

Originally Posted by TV Licensing Enforcement Visiting Procedures (Chapter 7 – Section 2) – Special Considerations

2.4 A “Sound Box” - which is used to receive television sound but not the picture, does not require a TV licence.

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/foi/class...s_training.pdf

AND

Originally Posted by TV Licensing - Blind/severely sight impaired

You don’t need a TV Licence

If you have a digital box used to produce sounds only

Provided that it can't display TV programmes.

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-i...impaired-AUD5/

[lundavra]

Originally Posted by blueisthecolour

The b/w license should have been abolished decades ago, it just down to political cowardice that it's still around.

Can anyone give one logical reason why people watching b/w shouldn't pay the same as everyone else?

Why bother, it cannot cost much more to have two types of licence. The loss of revenue is minimal. Most of the people using a black and white TV will tend to be not very wealthy, many might get rid of their TV rather than pay for a full colour licence so there could be a loss of revenue. It would viewed as a measure hitting the poor so politicians would be wary of abolishing the black and white licence.

I am sure that both the BBC and government have much more important things to worry about.

[AngusMast]

I'm red-green colourblind, I should get a 33% discount

[kidspud]

I have a black and white tv in my garage. It was the first ever portable bought for me when I was a child. It's great, it actually shows a nice clear picture and provides a bit of warmth in the garage.

[Martin Phillp]

I still have a Samsung 14" B&W complete with tuning dial from 1988 which still works, but would require a Freeview box with RF output for it to receive pictures again.

[Steveaustin316]

When did shops stop selling black and white TV's?

[Bedsit Bob]

Originally Posted by Martin Phillp

but would require a Freeview box with RF output for it to receive pictures again.

Here you go.

Or you could use a separate RF Modulator.

Or, if your TV has AV-in Phono sockets, you could use this cable.

Failing all those options, get yourself a VCR recorder (even one that won't record/play will do the job), and use its modulator to connect a SCART Freeview box to your TV.

[sparkplugs]

In Japan, where they also have a TV licence system, they pay different TV licence prices depending on whether you watch either terrestrial, cable or satellite television.

[Robert__law]

They have never stopped selling BW TVs but in recent years the only black and white sets available were tiny portables