This only applies in the UK but something I never considered is, if you watch a broadcast on the web or through your mobile the same time it appears on on TV then you could be facing a hefty £1,000 fine.
Why? Well, it wouldn’t be covered under the present TV license which everyone must have to watch TV broadcasts.
With a recent O2 survey highlighting the fact that 80% of us would want to watch our TV through our mobiles then will we be seeing specific licenses for these mediums?
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Germany faces the same problems. Radio and TV are controlled by the state’s “GEZ”. You have to register each device capable of receiving TV or radio.
Since computers have turned into multimedia devices including TV and Radio Tuners you have to register and pay for them aswell. And how’s it with the fancy FM radio in your cellphone or ipod?
However there’s a difference between video-on-demand and live streams. Probably there will be new European Laws covering the changing media distribution channels issues.
February 13th, 2006 at 7:12 am