TV licence - whan was it needed? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

ukcol · 4th May 2007, 10:48 pm

Watching "Eggheads" this evening I learnt that the exact year of the introduction of the TV licence was 1946.

What was required before then, just a radio receiving licence?

1946 was a particularly special year BTW.

Steve_P · 4th May 2007, 11:22 pm

Yes, that's right. The Radio Licence is now defunct. At least you got decent programming for your money then!

Cheers,

Steve P

Mike Phelan · 5th May 2007, 8:12 am

ISTR both licences were needed for quite a long while, and you needed another radio licence if you had a car radio.

Paul_RK · 5th May 2007, 8:23 am

I'm pretty sure you're right about the car licence, Mike, but otherwise there wasn't a time when both were needed - the standard TV licence was always a combined one covering radio as well. "Radio! Radio!" gives figures for the several types of broadcast licences taken out in each year to 1971: it took until 1957-8 for the year's sales of combined radio and TV licences to overtake those of the radio-only version. The radio-only licence was abolished in February '71.

Regards,
Paul

Duke_Nukem · 5th May 2007, 8:52 am

Yes, the TV licence also covered radio.

But just to complete the picture, for a short time after introduction of the TV licence you could use your radio licence to cover TV, only when your existing radio licence expired did you then need a telly licence. For this reason, the TV licence figures prior to mid-47 don't give a clear picture of the number of sets in use.

TTFN,
Jon

4th May 2007, 10:48 pm	#1
ukcol Rest in Peace Join Date: May 2003 Location: Harlaxton, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 3,944	TV licence - whan was it needed? Watching "Eggheads" this evening I learnt that the exact year of the introduction of the TV licence was 1946. What was required before then, just a radio receiving licence? 1946 was a particularly special year BTW.

4th May 2007, 11:22 pm	#2
Steve_P Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6,644	Re: TV licence Yes, that's right. The Radio Licence is now defunct. At least you got decent programming for your money then! Cheers, Steve P __________________ If we've always had it, why is the Car Boot open? You're not sneaking another Old TV in are you...?

5th May 2007, 8:12 am	#3
Mike Phelan Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 4,609	Re: TV licence ISTR both licences were needed for quite a long while, and you needed another radio licence if you had a car radio. __________________ Mike.

5th May 2007, 8:23 am	#4
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,255	Re: TV licence I'm pretty sure you're right about the car licence, Mike, but otherwise there wasn't a time when both were needed - the standard TV licence was always a combined one covering radio as well. "Radio! Radio!" gives figures for the several types of broadcast licences taken out in each year to 1971: it took until 1957-8 for the year's sales of combined radio and TV licences to overtake those of the radio-only version. The radio-only licence was abolished in February '71. Regards, Paul

5th May 2007, 8:52 am	#5
Duke_Nukem Octode Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 1,268	Re: TV licence Yes, the TV licence also covered radio. But just to complete the picture, for a short time after introduction of the TV licence you could use your radio licence to cover TV, only when your existing radio licence expired did you then need a telly licence. For this reason, the TV licence figures prior to mid-47 don't give a clear picture of the number of sets in use. TTFN, Jon