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Check the box on the very bottom. "Hide all live broadcasts on the store product pages."
I live in the UK and don't have a TV licence, which makes watching ANY live broadcast, including live streaming, on a personal device, illegal. I honestly wouldn't expect a large foreign company like Valve to even consider / care about it.
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/Live-TV-and-how-you-watch-it
you need a Licence for stuff if its on TV (the way you look the TV Channels doesn't matter). But since Twitch has no TV Channel..
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/telling-us-you-dont-need-a-tv-licence
Depends on the definition of 'programme' - I kinda don't want to take my chances with statements such as,
"But it isn’t just live news or sport which needs a licence – it’s any programme which is part of a TV channel, broadcast or transmitted for everyone to watch at the same time."
and
"Online-only TV channels still count as live TV, so you need a TV Licence if you’re watching or recording their programmes". (source https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ33)
When a definition is fuzzy, it's on purpose. For example, you tube organises by 'channels'. The key wording of all the examples is 'live'
If you take things this literal you might want to stay away from rivers also, because they have channels!
I knew nothing of these licences before you brought them up, and after reading about them for 4 minutes I could tell it has nothing to do with streaming things online (besides major TV stations).
If you are concerned that viewing content on your PC constitutes a need for a TV licence it would also require the licencing body to prove it - which requires active monitoring or recording of your internet traffic. They wouldn't be able to prove it.
At least you aren't in Ireland where we have to have one regardless of the action of viewing content, purely owning a device capable of viewing the content requires having a TV licence.
That said, I wouldn't be surprised if the UK follows Ireland in making it mandatory for anyone with a device in their home able to view such content.
edit - Going off the logic of being able to view live content would also mean most online ads you see that contain live videos could technically mean you need a licence. See where it all falls apart now?
I can see where you are going, and I wouldn't be surprised if the UK does follow that licensing route, but in regards to the advertisments, my understanding is that the original point of this post was to disable such online ads, which the live streams in steam basically are. Most online Ads arent streamed to everbody who see's them, live, en mass, at the same time.
And yeah, you are right, it's all about onus of proof, but your internet traffic is monitored and recorded, if not by a human being, (cookies, server records, etc, but that's getting off topic) and yeah, there are ways around it etc, but I just don't want the hassle that comes with it. If I do somehow end up with an inspector who has plod in tow, forcing entry, (very unlikely I know, I have spent literal years throwing their threatening letters in the bin), but if it DOES happen, I'm covered as can be, after all, in english law, Ignorance of the law is no defence.
As such, unlike the post above yours who has completely missed the point, I get a bit wary when documents that can be used legally are fuzzy in definition. Yeah, it's an opening for defense, but if their lawyers are more expensive than your's, it can also be used as a blanket that can smother you. I know because I work with legal documents myself.
Either way, what anybody else chooses to do in this situation is up to them, and if nothing comes of it, more power to them, jsut as for me, I think I can see which way the wind is blowing and don't want to take the chance. After all, there was no national media warning when they changed the law to cover online services, it was kinda sneaked in when nobody was watching. In my opinion, and it's my opinion only, when they say things such as 'youtube' and 'amazon', it's either very precise, or examples that could potentially cover sites like 'twitch', but they don't make the precise definition of which it is. I do notice that they use the word "includes" when mentioning these sites, so that gives me the impression they are using them as examples.
UK law can be funny like that, for example, high way code will have two similar sounding phrases "you should not" and "you must not". The should not's are not illegal, but you will be held liable for any incidents if you choose to go against these, whilst the "must not's" are straight up illegal, but they are used in such a way to make you think both are illegal.
Just my two cents really.
also, TF is a TV licence?
nvm googled it... LOL you have to pay extra to watch or own/buy a TV? (also a radio?) on over the air broadcast?
i can see paying for cable, or internet, but taxing people extra just to own a TV/radio or to watch said over the air broadcasts, is just disgusting.
btw, twitch or game streaming sites, are not television broadcasts, so they should have nothing to do with a TV licence.
talk about one of the weirdest taxes i have heard of... guess that is one good reason that i dont live in UK
over the air broadcast (on TV and radio) is free in the US, lucky us
Wrong.
Live TV means any programme you watch or record as it’s being shown on TV or live on an online TV service. It’s not just live events like sport, news and music. It also covers soaps, series, documentaries and even movies.
The most important parts - "as it’s being shown on TV" or "live on an online TV service".
YouTube, Steam etc are not live TV services, BUT if someone streamed a live sport event without permission on YouTube it would be classified as a "live broadcast" if you watched it BUT YouTube would not be classified as a "live TV service".
BBC Sport app is a live TV service BUT if you watch a replay of a live event it is not classified as watching a live broadcast and therefore a TV licence is not required.
I know i live in the UK and i do not have a TV licence.
people actually go to jail when they don't pay it.. its ilke the worst possible crime in Germany..
Are you certain? Cos they do mention youtube specifically
"
An online TV service is any streaming or smart TV service, website or app that lets you watch TV programmes over the internet. This includes services like All 4, Sky Go, Now TV, BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and ITV Hub"
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/Live-TV-and-how-you-watch-it
as to what a TV programme legally is, that's the bit that concerns me. But it seems they have that covered too,
"Simulcasts A simulcast is when a live event is available to watch in more than one way. For example, a live music event may be shown on TV, radio and online at the same time, giving you a choice of how to enjoy it. Another example could be a radio show with a live video feed to watch the DJs or presenters, as well as listen to the audio. [License required?] Yes, if watching or recording simulcasts as they are being shown on live TV.
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/cs/media-centre/news/view.app?id=1369783012664