BBC One to Simulcast Live Online

BBC1 is to air live on the internet, making it the first of the corporation's analogue TV channels to be simulcast on the web.

For the first time in the flagship channel's 44-year history, viewers will not need a television to watch BBC1 live.

The channel will be available as a live video stream via bbc.co.uk, which is being relaunched with improved listings and programme information.

Making BBC1 available online will be a watershed moment for the corporation and the traditional television set.

Although BBC3 and the BBC News Channel are already simulcast online, they have always been digital services, whereas BBC1 is the first of the corporation's mainstream analogue networks to take the internet plunge.

Despite the move meaning viewers will not need a television to access BBC1, they will still have to pay the licence fee.

According to the corporation's licence fee website: "You need a TV licence to use any television receiving equipment such as a TV set, set-top box, video or DVD recorder, computer or mobile phone to watch or record TV programmes as they are being shown on TV."

Viewers can already catch up on BBC1 shows they have missed via the BBC iPlayer but have not been able to watch them live.

The plan was outlined today in the BBC's annual statements of programme policy and is due to be carried out within the next year.

The BBC director general, Mark Thompson, said: "Building on the success of the iPlayer, we want to develop bbc.co.uk to include a broad range of the BBC's broadcast content, as well as new and interactive forms of media that enable audiences to interact with and contribute to the website."

So if BBC One do stream online, are they going to make each region available or just the network feed?

I'm assuming they'll just use the network feed because all the regional programmes are already available to view online through the regional websites.

For the first time in the flagship channel's 44-year history,

the first of the corporation's analogue TV channels to be simulcast on the web.

The quote said on the first line

I've been wondering this for a while......If you don't have a TV but have a computer connected to the net, will you be charged the licence fee?

My understanding is that if you use your PC to watch live TV broadcasts - whether using a TV tuner card or streaming BBC One or the BBC News Channel via the internet on a PC (or IPTV box for that matter), then you need a TV licence.

However watching pre-recorded material, such as can be downloaded or streamed after broadcast via the iPlayer, doesn't require a licence, any more than watching a DVD player or pre-recorded VHS tapes does on a TV.

The licence is to "receive TV broadcasts" (not stipulated how or from which source - so even if you have a satellite TV that you only watch overseas broadcasts on you are still required to pay a UK TV licence in the UK) - not to own a TV - though the difference between the two is subtle to some...