Plenty of European countries do it like Ireland. Note that there were color and black & white licenses for b&w Televisions. You minimally needed a B&W license to listen to the radio.
You need a license to listen to the radio?
You can own a television without paying the fee. You're required to pay the fee if you use it to watch live TV. If you use it for home movies, video games, computers, etc. you don't have to pay.
I've read plenty of accounts (in these comment are some even) that suggest merely the owning of a TV will get you slapped with this tax.
The people who collect the feee try to pressure people into paying.
I believe there is a lot of push back in UK. I love the idea personally