Indeed. Licensing televisions is insanity.
Licensing radios (and later TV's) has been around since the earliest days of broadcasting in Britain. This was supposed to be the funding source for the BBC though I suspect it pays for a lot more than just the BBC now. Originally, the tax was paid on a per set basis, paid as part of the price of the set. Now, it appears to be on a per household basis, paid annually. Ain't socialism wonderful!