Editing Television licence (section)

==Television licences in Europe==
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:left"
|+
|- 
! Country
! TV licence required?
! class="unsortable" |Prices and notes
|-
| {{flag|Albania}}
|{{Yes|yes}}
| €7.73/month - (800 [[Albanian lek|L]])
|-
| {{flag|Austria}}
|{{Yes|yes}}
| €15.30–€20 per month<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.derstandard.at/consent/tcf/story/3000000199068/orf-beitrag-plus-landesabgabe-die-steirer-zahlen-am-meisten|title=ORF-Beitrag plus Landesabgabe: Die Steirer zahlen am meisten|website=DER STANDARD}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Belarus}}
|{{No|no}}
| None exists
|-
| {{flag|Belgium}}
|{{No|no}}
| Abolished in 2018: {{cslist|Flemish region and Brussels in 2001|Walloon region on 1 January 2018<ref name = Belgium2018>{{cite web|title=Redevance TV : questions suite à sa suppression en 2018|url=http://www.wallonie.be/fr/actualites/redevance-tv-questions-suite-sa-suppression-en-2018|website=Portail de la Wallonie|access-date=24 February 2018|language=fr}}</ref>}}
|-
| {{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
|{{Yes|yes}}
| €3.83/month - (7.5 KM per month<ref>{{cite web | url=https://china-cee.eu/2022/04/25/bosnia-herzegovina-political-briefing-bhrt-pressured-by-debts-faces-hard-times/ | title=BHRT pressured by debts faces hard times| date=25 April 2022 }}</ref>)
|-
| {{flag|Bulgaria}}
|{{No|no}}
| Abolished
|-
| {{flag|Croatia}}
|{{Yes|yes}}
| €10.62/month<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://o-nama.hrt.hr/pristojba/pristojba-4431|title=Pristojba|website=Hrvatska radiotelevizija}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Cyprus}}
|{{No|no}}
| Abolished
|-
| {{flag|Czech Republic}}
|{{Yes|yes}}
| €{{To EUR|180|CZE}}/month - (135 Kč per month (TV),<ref name="CzechTV">[https://poplatky.ceskatelevize.cz/domacnost Czech Television - license fees (in Czech)]</ref> 45 Kč per month (radio)<ref name="CzechRadio">{{Cite web|url=https://poplatek.rozhlas.cz/domacnosti-8115248|title=Domácnosti|date=26 November 2019|website=Rozhlasový poplatek}}</ref>)
|-
| {{flag|Denmark}}
|{{No|no}}
| Abolished<ref name="statista.com">"[https://www.statista.com/statistics/545850/annual-tv-and-radio-licence-fees-in-denmark/]." statista.com. Retrieved on 2 January 2023. "Annual TV and radio license fees in Denmark from 2010 to 2021."</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Estonia}}
|{{No|no}}
| None exists
|-
| {{flag|Finland}}
|{{No|no}}
| Abolished in 2013 in favour of a new tax system <ref name="End of the road for TV license fees">{{cite web|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/end_of_the_road_for_tv_license_fees/6392392|title=End of the road for TV license fees|work=Yle Uutiset|date=27 November 2012|access-date=12 July 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|France}}
|{{No|no}}
| Abolished in 2022<ref name="walesonline.co.uk">{{cite web | url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/cost-of-living/france-axes-tv-licence-fee-24666231 | title=France's TV licence scrapped to help with cost of living crisis | date=4 August 2022 }}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Georgia}}
|{{No|no}}
| None exists
|-
| {{flag|Germany}}
|{{Yes|yes}}
| €18.36/month - (per month<ref>{{cite web | url=https://allaboutberlin.com/guides/gez-rundfunkbeitrag | title=What is the German TV tax (Rundfunkbeitrag)? | date=2 March 2023 }}</ref>) regardless of actual TV ownership.
|-
| {{flag|Greece}}
|{{Yes|yes}}
| €3.00/month - (fee on monthly electricity bills<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dei.gr/en/oikiakoi-pelates/xrisimes-plirofories-gia-to-logariasmo-sas/logariasmos-kai-xrewseis/ti-aforoun-oi-xrewseis-uper-tritwn-efk-eidtelos-5/elliniki-radiofwnia-tileorasi-anwnumi-etaireia-ert|title= ERT (Greek Radio and Television) fee (Law 4324/29.04.15)|work=[[Public Power Corporation]]|access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref>)
|-
| {{flag|Hungary}}
|{{No|no}}
| Abolished<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nepszava.hu/articles/article.php?id=324817|title=Újra eltörlik az üzembentartási díjat|work=NÉPSZAVA online|access-date=12 July 2015|archive-date=17 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017214320/http://nepszava.hu/articles/article.php?id=324817|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Iceland}}
|{{No|no}}
| Abolished in 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ruv.is/um-ruv/afnotadeild|title=About licensing fees in Iceland in icelandic|website=Ruv.is|access-date=27 January 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009190121/http://ruv.is/um-ruv/afnotadeild|archive-date=9 October 2014}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Ireland}}
|{{Yes|yes}}
| €13.33 - (€160.00 per year<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/consumer/phone_internet_tv_and_postal_services/tv_licences.html | title=TV licences | date=2 March 2023 }}</ref>)
|-
| {{flag|Italy}}
|{{Yes|yes}}
| €70.00/year - (fee on electricity bills)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.informazionefiscale.it/esenzione-canone-Rai-2024-chi-non-paga-domanda-scadenza-esonero|title=Esenzione canone Rai 2024|date=19 June 2024|website=informazionefiscale.it}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Latvia}}
|{{No|no}}
| None exists
|-
| {{flag|Liechtenstein}}
|{{No|no}}
| Abolished
|-
| {{flag|Lithuania}}
|{{No|no}}
| None exists
|-
| {{flag|Luxembourg}}
|{{No|no}}
| None exists
|-
| {{flag|Malta}}
|{{No|no}}
| Abolished
|-
| {{flag|Monaco}}
|{{No|no}}
| None exists
|-
| {{flag|Montenegro}}
|{{Yes|yes}}
| €3.50 - (per month)
|-
| {{flag|Netherlands}}
|{{No|no}}
| Abolished
|-
| {{flag|New Zealand}}
|{{No|no}}
| Abolished in 1999<ref name="NZabolish">{{cite news |last1=Cleave |first1=Louisa |title=BROADCASTING: Licence-fee cut hits local content on TV |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/broadcasting-licence-fee-cut-hits-local-content-on-tv/3JQCTOTENGTCPTTFFOFG3H7LAA/ |access-date=24 April 2025 |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=30 Jun 2000}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|North Macedonia}}
|{{No|no}}
| Abolished
|-
| {{flag|Norway}}
|{{No|no}}
| Abolished in 2020 in favour of a new tax system
|-
| {{flag|Poland}}
|{{Yes|yes}}
| €5.22 - (€62.67 - 272.40 [[Polish złoty|zł]] per year)
|-
| {{flag|Portugal}}
|{{Yes|yes}}
|€36.24 fee on electricity bills
|-
| {{flag|Romania}}
|{{No|no}}
| Abolished
|-
| {{flag|Russia}}
|{{No|no}}
| None exists
|-
| {{flag|Serbia}}
|{{Yes|yes}}
| €3/month (349 RSD; fee on electricity bills)
|-
| {{flag|Slovakia}}
|{{no|no}}
| Abolished in 2023<ref name="tvnoviny.sk">{{Cite web|url=https://tvnoviny.sk/ekonomika/clanok/645486-za-rtvs-uz-nebudete-platit-ani-cent-koncesionarske-poplatky-sa-definitivne-rusia|title=Za RTVS už nebudete platiť ani cent. Koncesionárske poplatky sa definitívne rušia|website=tvnoviny.sk|date=22 February 2023 }}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Slovenia}}
|{{Yes|yes}}
| €12.75/month - (€153; radio €45.24)
|-
| {{flag|Spain}}
|{{No|no}}
| None exists
|-
| {{flag|Sweden}}
| {{No|no}}
| Abolished<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotjanst.se/en/Radio-and-TV-fee/the-radio-and-tv-fee-is-being-replaced/|title=The radio and TV fee is being replaced|website=Radiotjänst|access-date=1 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116001235/https://www.radiotjanst.se/en/Radio-and-TV-fee/the-radio-and-tv-fee-is-being-replaced/|archive-date=16 November 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Switzerland}}
|{{Yes|yes}}
| €28.96/month - (€347.50 - CHF 335.00<ref>{{cite web |title=Fee Overview |url=https://www.serafe.ch/en/the-fee/fee-overview/ |website=SERAFE AG |access-date=27 June 2022}}</ref>)
|-
| {{flag|Turkey}}
|{{Yes|yes}}
| €0.57 - (e.g. 20 Lira/month, 2% of electricity bill and indirect charge on the appliance at purchase (average electricity bill 50-200 Turkish lira, up to 500 lira))
|-
| {{flag|Ukraine}}
|{{No|no}}
| None exists
|-
| {{flag|United Kingdom}}
|{{Yes|yes}}
| colour TV: £174.50 per year; monochrome TV: £58.50 per year; blind people: 50% discount
|}

===Albania===
The Albanian licence fee is 100 [[Albanian lek|lekë]] per month, paid as part of the electricity bill.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.qbz.gov.al/botime/fletore_zyrtare/2014/PDF-2014/196-2014.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=31 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501111613/http://www.qbz.gov.al/botime/fletore_zyrtare/2014/PDF-2014/196-2014.pdf |archive-date=1 May 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This makes up part of [[RTSH]]'s funding: 58 per cent comes directly from the government through taxes with the remainder from commercials and the licence fee.

===Austria===
Under [[Austria]]'s TV and Radio Licence Law (''Fernseh- und Hörfunklizenzrecht''), all operational broadcast reception equipment must be registered. Since 1998, the {{ill|Gebühren Info Service|de}} (GIS) has been responsible for licence administration. GIS was renamed ORF-Beitragsservice (OBS) in 2024. It is a fully-owned subsidiary of the Austrian public broadcaster, ([[ORF (broadcaster)|ORF]]) and an agency of the [[Federal Ministry of Finance (Austria)|Federal Ministry of Finance]]. GIS aims to inform people about licensing, using a four-channel communication strategy consisting of:
* advertising campaigns in printed media, radio and television,
* direct mail,
* outlets such as post offices, banks, tobacconists and the five GIS Service Centres where people can register,
* field service customer consultants visiting households not yet registered.

In 2007 the total licensing income was €682 million, 66 per cent of which was allocated to the ORF. The remaining 34 per cent was allocated to the federal government and local governments to fund cultural activities. GIS employs 191 people and has approximately 125 freelancers in the field service. 3.4 million Austrian households are registered with the GIS with 2.5 per cent evading the licence.

The television & radio licence fee varies between [[States of Austria|states]]. As of 2022, [[Styria]] has the highest annual television licence cost, at €343.80, and [[Salzburg (state)|Salzburg]] and [[Burgenland]] have the highest annual radio licence cost, at €94.92. Annual fees from July 2022 are:<ref name="Übersicht">{{cite web|title=Übersicht|url=https://www.gis.at/gebuehren/uebersicht/|website=GIS|access-date=24 February 2018|language=de}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!State
!Television
!Radio
|-
|[[Burgenland]]
|€341.40
|€94.92
|-
|[[Carinthia (state)|Carinthia]]
|€330.60
|€92.52
|-
|[[Lower Austria]]
|€339.00
|€93.72
|-
|[[Upper Austria]]
|€269.40
|€75.72
|-
|[[Salzburg (federal state)|Salzburg]]
|€325.80
|€94.92
|-
|[[Styria]]
|€343.80
|€94.92
|-
|[[Tyrol (federal state)|Tyrol]]
|€317.40
|€88.92
|-
|[[Vorarlberg]]
|€269.40
|€75.72
|-
|[[Vienna]]
|€339.00
|€94.20
|}

Since 2024, the broadcasting fee has been replaced by a household tax that every household pays. It is €15.30 per month. In the federal states of Burgenland, Carinthia, Styria and Tyrol, an additional state tax must be paid - this amounts to between €3.10 and €4.70 per month.

=== Bosnia and Herzegovina ===
The licence fee in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] is approximately €46 per year.<ref>
{{cite book
| title = Television across Europe: regulation, policy and independence: Bosnia and Herzegovina
| publisher = EU Monitoring and Advocacy Program (EUMAP)/ Open Society Institute (OSI)
|year=2005
| isbn = 978-1-891385-35-3
| url = http://www.eumap.org/topics/media/television_europe/national/bosnia/media_bos1.pdf
| pages = 253–338| author = Open Society Institute, EU Monitoring and Advocacy Program; Network Media Program.}}
</ref> The [[Bosnian War]] and associated collapse of infrastructure caused very high evasion rates. This has partly been resolved by collecting the licence fee as part of each household's monthly telephone bill. The licence fee is divided between three broadcasters:
* 50 per cent to [[BHRT]] (Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina), the main radio and television broadcaster in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] at national level, and Bosnia's only member of the [[European Broadcasting Union]].
* 25 per cent to [[RTVFBiH]] (Radio-Television of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina), a radio and television broadcaster that primarily serves the [[Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina]].
* 25 per cent to [[RTRS]] (Radio-Television of the Republika Srpska), a radio and television broadcaster which primarily serves the [[Republika Srpska]].

===Croatia===
The licence fee in [[Croatia]] is regulated by the Croatian Radiotelevision Act, 2003.<ref name="croatia-law">
{{cite web
| url = http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/304950.html
| title = Zakon o Hrvatskoj radioteleviziji (The Croatian Radio-Television Act)
| language = hr
| date = 19 February 2003
| author = Croatian Parliament
| publisher = [[Narodne novine]] NN 2003/25
| access-date =13 June 2010
| author-link = Croatian Parliament
}}</ref><ref>{{cite book
| title = Television across Europe: regulation, policy and independence: Croatia
| publisher = EU Monitoring and Advocacy Program (EUMAP)/ Open Society Institute (OSI)
|year=2005
| isbn = 978-1-891385-35-3
| url = http://www.eumap.org/topics/media/television_europe/national/croatia/media_cro1.pdf
| pages = 425–481| author = Open Society Institute, EU Monitoring and Advocacy Program; Network Media Program.}}
</ref> This law was written to ensure compliance with the European Convention on Transfrontier Television, which Croatia joined between 1999 and 2002.<ref name="ectt-cets-132"/> In addition to the licensing, the law regulates television advertising. Up to 9 per cent of air time on HRT may be given to advertising, with a limit of only one commercial during short breaks and no breaks during films. This is less than the limit permitted for commercial broadcasters.

The licence fee is charged to all owners of equipment capable of receiving television or radio broadcasts. It is set at 1.5 per cent of the previous year's average net salary,<ref name="croatia-law"/> which is{{when|date=March 2023}} €137 per year per household with at least one radio or television receiver. It is the main source of revenue for the national broadcaster [[Croatian Radiotelevision|Hrvatska Radiotelevizija (HRT)]], and a secondary source of income for other national and local broadcasters, which receive a minority share. Within HRT, 66 per cent of the licence fee income goes to television and 34 per cent to radio.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.hrt.hr/uploads/media/Statut_HRT-a.doc
| language = hr
| title = Statut Hrvatske Radiotelevizije
| publisher = [[Croatian Radiotelevision]]
| date = 26 June 2008
| access-date = 14 June 2010
| archive-date = 9 July 2014
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140709101256/http://www.hrt.hr/uploads/media/Statut_HRT-a.doc
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>

===Czech Republic===
The licence fee in the [[Czech Republic]] is 135 Kč per month for television and 45 Kč per month for radio, amounting to 2160 Kč per year.<ref name="CzechTV" /><ref name="CzechRadio" /> Paid advertisements are not permitted on television except in narrowly defined circumstances during a transitional period. Each household that owns at least one television pays for one licence, regardless of how many televisions they own. Corporations and the self-employed must pay for a licence for each television and radio.

===Germany===
The licence fee in Germany is €18.36 per month (€220 per annum) for all apartments, secondary residences, holiday homes and summer houses. Since 2003 it has been payable regardless of possession or use of television and radio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rundfunkbeitrag.de/buergerinnen-und-buerger/rund-um-das-neue-modell.shtml|title=Der neue Rundfunkbeitrag – Bürgerinnen und Bürger: Rund um das neue Modell|publisher=rundfunkbeitrag.de|access-date=17 March 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317102029/http://www.rundfunkbeitrag.de/buergerinnen-und-buerger/rund-um-das-neue-modell.shtml|archive-date=17 March 2013}}</ref> Businesses and institutions must pay, based on factors including numbers of employees, vehicles and, for hotels, beds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rundfunkbeitrag.de/unternehmen-und-institutionen/rund-um-das-neue-modell.shtml|title=Der neue Rundfunkbeitrag – Unternehmen und Institutionen: Rund um das neue Modell|publisher=rundfunkbeitrag.de|access-date=17 March 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317092949/http://www.rundfunkbeitrag.de/unternehmen-und-institutionen/rund-um-das-neue-modell.shtml|archive-date=17 March 2013}}</ref> The fee is billed monthly but typically paid quarterly or yearly. It is collected by [[Beitragsservice von ARD, ZDF und Deutschlandradio]] which is sometimes criticized for its enforcement measures.<ref>{{cite news |last=Costello |first=Patrick |date=17 December 2016 |title=Germans risk fines and jail to protest public TV tax |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/12/17/germans-risk-fines-jail-protest-public-tv-tax/95338958/|work=[[USA Today]] |access-date=27 April 2018}}</ref> Since 2013, only recipients of certain social benefits such as [[Hartz IV|Arbeitslosengeld II]] or [[Student financial aid (Germany)|student loans and grants]] are exempt from the licence fee. People with certain disabilities can apply to pay a reduced fee of €5.83. Low income, in general, is no longer a reason for exemption.<ref>{{cite web |title=The licence fee (Rundfunkbeitrag) – For citizens |url=https://www.rundfunkbeitrag.de/e175/e5283/Informationsflyer_Buergerinnen_und_Buerger_Englisch.pdf |website=rundfunkbeitrag.de |access-date=27 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427184439/https://www.rundfunkbeitrag.de/e175/e5283/Informationsflyer_Buergerinnen_und_Buerger_Englisch.pdf |archive-date=27 April 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Since the fee is billed to a person and not to a dwelling, empty dwellings are exempt.

[[File:ARD Karte.svg|190px|thumb|Nine members of ARD]]
The licence fee is used to fund the public broadcasters [[ZDF]] and [[Deutschlandradio]], as well as the nine regional broadcasters of the [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]] network. Together, they run 22 television channels (10 regional, 10 national, 2 international: [[Arte]] and [[3sat]]) and 61 radio stations (58 regional, 3 national). Two national television stations and 32 regional radio stations carry limited advertising. The 14 regional regulatory authorities for private broadcasters are also funded by the licence fee, and in some states, non-profit community radio stations get small amounts of the licence fee. Germany's international broadcaster, [[Deutsche Welle]], is fully funded by the German federal government, though much of its new content is provided by the ARD.

Germany's per capita budget for public broadcasting is close to the European average but the total is one of the largest in the world. In 2006, annual income from licence fees was more than €7.9 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rundfunkbeitrag.de/e175/e5042/Jahresbericht_2016.pdf |title=Jahresbericht 2016 |trans-title=Annual Report 2016 |website=rundfunkbeitrag.de |language=de |access-date=27 April 2018 |archive-date=14 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214092527/https://www.rundfunkbeitrag.de/e175/e5042/Jahresbericht_2016.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The board of public broadcasters sued the German states for interference with their budgeting process, and on 11 September 2007, the Supreme Court decided in their favour. This effectively rendered the public broadcasters independent and self-governing.
Public broadcasters have announced that they are determined to use all available ways to reach their "customers" and as such have started a very broad Internet presence with media portals, news and TV programs. National broadcasters abandoned an earlier pledge to restrict their online activities. This resulted in newspapers taking court action against the ARD, claiming that its ''Tagessschau'' smartphone app was unfairly subsidised by the licence fee, to the detriment of free-market providers of news content apps. The case was dismissed with the court advising the two sides to find a compromise.

===Greece===
The licence fee in [[Greece]] is paid through electricity bills. It is charged to every electricity account, including private residences and businesses. There has been discussion of replacing it with a direct licence fee after complaints from people who do not own a television set. An often-quoted joke is that even the dead pay the licence fee, since graveyards have electricity bills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.awmn.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21302&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070921003902/http://www.awmn.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21302&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight= |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 September 2007 |work=AWMN Forum |title=ΕΡΤ και ΔΕΗ. Πως μπορείτε να μην πληρώνετε αναγκαστικά. |trans-title=ERT and PPC. How can you not necessarily pay. |date=16 May 2006 |access-date=13 January 2011}}</ref>

Licensing income is paid to the state broadcaster, [[Ellinikí Radiofonía Tileórasi]] (ERT). In June 2013, ERT was closed down to save money for the Greek government and licence fees were temporarily suspended.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dabilis|first=Andy|title=ERT To Close, Re-Open With Smaller Force|url=http://greece.greekreporter.com/2013/06/11/ert-to-close-re-open-with-smaller-force/|access-date=11 June 2013|newspaper=Greek Reporter}}</ref>
In June 2015, ERT reopened and the licence fee resumed at a rate of €36 per year.

===Ireland===
{{Main|Television licensing in the Republic of Ireland}}
As of 2020, the cost of a television licence in Ireland is €160 per year.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/MainContent/Personal+Customers/More+from+An+Post/TV+Licence/ |title=TV Licence |publisher=Anpost.ie |access-date=13 January 2011}}</ref> The licence applies to premises so a separate licence is required for holiday homes or motor vehicles which contain a television.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/consumer-affairs/media/tv_licences |title=Television Licences |publisher=Citizensinformation.ie |date=20 July 2010 |access-date=13 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510141122/http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/consumer-affairs/media/tv_licences |archive-date=10 May 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The licence must be paid for premises that have any equipment that can potentially decode TV signals, regardless of whether they view RTÉ's content. The licence is free to anyone over the age of 70, to some people over 66, to people on a disability allowance, and people who are blind (these licences are paid for by the state). The Irish post office, [[An Post]], is responsible for the collection of the licence fee and commencement of prosecution proceedings in cases of non-payment, but An Post has signalled its intention to withdraw from its licence fee business.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.audgen.gov.ie/documents/vfmreports/47_TVLicence.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811023519/http://www.audgen.gov.ie/documents/vfmreports/47_TVLicence.pdf |archive-date=2007-08-11 |url-status=live |title=Comptroller and Auditor General |website=Audgen.gov.ie |access-date=13 January 2011}}</ref> The licence fee makes up 50 per cent of the revenue of [[RTÉ]], the national broadcaster with the rest coming from radio and television advertisements.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/about/licence.html |title=About RTÉ |publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann |date=30 January 2007 |access-date=13 January 2011}}</ref> Some RTÉ services have not historically relied on the licence for income, such as [[RTÉ 2fm]], [[RTÉ Aertel]], [[RTÉ.ie]] but since 2012 RTÉ 2FM has had some financial support from the licence. The [[2RN (RTÉ Networks)|RTÉ Transmission Network]] operates on an entirely commercial basis.

Five per cent of the licence fee goes to the [[Broadcasting Authority of Ireland]]'s "Sound and Vision Scheme", which provides funds for programme production and restoration of archive material. From 2011 until 2018, five per cent of RTÉ's licence income was granted to [[TG4]]. RTÉ is now required to provide TG4 with programming. The remainder of TG4's funding is from direct state grants and commercial income.

===Italy===
{{Main|Television licensing in Italy}}
The licence fee in [[Italy]] is charged to each household with a television set, regardless of use,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abbonamenti.rai.it/Ordinari/Inglese.aspx|title=Information on subscription to the Italian Television|website=Abbonamenti.rai.it|access-date=12 July 2015}}</ref> and to all public premises with one or more televisions or radios. In 2016, the government reduced the licence fee to €100 per household and incorporated it into electricity bills in an attempt to eliminate evasion,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abbonamenti.rai.it/Speciali/Categorie.aspx|title=RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana – Abbonamenti|website=Abbonamenti.rai.it|access-date=27 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abbonamenti.rai.it/Speciali/Inglese.aspx|title=Information on subscription to the Italian Television|website=Abbonamenti.rai.it|access-date=12 July 2015}}</ref> and as of 2018, the fee was €90.00.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fiscoetasse.com/canone-rai|title=Canone Rai in bolletta 2019|website=Fisco e Tasse}}</ref>

Sixty-six per cent of [[RAI]]'s income comes from the licence fee (up from about half of total income seven years ago), with another twenty-five per cent from advertising,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rai.it/dl/docs/Report_31_12_2014_check.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924111135/http://www.rai.it/dl/docs/Report_31_12_2014_check.pdf |archive-date=2015-09-24 |url-status=live|title=Reports and Financials as at 31 December 2014|website=Rai.it|access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref> which is aired pretty regularly every 20 minutes or so, with very few exceptions (football matches, special events, Eurovision Song Contest)

===Montenegro===
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2023}}
Under the Broadcasting Law of December 2002, each household and legal entity in [[Montenegro]] able to receive radio or television programmes is required to pay a broadcasting subscription fee. The monthly fee is €3.50, or €42.00 per annum. Funds are distributed, 
* 75 per cent to the republic's public broadcasting radio and television services,
* 10 per cent to support local public broadcasting services
* 10 per cent to support commercial broadcasting services,
* 5 per cent to support the Broadcasting Agency of Montenegro.
The Broadcasting Agency of Montenegro collected the fee through telephone bills, but after the privatization of [[Crnogorski Telekom|Telekom]], the new owners, T-com, announced they would not administer the fee after July 2007.

=== Poland ===
As of 2023, the licence fee in [[Poland]] for a television set is 27.30 [[Polish zloty|zł]] per month, or for radio only is 8.70 [[Polish zloty|zł]] per month. One licence is required per household, irrespective of the number of sets. The fee is waived for people over 75.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://rtv.poczta-polska.pl/?action=Wysokosc_oplat_2023 | title=Abonament RTV &#124; RTV.poczta-polska.pl }}</ref> Public health institutions, nurseries, educational institutions, hospices and retirement homes need only one licence per building or building complex they occupy. Commercial premises need a licence for each set, including radios and televisions in company vehicles.

Around 60 per cent of the fee goes to [[Telewizja Polska]] with the rest going to [[Polskie Radio]]. Advertisements are allowed between programmes on public television but it is not permitted to interrupt its programmes for advertisements.

The licence is collected and maintained by the Polish post office, [[Poczta Polska]]. There is a major problem with licence evasion in Poland: in 2012 around 65 per cent of households evaded the licence fee (compared to an average of 10 per cent in the [[European Union]]),<ref>{{cite episode
 |title        = Dateline Warsaw – Poland's public media funding crisis
 |url          = http://thenews.pl/1/6/Artykul/81643,Dateline-Warsaw-%E2%80%93-Polands-public-media-funding-crisis
 |series       = Dateline Warsaw
 |credits      = Presenters: Peter Gentle
 |network      = [[Polskie Radio]]
 |station      = [[Polish Radio External Service]]
 |location     = [[Warsaw]]
 |airdate      = 5 January 2012
 |access-date  = 8 January 2012
 |archive-date = 9 January 2012
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120109090512/http://www.thenews.pl/1/6/Artykul/81643,Dateline-Warsaw-%E2%80%93-Polands-public-media-funding-crisis
 |url-status   = dead
}}</ref> and in 2020, only 8 per cent of Polish households paid the licence fee. Reasons for non-payment include the [[opt-in]] system in which there is no effective means to compel people to register or to prosecute those who fail to do so. Licensing inspectors, who are usually [[Mail carrier|postal workers]], do not have the right of entry to inspect premises and must get the owner's or occupier's permission to enter. Also, the public media are frequently accused of producing pro-government propaganda and not being independent public broadcasters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rsf.org/en/poland|title=Poland: Growing hate speech {{!}} Reporters without borders|website=Reporters without Borders|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref> Due to widespread non-payment of the licence fee, in 2020 the government gave a 2&nbsp;billion złoty grant for public media.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://notesfrompoland.com/2020/02/15/polish-ruling-party-grants-more-funds-to-state-media-described-as-propaganda-mouthpieces/|title=Polish ruling party grants more funds to state media described as 'propaganda mouthpieces'|last=Tilles|first=Daniel|date=15 February 2020|website=Notes From Poland|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref>

===Portugal===

From September 2003, the [[Rádio e Televisão de Portugal]] (RTP) was financed through government grants and the "Taxa de Contribuição Audiovisual" (Portuguese for ''Broadcasting Contribution Tax''), charged monthly through the electricity bills.<ref>{{cite web|author=Versão pdf |url=https://dre.pt/pesquisa/-/search/656106/details/maximized |title=Lei 30/2003, 2003-08-22 - DRE |publisher=Dre.pt |date=2003-08-22 |accessdate=2021-03-15}}</ref>
Following the [[2010–2014 Portuguese financial crisis]], government grants ended and RTP was financed only through the "Taxa de Contribuição Audiovisual" and advertising.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publico.pt/2019/02/19/politica/noticia/pcp-vai-propor-rtp-volte-receber-indemnizacao-anual-estado-1862561|title=PCP vai propor que a RTP volte a receber indemnização anual do Estado|date=19 February 2019 }}</ref> Since July 2016, the fee is €2.85 + [[European Union value added tax|VAT]] per month.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publico.pt/2019/12/16/politica/noticia/nao-rtp-tera-aumento-contribuicao-audiovisual-1897568|title = Ainda não é desta que a RTP terá aumento da contribuição para o audiovisual| date=16 December 2019 }}</ref>

[[RTP1]] can broadcast only 6 minutes of commercial advertising per hour (commercial channels can broadcast 12 minutes per hour). [[RTP2]] and the [[Rádio e Televisão de Portugal#Radio stations|public radios stations]] have no commercial advertising. [[RTP3]] and [[RTP Memória]] can broadcast commercial advertising on cable, satellite and IPTV platforms but not on digital terrestrial television.

===Serbia===
Licence fees in [[Serbia]] are bundled together with electricity bills and collected monthly. Current fee is 349 RSD (the newest price, as of August 2024),<ref>
{{cite web
| url         = https://www.rts.rs/rts/javni-servis/taksa/2159586/taksa-za-javni-medijski-servis-i-uslovi-oslobadjanja.html
| title       = Такса за јавни медијски сервис и услови ослобађања
| access-date  = 13 January 2025
| author      = RTS
| author-link  = Radio Television of Serbia
| language    = sr
}}
</ref> which is about €3.

===Slovenia===
Since June 2013, the annual licence fee in [[Slovenia]] is €12.75 per household per month to receive both television and radio services, or €3.77 per month for radio only, regardless of the number of devices capable of receiving television or radio broadcasts. Businesses and the self-employed pay this amount for each set and pay higher rates where they are intended for public viewing rather than private use by employees.<ref>
{{cite web
| url         = http://www.rtvslo.si/strani/mesecna-visina-rtv-prispevka-v-skladu-z-21-clenom-zakona-o-spremembah-in-dopolnitvah-zakona-o-izvrsevanju-proracunov-republike-slovenije-za-leti-2008-in-2009-ur-l-rs-st-26-09/231
| title       = Mesečna višina RTV prispevka določena v Zakonu o spremembah in dopolnitvah zakona o izvrševanju proračunov Republike Slovenije za leti 2013 in 2014 (Ur.l. RS št. 46/2013)
| access-date  =28 August 2013
| author      = RTV Slovenija
| author-link  = Radiotelevizija Slovenija
| language    = sl
}}
</ref>

The licence fee is used to fund the national broadcaster [[RTV Slovenija]]. In 2007, the licence fee raised €78.1&nbsp;million, approximately 68 per cent of the broadcaster's operating revenue. RTV Slovenija's advertising income in 2007 was €21.6&nbsp;million.<ref>
{{cite web
| url         = http://www.rtvslo.si/files/letno_porocilo/rtvslo_ar_07_eng_web.pdf
| title       = Annual Report 2007
| access-date  =13 November 2008
| author      = RTV Slovenija
| author-link  = Radiotelevizija Slovenija
}}
</ref>

===Switzerland===
Any household that receives radio or television programs from the [[Switzerland|Swiss]] national public broadcaster [[SRG SSR]] must be registered and pay licence fees. The fee is [[Swiss franc|CHF]] 335 per year for TV and radio for single households, and CHF 670 for multiple households, e.g. [[nursing homes]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Fee Overview|url=https://www.serafe.ch/en/the-fee/fee-overview/|website=SERAFE AG|access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref> Households unable to receive broadcast transmissions are exempt from the fees until 2023 if residents apply to opt out.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.serafe.ch/en/exemption-from-the-fee/households-with-no-means-of-receiving-radio-or-television/|title=Households with no means of receiving radio or television|website=serafe.ch|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref> Residential licence fees are collected by Serafe AG, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the insurance collections agency Secon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.serafe.ch/|title=Homepage|website=serafe.ch|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref> Non-payment of licence fees incurs fines of up to CHF 100,000. For businesses, the fee is on a scale based on the company's annual turnover and is collected by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bakom.admin.ch/bakom/en/home/elektronische-medien/abgabe-fur-radio-und-fernsehen/unternehmen.html|title=Fee for businesses|last=OFCOM|first=Federal Office of Communications|website=bakom.admin.ch|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref>
The majority of the fee, CHF 1.2&nbsp;billion, goes to SRG SSR, with the rest going to a collection of small regional radio and television broadcasters.

On 4 March 2018, there was [[Referendums in Switzerland|a referendum]] on whether TV licensing should be scrapped, with the slogan "No Billag", a reference to the previous collector of the licence fees.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.bk.admin.ch/ch/f/pore/vi/vis454.html|title=Initiative populaire fédérale 'Oui à la suppression des redevances radio et télévision (suppression des redevances Billag)'|last=ChF|first=Chancellerie fédérale|website=bk.admin.ch|language=fr|access-date=28 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="nobillag.ch">{{cite web|url=https://nobillag.ch/fr/|title=OUI à la suppression des redevances Billag. – No billag|website=nobillag.ch|language=fr-FR|access-date=28 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116170826/https://nobillag.ch/fr/|archive-date=16 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Non à no Billag – votations">{{cite web|url=https://non-nobillag.ch/|title=Non à no Billag – votations|website=non-nobillag.ch|language=fr-FR|access-date=28 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711093848/https://non-nobillag.ch/|archive-date=11 July 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Parliament have advocated a no vote.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/public-broadcasting_parliament-rejects--no-billag--licence-fee-initiative/43548128|title=Parliament rejects 'No Billag' licence fee initiative|work=SWI swissinfo.ch|access-date=28 January 2018}}</ref> Voters overwhelmingly rejected the proposal by 71.6 to 28.4 per cent and in all cantons.<ref name="thelocal.ch">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thelocal.ch/20180304/swiss-voters-poised-to-keep-media-license-fee|title=UPDATED: Swiss vote against plan to scrap compulsory TV licence fee|date=4 March 2018|access-date=7 March 2018}}</ref> Following the vote, the fee was significantly reduced.

===Turkey===
A licence fee of up to 16 per cent is paid to the state broadcaster [[Turkish Radio and Television Corporation|TRT]] by the producer or importer of the television receiving equipment. Consumers indirectly pay this fee when purchasing equipment. No registration is required for television receiving equipment, except for cellular phones as mandated by a separate law.

TRT also receives funding via advertisements. Previously a 2 per cent tax was added to monthly electricity bills but this has been abolished.

===United Kingdom===
{{Main|Television licensing in the United Kingdom}}

A television licence is required for each household where television programmes are watched or recorded as they are broadcast, irrespective of the signal method (terrestrial, satellite, cable or the Internet). As of September 2016, users of [[BBC iPlayer]] must also have a television licence to watch on-demand television content from the service.<ref name="guardian-iplayerlicence">{{cite web|title=How will the BBC detect people watching iPlayer without a licence?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/shortcuts/2016/aug/08/how-will-the-bbc-detect-people-watching-iplayer-without-a-licence|website=The Guardian|date=8 August 2016|access-date=16 May 2017}}</ref> As of 1 April 2017, after a price freeze that began in 2010, the cost of a licence may now increase to account for inflation. As of April 2025, the licence fee is £174.50 for a colour and £58.50 for a black and white television Licence<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/tv-licence-types-and-costs-top2|title=TV Licence types and costs – TV Licensing ™|website=tvlicensing.co.uk}}</ref> As it is classified in law as a tax, evasion of licence fees is a criminal offence.<ref name="Select Committee 20060303">{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200506/ldselect/ldbbc/128/128i.pdf |title=Further Issues for BBC Charter Review |access-date=15 August 2008 |work=House of Lords Session Report |publisher=The Stationery Office Limited |date=3 March 2006 |archive-date=20 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090320052437/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200506/ldselect/ldbbc/128/128i.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> 204,018 people were prosecuted or fined in 2014 for TV licence offences: 173,044 in England, 12,536 in Wales, 4,905 people in Northern Ireland and 15 in the Isle of Man.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wigantoday.net/news/local/tv-licence-fines-branded-unfair-1-7386890|title=TV licence fines branded unfair|access-date=31 December 2015|date=31 July 2015|publisher=[[Wigan Evening Post]]|first1=Andrew|last1=Nowell|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930141548/http://www.wigantoday.net/news/local/tv-licence-fines-branded-unfair-1-7386890|archive-date=30 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="iomtoday.co.im">{{cite web|url=http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/record-number-prosecuted-for-tv-licence-evasion-1-7437885|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906182430/http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/record-number-prosecuted-for-tv-licence-evasion-1-7437885|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 September 2015|access-date=31 December 2015|title=Record number prosecuted for TV licence evasion|date=2 September 2015|first1=Adrian|last1=Darbyshire|publisher=[[Isle of Man Courier]]}}</ref>

The licence fee is used almost entirely to fund [[BBC]] domestic radio, television and internet services. Money received from the licence represents approximately 75 per cent of the cost of these services, with most of the remainder coming from the profits of [[BBC Studios]], a commercial arm of the corporation which distributes content outside of the United Kingdom, and operates or licences BBC-branded television services and brands.<ref>(2008) [http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/annualreport/pdf/bbc_ara_2008_exec.pdf ''BBC Annual Report''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090127230024/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/annualreport/pdf/bbc_ara_2008_exec.pdf |date=27 January 2009}}, [[BBC]]. Retrieved 17 November 2008.</ref> The BBC also receives some funding from the [[Scottish Government]] via [[MG Alba]] to finance the [[BBC Alba]] Gaelic-language television service in Scotland. The BBC used to receive a direct government grant from the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] to fund television and radio services broadcast to other countries, such as the [[BBC World Service]] radio and [[BBC Arabic Television]]. These services run on a non-profit, non-commercial basis. The grant was abolished on 1 April 2014, leaving these services to be funded by the UK licence fee, a move which has caused some controversy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/consult/wsol/wsol_positioning.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808222043/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/consult/wsol/wsol_positioning.pdf |archive-date=2013-08-08 |url-status=live|title=BBC World Service: A licence fee-funded service|date=June 2013|website=Downloads.bbc.co.uk|access-date=27 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmfaff/1045/104504.htm|title=House of Commons – The future of the BBC World Service – Foreign Affairs Committee|publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom|access-date=12 July 2015|archive-date=21 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621014416/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmfaff/1045/104504.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Channel 4]] is also a public television service but it is funded through advertising.<ref name="Channel 4 FAQ">{{cite web |url=https://www.channel4.com/corporate/about-4/operating-responsibly/freedom-information/frequently-asked-questions |title=Channel 4 FAQ |publisher=Channel 4 Television Corporation |access-date=5 April 2020 |quote=Channel Four Television Corporation was set up by an Act of Parliament. It is a publicly owned not-for-profit corporation and does not have any shareholders.}}</ref> The Welsh language [[S4C]] is funded through a combination of a direct grant from the [[Department for Culture, Media and Sport]] and advertising, and receives some programming free of charge from the BBC. These other broadcasters are much smaller than the BBC.

In addition to public broadcasters, the United Kingdom has a wide range of commercial television funded by advertising and subscription. A television licence is still required of viewers who solely watch such commercial channels, although 74.9 per cent of the population watches [[BBC One]] in any given week, making it the most popular channel in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/whats-new/weekly-viewing-summary?_s=4|title=Weekly viewing summary |website=Barb.co.uk|access-date=26 June 2016}}</ref> A similar licence existed for radio but was abolished in 1971.