RTV subscription – what is it like in Europe?

The RTV license fee is a benefit paid by citizens and businesses, not limited to Poland. Depending on the country, various models of financing public media operate in Europe. The involvement of individual postal operators in controlling subscription fees is a common practice.

We present several ways of charging fees for public media and methods of financing them in selected countries.

The czech republic

In our southern neighbor, similarly to Poland, citizens are legally obligated to pay a radio and TV license fee. In Poland, the radio and TV license fee is paid after registering a receiver, while in the Czech Republic, the license fee is linked to access to electricity. It is assumed that everyone with access to electricity has an RTV receiver. If they use electricity, they must pay state utilities. However, energy companies do not collect the RTV license fee or any outstanding payments. They only provide state utilities with lists of electricity customers, i.e., potential RTV license payers. The Czech Post Office, similar to our country, collects the license fee.

The obligation to provide information about energy consumers is regulated by Czech law. Based on these lists, state broadcasters issue notices to energy consumers demanding payment of the radio and television license fee. As in Poland, blind and deaf people are exempt from the license fee in the Czech Republic. Furthermore, low-income people in our southern neighbor don't pay the license fee. Nearly 90% of Czech citizens pay the license fee.

Germany

Germany is a country that finances public media from funds derived from the mandatory radio and television fee.

The institution designated to collect the license fee is the Beitragsservice agency, which cooperates with the tax and registration offices. Its responsibilities are similar to those of the Polish Post as an operator in our legal system. Once a citizen has completed their registration, the Registration Office notifies the relevant Tax Office. A letter is sent to registered individuals notifying them of their obligation to pay the RTV fee for their apartment.

Finland

Yleisradio Oy – or Yle for short – is a state-owned public broadcasting company operating in Finland since 1926. Owned 99.98% by the Finnish state, the company is governed by a parliamentary Governing Board and operates three national television channels, 13 radio channels and services, and 25 regional radio stations.

Until 2012, Finland's public broadcaster was financed by a radio and television license fee. This fee was paid by owners of radio and television receivers and private television broadcasters. In this form, the Finnish radio and television license fee resembled the one currently in force in Poland, with the difference that its amount was based on income. The Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority, or FICORA for short, was responsible for collecting the radio and television fees.

In 2013, after 85 years, the TV license fee was abolished. However, Finns were not exempted from paying the fee to the state television. The license fee was replaced by a tax applicable to all citizens – the universal Yle tax. It ranges from €50 to €140, depending on income. This tax is paid by every adult Finn earning over €15,000 per year. Minors are exempt from paying the fee.  

Italy

In 2016, the RTV subscription fee was included in the electricity bill, which resulted in greater efficiency in recovering due payments

There are two types of subscription in Italy:

  • ordinary, paid for devices owned by private individuals
  • special, paid on devices owned by companies and institutions.

The fee is €90. Currently, the TV license fee is only charged to people who own television sets. Each person pays only one TV license for all devices. If you own more than one property, the fee is collected only at your place of residence. The fee is also charged to Italian citizens living abroad (provided they still own a home in Italy and have a TV/radio/computer).

The mechanism for collecting fees along with electricity bills allows institutions such as the Tax Office and the Tax Agency, as well as energy suppliers, to exchange all information about electricity customers. The subscription fee is automatically added to the bill.

Portugal

Since September 2003, public television and radio (RTP) have been financed through license fees. The financing model changed following the economic crisis in 2014.

Since July 2016, the monthly subscription fee has been €3.02, which equates to €36.24 annually. This is a fixed, mandatory fee charged to every apartment or house. Electricity suppliers are required to include this fee in their bills.

Great Britain

The UK is the first country in the world to introduce a mandatory television license. Britons—both individuals and businesses—must pay to legally watch or record television channels, regardless of the signal—terrestrial, satellite, cable, or internet.

In the UK, the television license funds the main public service provider, the BBC. It covers not only televisions but also desktop computers, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, games consoles, and digital set-top boxes. It also requires payment to legally access BBC programs on streaming services.

As in Poland, a designated operator handles billing for subscription fees – in England, this is Capital Business Service, a company selected through a public tender process. Payments can be made at post offices, point-of-sale cashiers, or online.

The list of fee exemptions is much shorter than in Poland. People over 75 are exempt, while blind people can apply for a 50% discount.