Sweden To Charge TV Tax For Anyone With A Computer or Tablet

Norwegian here, our National Broadcaster is planning to introduce the same here. Here's a story from today about it (in Norwegian): <a href="http://www.aftenposten.no/digital/Norge-vurderer-TV-lisens-pa-mobiler-og-PC-er-7099723.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.aftenposten.no/digital/Norge-vurderer-TV-lisens-p...</a><p>I'm fine with a TV-license fee, but if they're going to charge it for everyone who owns either a tablet, cellphone, computer or TV (which is basically 99,9% of households) they might just abandon their massive fee bureacracy and get the money through the government budget instead. It'll save a lot of money, especially if everyone is basically forced into paying it (regardless if they actually own a television set or not) anyway.

Germany had this for some years. The fee is almost the same as in Sweden. I feel ripped off by this, its a remainder of a time when TV-Broadcasting was still so expensive that only public founded institutions could provide it. These ages are long gone. Until beginning of this year it was actually relatively easy to avoid paying it. You just did never answer one of their letters and took care who you opened the door. Now its tax-like for every household. What disgusts me most there is almost no control over the budgets they just collect whatever they want. The politicians that are assigned to the advisory board do nothing, cause they fear bad publicity by the channels (and also want to secure some well paying jobs for friends).

You don't want to watch TV ?<p>We don't care. We will make you, whether you want it or not.<p>And we will charge you for the privilege - having to subsidize the things you dislike, what a cool idea.<p>(I guess I would have to give up my computers if I lived in Sweden)<p>EDIT: Downvoted already? Whatever. I will not willingly subsidize government propaganda.

It's not a tax. It's a fee, required to pay by law to fund independent channels of opinion free from government and/or private funded influence.<p>200 eur a year is quite cheap for what you get.<p><a href="http://www.radiotjanst.se/en/Radio-and-TV-fee/" rel="nofollow">http://www.radiotjanst.se/en/Radio-and-TV-fee/</a>

We have this tax in Germany as well. They just don't call it a tax, but every household and company has to pay 216 Euro/year.<p>They used to bind it to having a computer/radio/tv/mobile phone (with radio/internet) but now you even have to pay if you don't own any of those.

I think it is only a matter of time before the UK moves to something like this. We have TV licensees to fund the BBC but with more and more of the content that they produce being available on-line though iPlayer things will have to change. I believe the BBC's charter is up for renegotiation in about four years and it would be the perfect time to make the change.

You must pay for the right to receive electromagnetic waves which are passing through your body 24/7, whether you like it or not.<p>Seems legit.

Welcome to the club, dear Swedes!<p>The average German household will pay 215,76 Euro (~290 USD) for "receiving" (whether you have a device or not) government-run TV and radio programs.<p>In contrast, the same household will pay 786,56 Euro (~1050 USD) for National Defence.<p>Obviously watching football (the real one, my American friends) is almost as important as living in a free country

The Swiss do the same ("Billag") to the tune of 460 CHF per year for radio and tv. I basically see it as a tax for a public system as there seems absolutely no way of wiggling your way out of it. E.g even if you don't have kids, you will also pay for public schooling.

Just a sidenote. The fact that it's a fee instead of tax means that the government cannot change how much money SVT should receive. This means that journalists are not controlled by neither politicians or companies. This means that we have real journalism and free media. And I find that awesome =)

Sweden: socialism. Check!

How is the tax actually/to be charged though?

Does this not turn it into a poll tax?

You are forced to fund a propaganda box. Dear god. And some people consider this a norm(and even a good thing).<p>Of course entity that is dependent on public funding will protect its image, will fight for its long lasting survivability and lobby to enforce its funding by law.<p>ze irony.

Enjoy your taxes Sweden. I hope it's worth it.