In France, broadcasting fees total 138 euros a year – but that will probably soon come to an end. The country’s National Assembly has decided to abolish the “GEZ fee”, but now the Senate has yet to approve it. However, the French still have to pay for the public broadcasters.
France abolishes license fee
Not only in Germany, the discussion about a possible abolition of broadcasting fees boils up again and again. In France, too, the contribution formerly known as the “GEZ fee” is a thorn in the side of some people. They can now happy about a win – if only on paper, as a look at the details shows.
France’s National Assembly has Abolition of the broadcasting fee now decided, a vote in the Senate is still pending. 170 MPs voted in favor, 57 against. In all probability, President Emmanuel Macron will keep his election promise and make the broadcast fee disappear. So far, households that have a television have had to pay 138 euros per year. In Germany it is 220.32 euros.
However, it shouldn’t be much cheaper for the French, because the country’s public broadcasters have to continue funded to the same extent will. In the future, part of the VAT levied should simply be used for this purpose. After all, this is not increased because of this.
This is what the GIGA editorial team thinks of the broadcast fee:
France: Broadcasting fee will be recalculated
Unlike before, the expenses for the broadcasting fee in France are to be recalculated every year in the future. In the current year, broadcasters such as France Télévisions, Arte, Radio France and France Media Monde are estimated to receive around 3.2 billion euros. After the abolition of the broadcasting fee, it should initially 3.7 billion euros be.