I think you were just lucky and you actually should be paying. I had a conversation with Billag to tell them that cable TV would be terminated outside my property as I would be receiving just Sky.

It is a licence to receive TV signals through whatever means you see fit. So cable, antenna or dish = pay.

According to one of my 'Swiss' colleages it is the possibility to receive 'Swiss' channels by any means.

So if you can receive 'Swiss' programs you have to pay even if you don't actually watch them. Same in the car, if the radio can receive 'Swiss' stations, then you have to pay.

As I said this will change, but I hope to drop my Payment to Sky around the same time with a 'dreambox' style system

Thanks, I didn't know about that one. Does it run by any 4 weeks or is it a from-the-first-of-the-month thing?

Hi,
I was trying to find the page describing this, find this ( https://www.billag.com/web/de/fragen...befreiung.html ), and google translated as :
"Crucial under current law is not the effective use of the devices, but the presence of the same".

So? Do we still need to pay or not?

if you have a TV which can receive TV signals, you pay.

As a case in point I would have to pay the radio element even if I had no other receiving equipment but my radio alarm. Living where I do it can only receive one Swiss radio programme, and that programme I hate. If the alarm clock were the only radio source I had, it would be cheaper to give it away and buy a replacement without radio.

Apparently Billag will ask if you have either a radio alarm or a mobile phone which can receive radio. Answer either question in the affirmative, and you have to pay.

Any 4 weeks. I do this every year when we go back to Australia. You just need to notify them before leaving. No proof was required, but I guess they can check immigration records.

It is not just 'Swiss' channels, but any channel you receive in Switzerland that they must pay the licencing fees to broadcast including BBC Prime, BBC World, CNN ect.

http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/flip4mac.mspx may be of use

It's not even that. Having radio or TV equipment is enough.

(source)

Sorry if this has already been said, I've been through the tread and it's still a bit unclear.

Last night the billag guy came round and was taking names of everyone that had internet acess in my residence saying that we have to pay radio billag. Is this the case? How would thay if you have software on the computer? I have no tv and no radio (at all, no car, cellphone with radio, walkman with radio, nothing).

The guy says it is the law and everyone with internet must pay the radio fees?

Hi All,

I need your help in knowing on how to register your TV and pay the billak (spelling might be wrong... ). Request your help in this regard.

Thanks a lot.

Best regards,
Vithal

Did you sign anything? What did you tell him?
Did the Billag employee take a look at computers?
Did he find programs capable of playing stream radio?

You only are obligued to pay the radio fee if there's a stream radio program on the computer.

LOL, yes, those arseholes will be round to see me soon too, - now that I have moved. I have no doubt of it and have been waiting for them!

When I first moved to Switzerland they turned up on the door-step and I had to think quickly but they were even quicker with the car radio, alarm clock garbage chat.

It's bad enough that I have to pay for cable in my appartment when I don't have it connected because I don't want a TV. I don't have a car either but I do have an alarm clock which I don't use. I do watch zattoo now and again on the laptop.

Is there any way I can get out of this? I figure not. I'm gonna sell my flat-screen Toshiba TV on ricardo before they turn up unless anyone here wants it.

This raises the question of what computers nowadays come without a stream radio program already installed. For example, on a new Apple* would you need to delete iTunes to comply with this? I believe alternatives to iTunes are available; if there is one which does the CD stuff but has no radio support, this could be a viable alternative.

* substitute equivalents for Windows or Linux as appropriate.

i do not have a tv or radio. Do i still need to pay for cable network fee from the landlord. and if i pay this does that automatically mean i have to pay billag?

also has anyone fought a billag bill and won?
how much does it cost to block the cable connection?

Just read today in the newspaper that they are thinking to change this and deducte the license fees directly from your income (as tax I guess)

If they deduct this as a tax, then I hope they drop the fees.

I am sure they will have more people paying doing it this way so should be able to afford to drop the fees.

Anyone know what this money is actually used for? (Or did I miss this earlier in the discussion.

It's a bit of a cheek to charge jsut for the fact that you can access music or TV over the internet or by any other means.

At least in the UK, the license is to receive BBC channels.

Wasn't there some cases of people being able to pickup radio stations in there head from tooth fillings. Do you think they had to pay tooooooooo

According to 20Min, there are more Mobile phones in Switzerland than residences. So if they tax the individuals rather than a payment per home, then they will rake the cash in.