What is TV-Gebühren?

I would disconnect the cablecom line and call bluewin in your case.
Is this a fee from Bilag he is trying to charge you?

I think if there is a TV socket and you don't want to use it (and pay), you have to have the socket 'sealed off' officially. It is not enough to say you are not using it.

We don't have a TV and we don't pay for it either.

But do you have cable internet coming through the same socket as the TV doesn't in your case??

To clarify, we pay the 45 francs for the internet connection but that is all. We don't pay any additional fee as described by the OP.

Kate

With Internet and TV both coming via cable and phone lines now the Bilag question (fee to support CH public TV and radio) is becoming more complicated.

It used to be that if you had the cable outlet "sealed off", either in the apt. or in the basement of the building, you did not have to pay the fee (CHF 115.50 per three months).

Now that you can get TV via both cable and phone line, getting out of paying the Bilag fee is "almost" impossible. If you have Internet access in the apt. you need to prove that you do not have a TV reception program on your computer that allows you to watch TV. I am not sure how you go about doing this. The radio portion of the fee (CHF 42.25) would still be there as almost everyone has at least on clock radio or other in the apt.

If you are not paying the Bilag fee, it might be that the apt. owner is paying it and it is included in the rent. It seems unlikely that Bilag would "miss" an opportunity to charge you the fee.

Or a car with a radio in it...

Well I'm still trying to understand if the latest changes to the Billag law will affect us...

We do not own a TV, the cable plug was sealed off by the cable company. We do have a DSL internet connection, but in our area Swisscom can only deliver 300mb max. We do not subscribe to any on-line TV providers, nor do we use any free TV sites. We do not watch TV in any way, shape, or form.


As I read the Billag FAQ, I though I understood that we would still exempt, as you have to have both a DSL connection and subscribe to online TV or watch on a free site.

Am I wrong?

(We do pay the Billag radio fee.)

On the subject:

It says here:
(deutch) https://www.billag.com/web/de/abmeld...eldung_k5.html
(francais) https://www.billag.com/web/fr/abmeld...eldung_k5.html

That one of the requirements is that you don't a "device", including a computer with internet access, o a mobile phone (if I understand correctly)

In German:
keine Geräte mehr vorhanden - inkl. Computer mit schnellem Internetzugang, mobile / tragbare Geräte, solche in Fahrzeugen und an Zweitstandorten (Auto, Boot, Ferienhaus etc.)


So basically nobody that doesn't live on a tree is exempt...

ARGH!

Or a car with a TV in it (Most Audi models with Navi Plus have this).

Here's the part that confuses me: (see underlined bit)


http://www.billag.ch/web/de/fragen_u...en/geraet.html


"Ich habe einen Computer mit Internetzugang. Muss ich mich für den Radio- bzw. den Fernsehempfang anmelden?

Laut Gesetz muss man sich anmelden, sobald ein Gerät vorhanden ist, das technisch in der Lage ist, Programme zu empfangen. Darunter fallen, wenn gewisse Bedingungen erfüllt sind, auch Computer mit Internetzugang. (Ob die Programme auch genutzt werden oder nicht, ist rechtlich nicht von Belang.)

Da die Gebühren pro Haushalt und nicht pro Gerät bezahlt werden, sind Sie für den Programmempfang möglicherweise schon angemeldet. Dann brauchen Sie wegen Ihres Computers nichts weiter zu unternehmen. Sollten Sie jedoch über keine anderen Empfangsgeräte als den Computer verfügen, müssen Sie sich anmelden, wenn die untenstehenden Bedingungen kumulativ erfüllt sind. Diese Regelung tritt am 1. September 2008 in Kraft. Die bisherige Regelung können Sie hier einsehen.

Privater Radioempfang:

Der Haushalt verfügt über einen Internetzugang via ISDN- oder Breitbandanschluss (z.B. ADSL, Kabelnetz).
Eine entsprechende Software (z.B. Mediaplayer, Realplayer) ermöglicht den Empfang.
Privater Fernsehempfang:

Der Haushalt verfügt über einen Breitbandanschluss (z.B. ADSL, Kabelnetz).
Eine entsprechende Software (z.B. Mediaplayer, Realplayer) ermöglicht den Empfang.
Der Haushalt hat ein kostenpflichtiges Abonnement für den Empfang von Fernsehprogrammen abgeschlossen oder hat sich bei einer Anbieterin registriert, die kostenlos Zugang zu Fernsehprogrammen gewährt."

----

By "müssen Sie sich anmelden, wenn die untenstehenden Bedingungen kumulativ erfüllt sind", I took cumulative to mean that one must have all three conditions, internet access, software, and a subscription to online TV or registration by a free online TV service.

Or am I translating incorrectly? (Wouldnt be the first time... ) Can anyone clarify?

meloncollie, you are right. The new regulation for September 2008 changes this detail for the TV fee liability: The presence of streaming software is still a condition that has to be met to become liable. But now free programs count too, if you have to register for the service. (Read between the lines: Zattoo)

Here are the rules from 01.09.08 in English ::

http://www.ofcom.admin.ch/themen/rad...prungmarke3_32


Private reception via the internet (valid from 01.09.2008)



According to the regulation which enters into force on 1 September 2008, registration with Billag AG for private reception of radio programme services via the internet is required if:

• the household has reception via ISDN or a broadband connection (e.g. ADSL, cable network);
• corresponding software (e.g. Media Player, RealPlayer) enables reception.

If this is the case and there is no other radio equipment in the household, there is an obligation to register for reception of radio programme services.

According to the regulation which enters into force on 1 September 2008, registration with Billag AG for private reception of television programme services via the internet is required if:

• the household has a broadband connection (e.g. ADSL, cable network);
• corresponding software (e.g. Media Player, RealPlayer) enables reception.
• the household has concluded a charged-for subscription for the reception of television programme services or has registered with a provider who provides access to TV programme services free of charge.

If this is the case and there is no other television equipment in the household, there is an obligation to register for reception of television programme services.
---

I am still confused if one or all conditions have to be met in order to be liable. They have not used (and/or).

Also, regarding the 3rd point, is a person still liable if he has subscribed to a service that has links to recorded shows ? or this applies only to live streaming channel websites ?

Thanks for the reminder.

I installed Zattoo out of curiosity a few months back but only used it a couple of times.
I un-installed it but I've asked Zattoo to de-register me. I hope they haven't already sent their lists to Billag.

Billag will tell you that you have to pay up:
a.If you have a TV or
b. If you have a radio (car or otherwise) or
c. If you have a computer (laptop or PC) capable of receiving TV and radio transmissions over the internet!!

The only people who do not have to pay it seems are those on the Swiss equivalent of supplementary benefits. Even those poor old pensioners like us on AVS have to pay Billag.

It infuriates me, but I pay!!

All have to be met.

I don't think that viewing YouTube and services of other shades of grey make you liable. Raises the question if TV series are considere "TV program" or not.

You are right and it's exactly the finer details of c. that we discuss here.

Just came across this thread during my crusade with the Billag fee.

I don't have cable, no aerial, never watch any TV broadcast. I do have a TV.

I hate to pay hundreds of CHF (twice the price of my TV *yearly*) for no service.

I am planning to break the tuner circuit of the TV or get it broken from which point I cease to have an equipment that is capable of receiving TV broadcast.

Does anyone have any experience with this route?

Thanks a lot,

Tamas

Why not just get rid of the TV?

One might still want to watch VHS tapes or DVD's if one is inclined and equipped to do so?