Really, you should read all the previous replies. There are those who argue that just an Internet connection and a computer makes you capable of receiving TV so means you're liable. I'll merge this with the old one, but please read it.

My answer hasn't changed. It's still yes. And you still need to ignore the other advice - it's wrong.

I'm not being flippant. The rules are simple.

Make sure the TV input socket ( if there is one) in your apartment is sealed by the company ( and therefore unuseable) and you won't have to pay the TV part.
( unless you subscribe to an online TV provider)

You will still have to pay the radio part but that really isn't much.

Listen to Tom 1234 advice, he knows absolutely everything about anything and if he says it, then it is surely true and all the rest is fluff.

By the way if you have a car which has a radio, you need a license and some posh cars have TV in them too now, so technically as the owner of such a posh car you would need a license for TV

Hi Tom,

thanks for that, so I have some silly paper that I can declare myself to pay Billag.
I guess I should send this with Radio ticked correct?
I mean only 170CHF so I just pay it every quarter then I will just Forget about it.

Pls adv.

oh dont worry about that TV then :-)

Full Billag for Radio and TV for 1 year is around Chf 450.-- so i guess Chf 170.- just for radio is for full year

I also have a question. In my apartment in Dubendorf, I receive the electricity bill from Glattwerk, and in there, there is a fee regarding radio and tv. Do I still need to pay Billag? (an extra fee for tv and radio)

You're doing it again.

Billag is easy. I don't know why everyone seems to make a big deal out of it.

(That's why I said I wasn't trying to be flippant).

Really, do you mean that - all 1380 or so?

That was my point. Does it really matter what people argue when the rules are clearly laid out on the Billag website?

That's all neatly summed up in 22yards' post here

This is probably the TV (cable) connection to the property, yes TV license is extra.

The answer to this thread is, no, you don't have to get a TV license from billag

Please don't post nonsense here — any more, and it will get deleted.

There is no one "answer to this thread". Obviously, some people do need to pay both Billag fees, some just one of them, and some need pay none. Read the post that Tom1234 linked to, above.

No idea, seven years on watching TV in Switzerland, never paid Billag once. Never approached about it, in spite of moving three times, signing up to Cablecom TV and Bluewin/Swisscom etc

A lot of years living in this country, violated many laws, nearly never prosecuted, still do not recommend others to go 150 on the Swiss autobahn or smoke weed on the Pardeplatz.

Hey Tom,

thanks a lot,

I just one questions, my previous tennant said that my rent is including ca CHF30 TV fee (by Cablecom) or something....and If I dont want that, then Cablecom can seal the socket or whatever but then I can not have Internet from cablecom as they use the TV socket....anyway dont want to make it complicated..and the thread is actually should have been merged....really...because my question is simple as you understand....anyway..I am checking the Internet Provider...and cablecom is actually good one for me...40mbit/s for 49CHF ...so I want to go for this one...but I can still only do Billag Radio Option correct ? if not...do you have any recommnedation for the Internet Provider...I just really dont see the Point paying for this bloody TV things because I seriously dont watch it...what do you say ? or maybe I just fxx it and do only Billag TV things...but never ever want to pay both...please adv ?

If you do not have a TV device, you do not have to pay the Billag TV license. Regardless if your socket is open or not.

But an open TV/Radio socket makes you liable to pay the local tv network providers monthly fee. Which is around CHF ~30/month.

By law, you can request to get the socket sealed. You will no longer pay the monthly fee.

In some cases the tv network provider fee is 'hidden' in the Nebenkosten bill. 'Hidden' as you should see it at least in the yearly Nebenkosten break down. Also in this cases you can request that the socket is sealed and the tv network fee waived from the Nebenkosten (a whooping CHF 360 per year!).

If you pay the tv network fee directly to the provider, you have to send the cancelation letter to the tv network provider.

If you pay the tv network fee via Nebenkosten, you have to send the cancelation letter to your landlord.

Swisscom has sample letters for both cases:
https://www.swisscom.ch/de/privatkun...kuendigen.html

__________________
On Strike - ChatGPT knows more than I, so use it (or doesn't it?)

The 30 CHF fee is something you'll need to pay if you want internet and or TV over cable/wire/fibre.

It's normally just included in nebenkosten. It's not TV specific.
Billag is a separate payment.

So, yes, go with Cablecom and just pay the radio part of Billag. That's what we do and Billag know all about it.

oh Perfect answer....now do you know some Internet Provider does not Need TV socket ? because I will Close it for sure...but I Need the Internet at home...as per your inst I will pay only Radio to Billag...I mean ..now my questions is that ...do I really have to pay this Radio ?

OK Tom,

just go with Cablecom and just do Billag to the Radio!!

case done !

Thank you !!!!

Here is the backside of a recent Billag bill, one can only assume the info given is probably as good, if not better than Tom1234's information.

I'm not going to translate it all, just the first paragraph "Financement du Service public audiovisuel" which is about who pays what.

The financing of the Swiss audiovisual public service is guaranteed by license fee of the radio and television, which benefits SSR SRG and some local channels (division of license fee). Billag is mandated by the confederation to recieve the licence fee. All households and companies in possession of devices capable of receiving radio and television reception (including car radios, portable telephones, tablets, computers with internet access, etc) are obliged to pay the license fee.

This is reasonably clear in my mind, the nasty bit, legaly speaking is the "etc" as this is undefined which is usualy not good, it maybe just a proviso for future developments of devices and to cover Billag ass.

I really hope this clears up who has to pay and who doesn't.

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