No TV licence for computers

THE television licence fee will not be extended to computers.

The Budget Minister has ruled out the idea – which was raised a few days ago by Culture Minister Aurélie Fillipetti as a possibility for 2013.

She had said it would be debated as part of the budget for next year as it was a “question that must be asked” because more and more people were watching TV over the internet rather than a television set. There would still be just one licence fee per family, she said.

However Budget Minister Jérôme Cahuzac said on RTL the government was “absolutely not” going to impose such a fee, adding he had not been informed that Ms Filippetti planned to announce the idea.

“Each minister, in their own domain, has the right to have ideas and suggestions,” he said, “but this suggestion is not being taken up by the government.”

At present the fee - the contribution à l'audiovisuel public - is payable by anyone with a television in their home (or one of their homes). It goes towards helping fund public service television (France Télévisions, Radio France, Arte…). Still often known by its old name of redevance audiovisuelle, it is €125 this year.
© Tomasz Trojanowski - Fotolia.com_small