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TV Licence Fee Will Soon Apply to Laptops, Large Tablets & Computers
27 Mar 2017 : Laura Brennan
Pictured: Communications Minister Denis Naughten
Laptops, large tablets and computer users will soon have to buy a TV licence as Communications Minister Denis Naughten plans to broaden the legal definition of “television set”.

This change would allow the TV license fee to be applicable to computers, laptops and large laptops. It is reported that almost one in 10 households no longer has a traditional television set, but many are still accessing content over the internet.

In an article published by the Irish Independent on Monday 27 March , sources told the newspaper that the €160 annual charge will be applied to electronic devices with screens that are bigger than 11 inches, meaning mobile phones and standard tablets would be exempt.

It was also reported that this new move could generate an extra €5 million annually in licence fee contributions for RTÉ from the 32, 500 households currently registered with no television. 

The current legal definition of a “Television set” as defined under the Broadcasting Act 2009 is, “any electronic apparatus capable of receiving and exhibiting television broadcasting services broadcast for general reception”.

The evasion rate is estimated to be among 14 per cent in eligible households across the country. This results in a loss of up to €40 million to the Irish broadcasting sector.

Minister for Communications Denis Naughten had previously indicted back in December 2016 that laws may be changed as those who currently don’t own a television but watch RTÉ programmes online may be obliged to buy a TV licence in the future.

There had been a rise in the number of households signing a declaration to say they have no television set in 2016. Mr Naughten had said “We’re looking at the legal definition of that, because a lot of those people use the content.”

Measures to tackle the evasion of those not paying a TV license fee could see the enforcement of licence fee collection by An Post being given to another organisation.

Any further details of the full change have yet to be worked out, including how it would be enforced.





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