Swedish ISP hits back over TV licence fees
Published: 25 Jan 13 17:01 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/45824/20130125/
A Swedish ISP outraged by the prospect of computer and iPad owners being forced to pay TV licence fees is offering clients a "TV Stopper" to block online content from state broadcaster SVT.
- iPad owners to pay Swedish TV licence fee (22 Jan 13)
"A computer's primary function is not to play television. People should have a choice if they as an individual want a particular service."
Karlung's indignation comes following a move announced earlier this week by Sveriges Television (SVT) to offer its full broadcast schedule online via digitally streaming service SVT Play.
But the shift to allow the broadcaster's complete line-up to be viewed online means that Swedes who own computers and tablet devices will have to start paying television licence fees.
SEE ALSO: Stockholm iPad 'magic' a surprise YouTube hit
Currently, anyone with a television receiver is required by law to pay the 2,076 kronor ($320) annual fee, which is collected and enforced by Radiotjänst, a division of Swedish public service broadcasting.
Radiotjänst collects some 7 billion kronor ($1.09 billion) per annum which is used to part-finance Sveriges Television, Sveriges Radio and Utbildningsradio (UR).
Traditionally, the fee has only been charged to television owners, and Karlung thinks it's unfair that Bahnhof's customers might be forced to pay the fee.
"People are pissed off because they feel they shouldn't be charged for something they don't want," Karlung said.
As a result, Bahnhof launched what it calls the "TV Stopper" to block SVT's digitally streamed content from people's computers.
"We filter out the traffic, then provide an official certificate specifying that the client has had no access whatsoever to SVT," Karlung explained.
SEE ALSO: Spotify launches new app for Apple's iPad
He believes many of Bahnhof's computer-owning customers will appreciate being able to avoid the annual fee, including foreign students who may not be interested in SVT and often don't have the budget to pay the licence fee.
While he admits he can't give a 100 percent guarantee that the certificate will suffice for users looking to avoid the charges, Karlung is confident it will work.
"We've tested the product in the launch and it works," he told The Local.
"Now it's just a matter of getting people's voices heard."
Oliver Gee
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In this case, SVT's CEO Eva Hamilton has completely overstretched and tried to manipulate an unfair law in an effort to squeeze money out of people who probably are not consuming her product. Instead of producing better product, they are scheming. If Jan Karlung would like to have the law voided in terms of his product I understand that. Better yet, he could try to use his platform to begin a greater conversation of the validity of this TV fee in general. I do not know his business, but he could cause SVT to cave on his issue very quickly and get a lot of free publicity at the same time. The last thing Eve Hamilton and SVT want is their business model challenged in the light of today's competitive television market.
I'm not about to pay for something that I don't use. I'm not paying.
I use my TV for watching videos and I am considering replacing it with a projector or a smaller LCD player.
I rather pay for products of "Discovery Channel" or "Jon Stewart Show", rather than boring blabbing of Stockholm snots.
One could make the argument that if people bought a TV, then they are probably going to watch some of the local TV stations for news at least, but this does NOT apply to an iPad.
As others have posted, one should have the option to sign in to the SVT streaming service, where permission is only granted to registered payers of the tax, or to persons willing to pay a temporary user fee.
Time for a T (vee) party. No taxation without utilization.
SVT needs your money to organize the stupid Eurovision contest to choose the candidate every year. And how are these Swedish hosts and presenters going to survive without your money? Do you want them to find a normal job with a normal salary? Please!
You cannot have your cake and eat it! Stingy people
This is the price you pay for living a higly mobile disposable society. If you can afford these such and such then pay for the lifestyle choice.
Besides the taxes do something good, helps development of culture and adfree programming.
It may not be perfect but show me where is?
This is not a tax. This is a fee. Fees are not progressive. Fees are supposed to be paid when you use a service.
But a mandatory fee, to everybody, is basically a hidden and unfair tax.
I whish somebody have resources to take this to Brussels.
The decision by the Swedish government and almost every other government in Europe is yes it is necessary/worthwhile. (No good running to Brussels)
The next question is how it should be funded.
1. A fee ( levied on all those with equipment able to receive it and charged per household).
2. A mandatory media tax on every individual over 18.
The tax seems the fairest way to me, although it would leave many households paying considerably more.
3. ?
I believe that it is valuable to have media channels that are independent of political and business influence.
Swedish politicians have been a head before their Norwegian colleages, but not
in this case. Now there is some consideration going on to to follow Sweden in this
respect.
Personally I never watch TV, only downloading Thai TV for my wife via my PC.
I will never pay even a Norwegian krone to the Norwegian state TV, NRK.
The coming system to pay according to your income feels to me also undemocratic.
Why not code the transmitters as the private TV channels, so people may pay for
the one we want to watch? That is always turned down in the discussion.
The real question about the TV license comes down to one question. Are Swedes getting value commensurate with what they are paying?
What do you do in this country? You can't "write to your congressman." Do you just grab your ankles and ask someone to pass the vaseline? Where is SVT headquartered so me and my posse can go make a stink?
SVT has unmasked its real intentions: If it would be their interest to get paid from those people, who want to watch SVT, then there are many examples in the web, where you need to create an account, pay a fee and then are able to log in if you want to see movies, tv, etc. It could be so easy: Everybody who wants to see SVT needs to create an account, pay the licence fee and then can watch as long and as often as he wants within the paid period.
But: The true intention of SVT is simply greed - collecting as much money as possible from everyone in Sweden, independently, if somebody ever will watch SVT or not.