Lisensavgiften

Lisensavgiften, often referred to as the TV license, was a compulsory annual payment in Sweden used to finance public service broadcasting, primarily Sveriges Television (SVT), Sveriges Radio (SR) and Sveriges Utbildningsradio (UR). The fee applied to households that owned a television or used devices capable of receiving broadcast television and was designed to ensure independent public service media.

Historically, the lisensavgiften was collected by the public company Radiotjänst i Kiruna AB. The amount was set by government decisions and varied over time, and the fee was tied to a household rather than to individual income. The system operated for many decades and became a central part of Swedish media funding, though it faced criticism for administration costs and for evolving viewing habits in the digital era.

In the late 2010s, Sweden reformed how public service broadcasting is funded. On January 1, 2019, the lisensavgiften was abolished and replaced by a public service fee integrated into the tax system. The reform shifted funding from a per-household license to a general funding model, with the Swedish Tax Agency handling collection in most cases. The change aimed to simplify administration and ensure stable financing for SVT, SR, and UR in a changing media landscape.

Today, the term lisensavgiften is largely historical. Public service broadcasting in Sweden continues to be funded, but through a structure tied to general government financing rather than a separate household license fee.