I’m used to meeting foreign residents – usually Brits – who claim they shouldn’t have to buy a television licence because they “never watch the French channels”. Well, that’s understandable but it makes no difference to their legal obligation to pay the redevance. Every household which possesses a television receiver has to fork out. One licence covers any number of sets and under recent legislation this extends to those kept in résidences secondaires. The cost of a licence is €116.50. 

Of course, some people don’t want to pay – surprise, surprise, the Alpes-Maritimes has one of the highest rates of licence dodgers in the country, with an estimated around 150,000 illegal sets. But the government has declared war on the tellycheats. You now have to say in your tax declaration – you may have noticed – whether or not you have a receiver. The redevance will from now on be paid along with the taxe d’habitation. Anyone caught with an undeclared television set has to pay a double licence fee plus a “fiscal fine” of  €300. But don’t worry if you’re old and poor: those over 65 and not liable to income tax are exempt.

Incidentally, the French are more and more switching on their televisions while eating. According to a recent survey, one in five are eyeballing the box at breakfast while 45% watch at lunchtime and 55% at dinner. Poivre d’Arvor would do nothing for my digestion.

From Reporter 110 - Aug/Sept 2005 

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