The French National Assembly Moves to Abolish the Audiovisual License Fee
The French National Assembly voted in the first reading last Saturday to abolish the audiovisual license fee, a measure long discussed as part of government efforts to protect citizens’ purchasing power.
The proposal still awaits confirmation by the Senate, though the chamber is not expected to oppose it. The vote tally stood at 170 in favor to 57 against.
Leftist and environmentalist parties opposed the repeal on grounds that it would undercut social cohesion and raise questions about the long-term independence of the public audiovisual system.
The audiovisual license revenue has funded radio and public television. Future contributions from the State are projected to number around EUR 3.2 billion, with the sum to be drawn from a portion of VAT income.
The license has been paid by roughly 23 million households to date, averaging about 138 euros per year, and it also applied to hotels, bars, and cafés in various jurisdictions.
The system was established in 1933 to support radio owners and was later extended to televisions; however, its application to radios ended in 1980. One government argument for repeal notes a shift in how audiovisual activity is consumed, with home television not as ubiquitous as before yet audiovisual content being accessed through an increasing array of devices.
The French public audiovisual sector encompasses French Televisions with multiple national channels; Radio France, including the France Bleu network of national and regional stations; France Médias Monde, which operates France 24 and Radio France International; the Franco-German cultural channel ARTE; and the National Audiovisual Institute.
As discussions continue, supporters argue that updating the financing model will better reflect modern media consumption while maintaining a strong, independent public broadcasting landscape. Critics emphasize the potential risks to universal service and the stability of public media funding in a digitized environment. The Senate’s response will determine the next chapter for this long-running policy debate and its implications for households, businesses, and cultural institutions across France.