TV Licenses or Lack of It around the World

Last time somewhere in 2008, a MDA spoke-man replied to a writer to forum about the cost of TV license, the spoke-man mentioned that the cost of the TV license is one of the lowest in the World. I did a little research and did a comparison of the TV License Tax around the world. Although we are not too expensive compared to Europe, I discovered that our TV license fee is one of the SECOND in ASIA! In fact we behind Japan, but lag in program compared with the most expensive TV Tax in Asia.


The Following are some of the TV License Tax Rates from around the World. Some of the Countries listed are G8 Nations and they are used to compare with Singapore. I also rope in Developed and Industrialized Nations such as Korea and Japan, and lastly countries around ASEAN and the List of Countries within ASEAN without TV Tax:

Canada (No TV License)

France €116.5 (S$240.00) EUMAP report, Pg 671

Germany €17.03/Month (S$35/Month, S$420/Year), EUMAP report Pg 747

Italy (€97.10 /Year, S$200) EUMAP report Pg 905

Japan - National Braodcaster NHK ¥14910 for 12 months (S$228/Year)

Russia - No info

Singapore (S$110/Year)

S Korea - National Broascaster KBS 2,500 won/Month (S$ 2.9 / month = S$34.8/Year)

United Kingdom (€180.21 /Year, S$372/Year), EUMAP report Pg 1619

United States (No TV License)


Summarized cost of Singapore of TV Tax Compared with Countries in Europe and Far East:
Germany S$420/Year
United Kingdom = S$372/Year
France = S$240.00
Japan =S$228/Year
Italy = S$200/Year
Singapore = $110/Year
S Korea = S$34.8/Year


Countries Without TV License
Australia
New Zealand
USA
Brunei
Hong Kong SAR
Indonesia
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand


Comparing with Far East, Australia and New Zealand
Japan S$228/Year
Singapore S$110/Year
S Korea = S$34.8/Year
Australia (Free)
New Zealand (Free)
USA (Free)
Brunei (Free)
Hong Kong SAR (Free)
Indonesia (Free)
Malaysia (Free)
Philippines (Free)
Thailand (Free)


I will compare Korea which is the lowest so far (exclude free TV License Nations) with Singapore

S Korea (S$34.8/Year)

• TV Stations (Public Interest)
• KBS TV 1,2
• Satellite TV KBS Korea,
• KBS World
• KBS Radio 1,2
• KBS FM 1,2
• Radio for the physically disabled, 'The Voice of Love Broadcasting'
• Radio for the North Koreans, 'Social Education Services'
• International service provided in 10 different languages, 'Radio Korea International'
• Operate the KBS Symphony Orchestra and the KBS Traditional Music Orchestra
• To host major national, cultural, and sports events
• To support digital TV and radio broadcasting.
• 3/100 of the total license fee is allotted every year to support transmission of broadcasts conducted by the Education Broadcasting System.

Singapore (S$110/Year)

• 3 English Channel (Channel 5, Channel News Asia & okto)
• 2 Chinese Channel (Channel 8 & Channel U)
• 1 Malay Channel
• 1 Tamel Channel
• 13 Radio Channels
• Radio Singapore International - Closed on 31 July 2008
• Closed online radio streaming on 1st Mar 2009
  

When Radio Singapore International (RSI) was launched, I was quite happy because we have a presence in the Shortwave band which I used to listen into broadcaster such as VOA, BBC, and Overseas broadcasts from other countries. Shortwave can reach listeners in other part of the world that are remote and backward. But RSI was eventually closed on 31 July 08 due to "The effectiveness of a short wave radio service has diminished over time with changing technology and media consumption habits....". Er, how about people in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea with only shortwave radio?

MediaCorp does not function as a National Broadcaster; which is established National Interest, but it functioned as a commercial entity and it cares only about commercial profits. Its all about$


Worth the $110 paid? Apparently not.............................