Older relatives still call it Billag, and the old rules still circulate: no TV, no fee. The system changed in 2019, and this post sets out the difference, using SERAFE's and OFCOM's own pages and one trade-press report for the 2018 vote (state: October 2026).
01
Billag vs SERAFE: the change in one table
The two systems side by side:
| Before 2019 (Billag) | Since 1 January 2019 (SERAFE) | |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | The reception equipment in the household | Every household, independent of equipment |
| Registration | Users registered and deregistered | None: private individuals no longer register or deregister, and households are billed automatically |
| Source of data | Not described on the pages read | Monthly data from the residents' registers of the municipalities and cantons |
| Fee | Set by the earlier system | One household fee, lower from 2027 by order of the Federal Council |
02
What the move to a household fee meant
SERAFE describes the change as one of system, from the device-based reception fee to the device-independent household fee, so that all households in Switzerland are basically liable. OFCOM's answers follow from that: having only one radio does not reduce the fee, receiving only foreign programmes does not remove it, and a sealed cable connection, a removed aerial or a satellite dish makes no difference.
03
The 2018 vote
In March 2018 Swiss voters rejected the No Billag initiative to abolish the licence fee, with 71.6 percent against according to a trade-press report from that year. The household fee that followed in 2019 is a different thing from that initiative: it did not abolish the fee, it changed how it is levied.
04
Where the money goes
OFCOM states that the largest part of the fee goes to the SRG, while local radio and regional television broadcasters from all language regions also benefit. That is the reason the fee is not tied to what you watch, and why streaming a foreign channel does not change it.
05
What still catches people out
Three old beliefs that no longer hold:
- No TV, no fee: wrong since 2019, see the radio and TV fee in Switzerland
- You must register or deregister: not with SERAFE, only with your residents' register office
- Streaming is outside the fee: streaming does not replace or reduce it, see TV costs in Switzerland
06
Where to go next
See also SERAFE exemption and The SERAFE invoice. For the whole picture, start from IPTV Switzerland: licensed providers compared.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is SERAFE the same as Billag?
SERAFE is the successor collection agency: since 1 January 2019 it bills the household fee, which replaced the device-based reception fee that Billag collected.
Do I still pay if I have no TV?
Yes. The household fee is independent of devices.
Did the No Billag vote abolish the fee?
No. Voters rejected the initiative in March 2018, according to a trade-press report with 71.6 percent against.
How much is the fee now?
A flat fee per household, billed by SERAFE; by order of the Federal Council it is lower from 1 January 2027, and SERAFE's page shows the current amount.
Sources
Read next
More from the blog
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