Annual TV and radio license fees in Denmark 2010-2021

From 2010 to 2018, the annual media license fee in Denmark increased to 2,527 Danish kroner. Since 2019, the fee has dropped and stood at 619 Danish kroner. The reason for the decrease of the media license fee is that the Danish government decided to abolish it. The media license fee has been gradually phased out for a transitional period of three years and since January 2022, public service is financed through taxes.

Distribution of the media license yields

The media license financed public service broadcasts in Denmark. DR (short for Danish Broadcasting Corporation) collected the entire media license fees on behalf of the Minister of Culture and receives the majority. The rest passed to, amongst others, TV2, radio24syv, local radio and TV broadcasters, as well as the public service fund. 20 percent of the fee revenue went as VAT to the Danish government.

Who has to pay the media license fee?

Since 1925, it has been compulsory to pay a license to DR if you own a radio. Since then, the license payment obligation has been extended to television sets. In 2007, internet access was also subject to the media license.