What is the GEZ fee in Germany?

Yeah, in Germany everyone has to pay around 18€ a month for the media's consumption.

I‍ found out about this fee in a bizarre way. I was once at home, and someone knocked on the door, the man said I was not paying something it did not understand, he stayed there and started to explain, of course, I did not believe it, and I was surprised by his accuracy on knowing my name, address and my lack of payment.

Let's talk about the GEZ and the general fee for media consumption being digital, via streaming, on radio, or television. (Allgemeine Rundfunkgebühr).

This might seem shocking or strange at first sight to many since the regular service provides companies that one has to pay if one purchases the respective services.

However, this represents the typical German confidence in their cultural institutions and that everyone has to pay her/his share to create public wealth.

'GEZ' stands for the long German word "Gebühreneinzugszentrale." Its translation is "central for fee payments." It is a pretty clumsy term; we have to admit.

The basic idea behind this is as follows: Besides the regular payment for private services (like series and movie streaming providers, internet companies, or radio stations) that any private person can hire, the German state has institutions for the production of cultural programs for all media consumption, e.g., movies, documentaries, tv shows, and also many podcasts and radio programs.

The argument goes that many of these programs are of good quality and with a severe intellectual, cultural or social value. These particular media producers are financed by the state and by the 'Allgemeine Rundfunkgebühr' to produce what is supposed to be "good and neutral journalism" and "good tv and radio programs. "

Despite the idea being quite arguable, it is important to be aware of this fee since one has to register for it at the GEZ (most accessible online on the Rundfunkbeitrag homepage) and allow them to take the money from your account every three months, usually.

And what are those channels? For example, "3Sat ", "Arte," "Kika" (for kids), "Das Erste "and others.

We find an excellent point is the zero advertising on Kids broadcast, not to mention the nice educational value of many programs like "Sendung mit dem Maus and Löwenzahn. "

If you have questions, you can visit the website to get more information. Link: The Rundfunkbeitrag homepage

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Foto by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash.