Aussie expat faces $347 shock abroad: 'I thought it was hilarious'
- Replies 4
We're used to a certain way of life that includes enjoying the sun, the outdoors, and yes, even free-to-air television without a second thought.
It's easy to take the simple pleasures back home for granted, like flipping through channels without worrying about an extra bill.
However, for one Aussie living abroad, the reality of different international systems came as quite a shock.
Liam Dowling, an Australian social media influencer who moved to London in May of the previous year, was taken aback when he received a letter demanding nearly A$347 for something called a TV licence—a fee that's utterly foreign to most Aussies.
Dowling, who shared his disbelief, initially thought the notice was a prank.
'When I got the letter in the mail informing me that an officer would come to my house, I immediately thought it was hilarious,' he said.
But the laughter soon turned to astonishment as he realized the seriousness of the situation.
In the UK, the concept of a TV licence is well-established. It's a legal requirement for households to watch or record live TV broadcasts, which include all TV channels, pay TV services like Sky, and even live TV streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video.
The licence also covers the use of BBC iPlayer for any content.
For our members who might be considering a move to the UK or are just curious about how things work overseas, this might come as quite a surprise.
The TV licence fee is used to fund the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), supporting their television, radio, and online services.
It's a model that's been in place since 1923 for radios and expanded to include televisions in 1946.
The annual cost for a colour TV licence was set at A$347.95 as of 1 April last year.
There's even a reduced fee for black and white TV licences and a 50 per cent discount for blind individuals.
While the fee can be paid in instalments, starting from just A$13.30 per week, it's an added expense that can weigh heavily on some households, especially when combined with rent, bills, council tax, and food costs.
Dowling's reaction to this uniquely British charge is understandable.
'I understand that as a foreigner, I can’t really comment on this as I don’t understand it at all... But I just think it hilarious that with all of the s*** you have to pay for, a TV licence just seems like the most outrageous made-up thing,' he said.
The number of TV licences in the UK has been declining, with a peak of 26.2 million in 2018 dropping to 23.9 million by March of the previous year.
This decline could be attributed to the rise of streaming services like Netflix, which do not require a TV licence as long as the content isn't live.
For those of us in Australia, it's a stark reminder of the benefits we enjoy.
Our free-to-air channels, funded by advertising and government grants, allow us to indulge in television without the burden of an additional licence fee.
It's one of the many small luxuries that make life Down Under just that little bit sweeter.
So, dear members, next time you're lounging in your favourite chair, remote in hand, ready to channel surf, take a moment to appreciate the freedom of Australian TV.
Credit: TikTok
Have you been shocked by a fee overseas that doesn't exist back home? Share your experiences in the comments below and let's have a chat about the unexpected costs of life abroad.
It's easy to take the simple pleasures back home for granted, like flipping through channels without worrying about an extra bill.
However, for one Aussie living abroad, the reality of different international systems came as quite a shock.
Liam Dowling, an Australian social media influencer who moved to London in May of the previous year, was taken aback when he received a letter demanding nearly A$347 for something called a TV licence—a fee that's utterly foreign to most Aussies.
Dowling, who shared his disbelief, initially thought the notice was a prank.
'When I got the letter in the mail informing me that an officer would come to my house, I immediately thought it was hilarious,' he said.
Australian YouTuber in London surprised by TV licence fee notice, a cost not found in Australia. Credit: @liam_dowling / TikTok
But the laughter soon turned to astonishment as he realized the seriousness of the situation.
In the UK, the concept of a TV licence is well-established. It's a legal requirement for households to watch or record live TV broadcasts, which include all TV channels, pay TV services like Sky, and even live TV streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video.
The licence also covers the use of BBC iPlayer for any content.
For our members who might be considering a move to the UK or are just curious about how things work overseas, this might come as quite a surprise.
The TV licence fee is used to fund the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), supporting their television, radio, and online services.
It's a model that's been in place since 1923 for radios and expanded to include televisions in 1946.
The annual cost for a colour TV licence was set at A$347.95 as of 1 April last year.
There's even a reduced fee for black and white TV licences and a 50 per cent discount for blind individuals.
While the fee can be paid in instalments, starting from just A$13.30 per week, it's an added expense that can weigh heavily on some households, especially when combined with rent, bills, council tax, and food costs.
Dowling's reaction to this uniquely British charge is understandable.
'I understand that as a foreigner, I can’t really comment on this as I don’t understand it at all... But I just think it hilarious that with all of the s*** you have to pay for, a TV licence just seems like the most outrageous made-up thing,' he said.
The number of TV licences in the UK has been declining, with a peak of 26.2 million in 2018 dropping to 23.9 million by March of the previous year.
This decline could be attributed to the rise of streaming services like Netflix, which do not require a TV licence as long as the content isn't live.
For those of us in Australia, it's a stark reminder of the benefits we enjoy.
Our free-to-air channels, funded by advertising and government grants, allow us to indulge in television without the burden of an additional licence fee.
It's one of the many small luxuries that make life Down Under just that little bit sweeter.
So, dear members, next time you're lounging in your favourite chair, remote in hand, ready to channel surf, take a moment to appreciate the freedom of Australian TV.
Credit: TikTok
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