Romania’s public television asks for higher tax to broadcast the Euro 2016

Unions from Romania’s national television TVR have asked the Government to increase the monthly public TV tax to allow the TV station to broadcast the matches of the Euro 2016 football championship. A 12.5% increase of the public TV tax, from RON 4 to RON 4.5 (a little over EUR 1) per month, would allow TVR to make enough money to buy the broadcasting rights for almost half of the matches of the Euro 2016, according to TVR’s largest union SPUSTv. The Government can decide to modify the tax, which is enforceable on all households in Romania as well as on all local companies. Electricity suppliers collect the TV tax, which is included in the electricity bill. They get a commission for this. TVR unions also want the Government to put a cap on the collecting fee, which is currently about an eighth of the tax (RON 0.5). “A universal TV tax, without the possibility of renouncement, a 12% increase in the tax, and a collecting fee capped at 5% of the tax value, would bring TVR about EUR 2 million extra revenues per month. TVR could use this money to pay its tax debt and to buy the <<free to air>> package of the Euro 2015 and the rights to broadcast other large competition in the following years,” said Dragos Bocanaciu, the president of TVR’s biggest union. Bocanaciu is also a sports commentator for TVR. Telekom Romania, the largest telecom group in Romania, recently announced it acquired the rights to broadcast all the 51 matches of the Euro 2016. Telekom’s Dolce Sport channel will have exclusive rights on 28 of the games, while 23 matches are free to air and can be broadcasted by other TV stations as well. The free to air package will also include Romania’s matches, should the national football team qualify for the tournament. The Euro 2016 will take place between June 10 and July 10, 2016, in France. editor@romania-insider.com