What changed
From 1 January 2026 updated RTV rules came into force in Poland: the monthly fee for using radio and television can now apply not only to traditional TVs and radios but also to smartphones, tablets and computers if they are capable of receiving TV or radio content — writes Business Insider.
Who exactly will be affected
By decisions of administrative courts the concept of "receiver" has been expanded to multifunctional devices. At the same time it is important: merely possessing a smartphone does not automatically make the owner a payer. As Radio Eska clarifies, the key criterion is the presence in the household of already registered television or radio receivers.
"The presence of a smartphone does not mean an automatic obligation to pay the new subscription: the decisive factor is the existence of registered receivers in the household"
— Radio Eska
How the taxation mechanism works
Individuals pay one contribution per type of receiver within a household — one for radio and one for television, regardless of the number of devices. For businesses, however, the rate is applied to each receiver separately.
In 2026 monthly rates are set at 9.50 zł for radio and 30.50 zł for television (approximately 113 and 363 UAH respectively). Payment checks are carried out by employees of Poczta Polska; a fine of up to 30 times the monthly subscription fee is provided for an unregistered receiver. According to the media, inspections more often concern companies, while private households are checked less frequently.
What’s next: the 2027 reform
The Polish government has announced that from 2027 the subscription fee will be replaced by an audiovisual payment, which will be included in the annual personal income tax (PIT) return. Estimates suggest this mechanism will allow about 2.5 billion zlotys annually to be directed to funding public media; at the same time old arrears will remain subject to collection.
European context
Similar models already exist in various EU countries, but mechanisms and amounts differ. For example, in Germany the fixed Rundfunkbeitrag is about €18.36 per month per household; in the United Kingdom — the BBC licence. Some countries, like Italy, have integrated the fee into electricity bills; other countries (France, Finland, Spain, the Netherlands) have abandoned the classic licence because of changes in funding models.
Why it matters for Ukraine
The Polish move is not just a local tax innovation. It is an example of adapting the public broadcasting funding system to the digital reality, where content is increasingly consumed on mobile devices.
There are three important consequences for Ukrainians: first, Ukrainian citizens and migrant workers in Poland should pay attention to the new rules to avoid fines; second, this sets a precedent for neighbours — the EU may move toward unified approaches to financing the AV sector; third, Ukraine should rethink its own models of supporting public broadcasting so as not to fall behind technological change.
Brief conclusion
Poland has signalled a trend: in the digital age the question of who and how pays for public broadcasting becomes more complex. Ukraine should watch not only the amounts but the principles — who bears responsibility, how consumers' rights are protected, and how the financial independence of public media is guaranteed. Instead of panic — an action plan: inform your citizens abroad and start a professional discussion about the future financing of Ukrainian public radio and television broadcasting.
