IN THE days before cable TV networks were available in Singapore, a TV licence fee was collected from every household with a TV set at home, whether householders watched local TV programmes broadcast on Channel 5 and Channel 8 or not.
Today, many of us subscribe to cable TV networks which also provide these local channels. I am also a cable network user and since I started paying property tax, I have obediently paid to the Media Development Authority (MDA) my TV licence fee, which is conveniently included with my property tax in one bill when both are due.
However, this is without truly understanding exactly why TV licence fee is collected from every household with a TV set.
Does TV licence fee collection still apply when we watch local channels on cable TV networks?
Don't the cable TV network providers already pay TV licence fees for the right to broadcast local channels on their networks?
If a cable TV network provider has the right to broadcast these local channels on its network, should the MDA still collect the TV licence fee from every household with a TV set?
I called the MDA to get a clarification but the answer I got from the officer who took my call was that 'every household with a TV set in Singapore must pay the TV licence fee'.
But she could not explain the reasons for doing so.
I am also curious what happens to the money collected since local TV channels do not seem to have improved or provide programmes of better quality - and I don't mean just high-definition TV quality.
