With the end of the additional cost privilege, consumers can freely choose the type of TV reception they receive. In some cases, providers threaten to shut down the internet if you don’t pay for TV too.

We have already reported a lot about the end of the additional cost privilege and have also presented numerous alternatives. The essence of the matter is that landlords can no longer impose the costs of TV cable connections on their tenants via additional costs.

The law will take effect from July 1, 2024 at the latest. This is basically a good thing for households, but they also have to take action if they want to continue watching TV. Vodafone is taking tough action here and, in extreme cases, even blocking TV connections.

But what happens to users who also get internet via cable? Does a TV block also paralyze the Internet connection or do you have to continue using cable TV in order to be able to use the Internet connection? Unfortunately, the answer is not that simple.

Basically, TV and Internet connection are two things, even if they are both transmitted via the same cable. So if you use cable internet and now decide against cable TV, you shouldn’t have a problem with large providers like Vodafone.

The TV contract that previously applied to the whole house is canceled and the Internet contract, which was signed privately anyway, remains. In this case, cable Internet customers can also freely choose how they receive TV.

For example, it is possible to use streaming services for live TV or watch TV via an indoor antenna. And of course it is also possible to sign a private TV contract with the cable provider.

Sky TV is an alternative to cable connection with all important FreeTV channels in HD. There is also live sports news and, if desired, other series and also Netflix.

However, the TV landscape is quite complex in practice. There are different network levels for the TV cable:

The network operators Vodafone and Pyur operate on network level 3 and there should be no problems with the separation of TV and Internet connections. But some providers that work at network level 4, such as Rehnig Broadband Networks, Medicom Dreieich or Infocity Rostock, cannot be pushed out of the market so easily.

They communicate to consumers that Internet via cable from Vodafone or Pyur is only available if a TV contract is also concluded. The providers rely on a kind of “pass-through fee” and want money for the use of the media infrastructure in-house. The consumer advice centers are currently checking whether this is even permissible.

The providers then provide information on the subject of additional cost privileges on their websites: The use of third-party internet services, such as Vodafone, which are distributed via our networks, requires the conclusion of a contract for the TV cable connection including infrastructure service.

Overall, this is a very unpleasant situation for affected consumers. What can you do? Contact your neighbors, landlord and building network operator and clarify the matter. It may also be possible to terminate the contract with the home network operator in order to decouple cable Internet and TV offerings. If there are no alternatives available, you will probably have to bite the bullet and sign a TV contract until there are court decisions.

The original for this article “TV blocking due to new law: when the Internet is threatened” comes from chip.de.