Cable TV and your Nebenkosten: what changed in July 2024

For decades, German landlords could put cable TV fees into the utility bill. That ended on 30 June 2024. Many statements for 2024 and 2025 still get it wrong. Here is what changed, what is still allowed, and how to check your statement.

By Phil Holthaus & Johann Slawski, founders of nebify — Nebenkostenabrechnungen checked by people and software.

Last updated October 29, 2026

Key facts at a glance

Since 1 July 2024, cable TV fees may no longer be charged through the Nebenkosten.
In the 2024 statement, cable fees may appear at most for January to June.
From 2025 there must be no cable fees at all. Your advance payment should drop accordingly.
Only the electricity and checks of a shared antenna or distribution system may still be charged.
A fibre provision fee is possible only under strict limits.

Antenna wall socket with a coaxial cable in a living room

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Short answer

Since 1 July 2024 your landlord may no longer charge cable TV fees through the Nebenkostenabrechnung. In the 2024 statement they may appear for six months at most, from 2025 not at all. What may remain is the electricity for a shared system. If you still find cable fees, object within 12 months.

What changed on 1 July 2024

Until mid-2024, landlords could pass on the monthly basic fees for cable connections as operating costs. The German rule behind this was known as the Nebenkostenprivileg. The Betriebskostenverordnung now limits it to 30 June 2024:

„die Kosten des Betriebs der mit einem Breitbandnetz verbundenen privaten Verteilanlage, hierzu gehören die Kosten des Betriebsstroms, bis zum 30. Juni 2024 außerdem die weiteren Kosten entsprechend Buchstabe a, sowie die laufenden monatlichen Grundgebühren für Breitbandanschlüsse“

In English: “the costs of operating the private distribution system connected to a broadband network, which include the operating electricity, and until 30 June 2024 also the other costs under letter a and the ongoing monthly basic fees for broadband connections”

§ 2 No. 15 b BetrKV — our translation; only the German text is binding

Still allowed

Operating electricity of a shared antenna or distribution system
Regular checks of a shared antenna, including adjustment

No longer allowed after June 2024

Monthly basic fees for cable connections
Fees for using an antenna outside the building
Copyright fees for cable retransmission

What to check in your statements

Statement 2024
Cable fees at most for January to June. If twelve months are charged, six are not allowed.
Statement 2025
No cable fees at all. Look for items like “Kabel”, “Breitband”, “Antenne” or “Multimedia”.
Advance payment
If cable was part of your advance payment, it should have gone down. You may ask for an adjustment after the next statement (§ 560 (4) BGB).
Systems built since December 2021
For these, even the electricity of the cable distribution system may not be charged under this rule.

→ Cable and TV costs in the statement (German)→ How to object to your Nebenkostenabrechnung

Fibre networks: the provision fee

If your landlord installs a new in-house fibre network and you can choose your internet provider freely, a provision fee (Bereitstellungsentgelt) may be passed on (§ 2 No. 15 c BetrKV with § 72 TKG). It is limited to €60 a year and €540 in total per flat, normally for at most five years, in exceptional cases nine.

Your internet, phone or TV contract itself is never an operating cost. You conclude and pay it yourself.

→ Fibre provision fee explained (German)

Watching TV now: your options

You can sign your own contract with the cable provider to keep using the socket, use satellite if your rental contract allows a dish, receive DVB-T2 with an antenna, or stream via internet. The broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag) is separate from all of this and is paid per household to the Beitragsservice, not to your landlord.

Cable fees hidden under another name?

Cable costs sometimes appear as “Antenne”, “Breitband”, “Multimedia” or inside other items. Whether what is left is only electricity, or still a fee, shows in the invoice. We check it for you.

Check my statement for free Full report from €24.90

Cable fees after June 2024 are one of the most common errors in current statements. If you want to have your Nebenkostenabrechnung checked, we go through every item and send you an English summary with a ready-to-send letter to your landlord, for €24.90.

If you read German: our page Nebenkostenabrechnung prüfen lassen explains the same check in German.

FAQ: cable TV and Nebenkosten

Can my landlord still charge cable TV in the Nebenkosten?

No, not for the time after 30 June 2024. The monthly basic fees for cable connections may no longer be passed on as operating costs (§ 2 No. 15 BetrKV). Only the electricity and checks of a shared system remain.

What should my 2024 statement show?

Cable TV fees at most for January to June 2024. If the whole year is charged, half of it is not allowed.

Do I need a new TV contract?

If you want to keep watching via the cable socket, yes, with a provider of your choice. You can also use satellite where allowed, DVB-T2 or internet TV.

What about fibre (Glasfaser) fees?

For a new in-house fibre network, a provision fee may be passed on under strict conditions: at most €60 a year and €540 in total per flat, usually for at most five years (§ 2 No. 15 c BetrKV with § 72 TKG). Internet or TV contracts themselves are never operating costs.

Is the TV licence fee part of the Nebenkosten?

No. The broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag) is paid separately per household to the Beitragsservice and has nothing to do with your landlord.

Still paying for cable in your utility bill?

Upload your statement to the free pre-check. You see in English whether it contains cable or TV costs that are no longer allowed.

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Legal note: This guide gives general information and is not legal advice on your individual case. Whether an item in your statement is actually not allowed depends on your rental contract and the facts of your case. For legal questions, a tenants' association (Mieterverein) or a lawyer specialising in tenancy law (Fachanwalt für Mietrecht) can help you.

More guides in English

Sources: § 2 BetrKV · § 556 BGB · § 560 BGB · § 72 TKG