Private radio stations receive more funding from 2016
From mid-2016, private radio stations are to receive more money from the fee pot. This was announced by Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard on Thursday at Swiss Radio Day 15. Her department will submit a corresponding proposal to the Federal Council.
At Swiss Radio Day 15, Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard ventured a glimpse into the future of the radio landscape. This future can now be definitively built after the Federal Court confirmed the outcome of the vote on the new Radio and Television Act (RTVA) last week. Now it is a matter of drawing up the ordinance and doing the necessary preliminary work, Leuthard said. She assumes that the new household fee can be levied from 2018. Leuthard did not want to commit to the amount. "The Federal Council will only do that shortly before it comes into force," she said. But she said she expects the levy to be no more than the 400 francs per year mentioned in the referendum campaign. However, the Federal Council will not wait until 2018 to give licensed private radio stations a stronger hand. Rather, this is to happen as early as the middle of next year. In this way, the federal government wants to help the stations, some of which are suffering from a strained financial situation.
Praise for the industry
Leuthard was not sparing in her praise for the radio industry. She very much welcomed the fact that the private providers and the SRG were working closely together in the radio sector. She mentioned the switchover from FM to DAB+ as a successful example of this cooperation. Since all players had joined forces here, it would probably be possible to complete the switchover in 2020. However, the next challenge is already on the horizon. The Internet brings completely new possibilities, but also completely new competition. Here, it is once again up to the radio stations to find good solutions so that they can fulfill their public service mandate. Leuthard is convinced, however, that the radio stations can stand up to the global competitors with a large portion of Swissness. "The audience is looking for that," she said, emphasizing the high credibility that the medium of radio still enjoys.
Everything open after 2020
How things will continue after 2020 and the expiration of the current licenses is completely open, according to Leuthard. After the switchover to DAB+, licenses would no longer be necessary. Whether and to what extent the state would then still have to be involved in regulatory activities is currently being examined. "Perhaps everything can be left to the market, but perhaps there will still be a need for certain rules and specifications and thus a performance mandate for the important public services," the media minister said. (SDA)
