The councils of pensioners and senior citizens reject the No Billag initiative

The board of the Swiss Pensioners Association says no to the No Billag initiative. Adopting the initiative would result in a fatal weakening of older people's usual source of information, according to the association. Most of its members are big users of Switzerland's television and radio offerings, the Swiss Pensioners Association said Monday. They have little or no interest in rapid upheavals in the television and radio business, nor in the way the new media are consumed. Moreover, if the initiative were to be adopted on March 4, the role of radio and television as promoters of democracy and national cohesion would be in jeopardy, according to the communiqué.

The delegates of the Swiss Seniors' Council also reject the initiative. The older population sits two hours a day in front of the television and would be particularly affected by a reduction in services, it says in a statement. In addition, around 300,000 recipients of supplementary benefits are exempt from the Billag fee. With a Yes to the initiative they would become liable to pay, communicated the advice on Wednesday. In addition, numerous offers would probably be cut off. Broadcasts for minorities in particular could only be financed with fees. (SDA/hae)

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