SRG plans reforms and job cuts despite clear No-Billag vote
SRG wants to take the public criticism of the company seriously: It announced far-reaching reforms on the Sunday of the referendum. In addition to job cuts on an as yet unknown scale, advertising and online activities are also to be restricted.
Speaking to the media in Bern, SRG's top management was visibly relieved and reassured on the one hand, but also humble on the other. The company was not left unscathed by the emotionally charged referendum campaign - despite the surprisingly clear No to the No Billag initiative.
"We are facing a new beginning," said SRG Director General Gilles Marchand. SRG is at a "historic turning point" in its history and from now on in a "permanent reform process".
Unknown extent of job cuts
Overall, the SRG Director General announced savings measures of 100 million francs due to the reduction in fees from today's 451 francs to 365 francs a year and falling advertising revenues. He said the company would save around 80 million francs in infrastructure, administration, technology, real estate, production processes and distribution from next year.
The company's management has not yet specified where, how and by how much the cuts will be made. What is clear is that jobs will also be affected. According to Marchand, SRG will discuss the cuts with the social partners and communicate them in due course.
A further CHF 20 million is to be reinvested. The aim is to adjust the focus of the offering. "We heard the young audience in the referendum campaign. They want to interact with the media in a new way."
No text without audio or video
Marchand went on to say that SRG would in future spend half of its fee income on "balanced information in four languages". And it will further promote its commitment to domestic cultural production - especially film and series. "All with the aim of focusing on the raison d'être."
In addition, SRG is focusing on improving its digital offering in the future. To this end, it wants to build a multilingual platform that will allow audiences to access as many SRG productions as possible from all language regions with the corresponding translation.
According to its own statements, SRG will in future refrain from interrupting feature films with commercial breaks. In the future, no texts will be distributed online without an audio or video contribution on the topic, Marchand said.
Cooperation instead of going it alone
SRG also wants to make its archive content available to private Swiss media providers. It also does not want to offer regional target-group-specific advertising, even if this would one day be possible for regulatory reasons.
"We heard the criticism in the referendum campaign," said the SRG Director General. He added that it would no longer be possible for SRG to go it alone in the future.
For this reason, SRG has declared itself ready to build up a national radio player together with other Swiss radio stations. And it is open to cooperation in operating the music stations Swiss Pop, Swiss Jazz and Swiss Classic.
No withdrawal from Admeira
SRG rejects the idea of leaving the Admeira advertising platform. "However, we do want to accept new shareholder partners.
support," Marchand said.
Regarding news agency SDA, he said that it would not have to provide further discounts in the coming year. The contract with the agency will be extended for one year on the basis of 2018, he said.
According to those responsible, SRG's plans will be presented in detail during the summer of 2018. Implementation will start next year and continue over the next five years. (SDA)
