Media levy: "Massive weakening of the SRG"
Due to the reduction in the media levy, the decline in advertising revenue and the abolition of the cost-of-living adjustment, SRG would lose up to CHF 240 million from 2027. Around 900 jobs would have to be cut.
At the beginning of November, the Federal Council announced its intention to reduce the radio and television fee to CHF 300 (Advertisingweek.ch reported). SRG took a stand today and is against the reduction in the media levy proposed by the Federal Council. This would have a massive impact on programming and staff.
In a press release, SRG writes that the announced abolition of the cost-of-living adjustment, the decline in advertising revenue and the reduction in the media levy proposed by the Federal Council would result in an annual shortfall of up to CHF 240 million for SRG from 2027. This accumulation of financial challenges would have a drastic impact on programming and staff. Overall, around 900 jobs would have to be cut in stages.
"Wrong to massively weaken the SRG"
"A democracy depends on its citizens being well informed. At a time when the media are struggling with growing funding problems and jobs are being cut, it is wrong to massively weaken SRG," said Jean-Michel Cina, Chairman of the SRG Board of Directors.
SRG Director General Gilles Marchand: "The entire Swiss media center benefits from a healthy and solidly financed public media company. SRG is doing everything it can to compensate for the sharp decline in its commercial revenues. A further weakening would certainly have a negative impact on the quality of program services in all regions. To the detriment of the audience."
The entire SRG statement can be found here read
