Federal Council extends contribution to foreign SRG offerings
The ten-language Internet platform Swissinfo.ch, the Italian-language website Tvsvizzera.it and the international TV stations TV5Monde and 3sat will continue to receive money from the federal government over the next two years. There will be no change in the scope of the financial assistance.
In 2021 and 2022, the federal government will provide CHF 19.5 million per year each, half of the amount needed to finance the service. On Wednesday, the Federal Council extended the corresponding performance agreement on SRG's journalistic offering for foreign countries.
This obliges the SRG to inform the Swiss abroad about current events in Switzerland and to promote Switzerland's presence in the foreign media. The two-year extension is aligned with the duration of the current SRG concession.
The main component of the offer is the internet platform Swissinfo.ch with its texts, image, audio and video contributions in German, French, Italian, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Russian. The Internet platform enables Swiss abroad to continue to exercise their political rights in Switzerland.
New platform from TV5Monde
The financing of the Italian-language website Tvsvizzera.it, which is aimed at the southern border region and cross-border commuters, but also at all other Italian speakers, is also part of the agreement, as is SRG's cooperation with the international television stations TV5Monde (French) and 3sat (German).
By working with TV5Monde's partners, television programs related to Switzerland can be broadcast in more than 210 countries. "As a sign of its attachment to the Francophonie," the Confederation is also supporting the multilateral broadcaster with around 105,000 francs per year to develop a digital French-language video-on-demand platform called TV5Monde Plus, the Federal Council further writes.
SRG will be required to report annually on its Internet platforms and cooperation with TV5 and 3sat. (SDA)
