News and background

Federal Council report on the public service in the media sector

The report analyses the public service provided by the SSR SRG and private radio and television broadcasters with and without support from reception fees and presents approaches for the future scope of the public service.

Analogue cable TV: free choice of channels for network operators

The obligation to broadcast certain television programme services (must-carry channels) in the analogue services on cable networks is being phased out. Because the vast majority of the Swiss population use digital services, the broadcasting obligation will be limited to digital services from 2015. The amended Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) Ordinance enters into force on 1 June 2013.

Regional TV programme services can now be broadcast throughout Switzerland

The Federal Council has lifted the broadcasting restriction on regional television pro-gramme services. As a result, these programme services can after the 1 march 2013 be broadcast by wire in digital format outside their allocated coverage areas.

Conditions eased for private regional television and cable networks

The Federal Council has eased the conditions on private TV stations receiving support through fee splitting and changed the relationship between fees and equity financing. In the future the fee must be matched with a lower proportion of in-house funds than to date. At the same time the Federal Council is phasing out the obligation to transmit TV programme services in analogue form on cable networks.

Technical feasibility of a fourth coverage in the area Zurich - Glarus

Within the framework of a feasibility study a working group with representatives from OFCOM, two independent frequency specialists and a representative from Radio Energy determined that a fourth coverage in the Zurich-Glarus coverage area is not feasible in the short term.

Media journalists and quality assurance in private radio and private television

OFCOM has commissioned and has now published two media science studies on the professional reality of media journalism and on quality assurance.

European TV quotas: the consequences for Switzerland

Switzerland's participation in the EU's MEDIA programmes is having repercussions on television in Switzerland: in the future, international and national broadcasters and broadcasters in the different regional languages will have to comply with minimum quotas of Swiss and European productions and productions made by independent producers.