Studies
OFCOM regularly awards research contracts, primarily in order to meet its statutory duty to monitor licensed radio and television programming (supervisory research). The research contracts also provide a foundation for evidence-based regulation and are commissioned in fulfilment of mandates given by the Federal Council and Parliament. On a smaller scale, OFCOM also supports other empirical projects that generate broader knowledge on current or future media policy issues.
Media Structure Report
The Media Structure Report analyses the development of television, radio and online media in the Swiss media landscape. It provides an overview of the supply structure, financing models, programme content and the use of media offerings.
Media Monitor Switzerland
Medienmonitor Schweiz (Media Monitor Switzerland) examines the role played by the media in relation to opinion-forming in Switzerland and documents the balances of power and business ties in the media market.
Supervisory research
OFCOM regularly commissions empirical analyses of the SRG SSR programme and that of privately licensed radio and TV broadcasters. These focus on whether and how broadcasters fulfil their programme mandates. OFCOM also regularly uses audience surveys to determine how the public rates the quality of the programmes of licensed broadcasters, how satisfied it is with them and how it assesses their reputation.
Basic research
The Swiss media and communications landscape is currently undergoing a profound process of structural change. By having these changes monitored and analysed, OFCOM provides political decision-makers and interested members of the public with a sound and proven basis for making well-informed media policy decisions. Public service provision, media structures/media economics and the digital public sphere.