Geneva also fears for its own SRG site
SRG's cost-cutting measures could also lead to centralization in French-speaking Switzerland. Political resistance is already stirring.
The Bern radio studios are to be relocated to Zurich. Annual savings: 3 million francs. The resistance that has formed in recent months from the federal capital against the plan is enormous. Nevertheless, many observers assume that the Board of Directors will stick to the relocation plan when it decides next week on the definitive course.
As Schweiz am Wochenende writes, the Bern-Zurich move is part of a far-reaching savings plan by SRG Director General Gilles Marchand. The centralization intentions extend to western Switzerland. There, radio is produced in Lausanne, television in Geneva. In 2023, a 100-million SRG media center is to be opened in Lausanne.
The move seems planned
The planned showpiece building on the ETH site in Lausanne is causing unease in Geneva, because the centralization could be at the expense of TV production there. Already quoted La Liberté two sources predicting the move of parts of the Geneva TV production to Lausanne.
SRG does not deny this to Schweiz am Wochenende. The real estate situation is being examined in all regions, according to spokesman Edi Estermann. The goal is to reduce the total area used by SRG by 25 percent.
In 2015, relocation plans were still denied
The possible loss or dismantling of the TV site is already causing opposition from Geneva's politicians. They will fight like the Bernese, says SP National Councilor Manuel Tornare. He had already sensed three years ago that the new RTS building would pose a threat to his city.
In 2015, he therefore asked the Federal Council by means of an interpellation whether French-speaking Swiss television should be transferred to Lausanne "in a deceitful manner. The department of Media Minister Doris Leuthard answered in the negative, saying that the federal production structures were important. However, the response also pointed out that SRG was free to determine its studio locations. The then RTS director Marchand reassured Tornare in a personal conversation - the move was not an issue.
Federal Council stays out of it
Geneva is unlikely to receive any support from the Federal Council in the battle for the TV location. Even though the Federal Council emphasized in its 2015 statement that the SRG should not be guided solely by business considerations, but must also take regional interests into account. In the spring of 2018, Bakom announced that the organization of the SRG was within its entrepreneurial freedom - and thus probably underlined its intention not to interfere in the centralization discussion. Neither in Bern nor in Geneva. (hae)
