Cinésuisse and Havas Agency join forces against "No Billag
Communication warns of consequences
The media release states: "The initiative does not abolish Billag, but Swiss radio and television. The text of the initiative makes this clear: At the beginning of next year, the fees will be abolished and the licenses (broadcasting rights) of Swiss radio and television will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. The popular initiative 'Yes to the abolition of radio and television license fees' would deprive Swiss radio and television of their financial basis and SRG would have to cease operations. This has been clearly communicated by the Federal Council. Switzerland would lose one of the most important independent quality media houses in one fell swoop. And with it, a piece of identity that foreign media and social media could never, ever replace.Anyone who claims otherwise has not read the initiative text."
Clips with Bruno Ganz, Seven or Stefanie Heinzmann
In keeping with this, Swiss celebrities raise their voices against "No Billag" in specially produced commercials - but only briefly: Before they can really speak out, the screen goes black. This is not a technical error, but intentional: the audience is to be shown "what a blackout means".In the social media, the spots are each supplemented with additional arguments against the initiative. For example, a chart for Graubünden's Tonia Maria Zindel reads "Without Swiss radio and television, our four national languages would no longer be on the program anywhere." Or to Stefanie Heinzmann: "Without Swiss radio and television, a piece of Switzerland would be lost." Or Bruno Ganz: "Without Swiss radio and television, the free formation of opinion would suffer. And with it, democracy. "All clips are available on the Youtube channel of the Havas agency.
