Councils continue to wrestle over details of expanded media subsidies

In contrast to the National Council, the Council of States does not want any further restrictions on SRG's online offering. It removed the article passed by the upper chamber at the beginning of March from the law without discussion. The National Council wants to introduce further restrictions in order to prevent a competitive effect on the private media.

According to committee spokesperson Stefan Engler (center/GR), the population's right to information would no longer be guaranteed if further hurdles were put in place. Media Minister Simonetta Sommaruga added that this would primarily affect culture and education, which are not in competition with the private media. Moreover, the issue does not belong in the law, but is regulated in the concession. Sommaruga also referred to the planned dialog platform between the SRG and the private media.

The Councils also continue to disagree on the contributions to online media. Nevertheless, the Council of States built a bridge to the National Council on Tuesday by 24 votes to 21 by setting the proportion of revenue generated at 70% following an appeal by Media Minister Simonetta Sommaruga. In the spring session, the National Council had spoken out in favor of a chargeable turnover of only 60%.

The period of validity for the online media subsidy and the discount for early delivery also remain controversial. The National Council found five years to be sufficient. The Council of States again came out in favor of ten years, knowing full well that a compromise will be needed at some point. Sommaruga could imagine such a compromise at seven years.

Attack on online promotion

The most intense part of this process of reconciling differences came at the very end: the conservative opponents of direct support for online media launched a lengthy debate on whether this should be included in the package at all. In the end, however, Ruedi Noser (FDP/ZH) failed with his motions not to include a deadline in the law at all or to remove online promotion from the package entirely for formal legal reasons. This means that a possible referendum is only possible against the entire media promotion package.

Benedikt Würth (Center/SG) said that the inclusion of a new law in the annex to the overall package was on thin ice in terms of constitutional law. Thierry Burkart (FDP/AG) spoke of a poorly thought-out subsidy and a new subsidy that had not been fully discussed, "which we can no longer get rid of".

In contrast, the long debate left the SP and the media minister shaking their heads. Eva Herzog (SP/BS) said that she could not understand why a split between print and online was suddenly necessary. It was a forward-looking law "because it takes all content into account".

Paul Rechsteiner (SP/SG) recalled that all of this had already been discussed at length last year. The constitutionality was clearly given. Even in the event of a referendum, the package would have the best chances in a popular vote.

Compromise on training contributions

With regard to training and further education for journalists working in electronic media, the Council of States voted 35 to 10 in favor of its committee's compromise proposal. Support should be given to those institutions whose certificates are recognized throughout the industry and are equivalent to an academic degree.

Sommaruga said that this solution would benefit all those who offer training and further education. But in terms of the result, the certificate, they would have to face competition in order to be eligible for funding. Here, too, there is still a difference with the National Council.

A further difference remains on the question of the level of fee shares for licensed TV and radio broadcasters. The Council of States initially insisted on at least 8%. The National Council's version provides for a range between 6% and 8%.

120 million francs more

In total, the future funding measures are expected to provide the media with CHF 120 million more, directly or indirectly, than today. The package includes amendments to the Postal Act, the Federal Radio and Television Act (RTVA) and a new federal law on the promotion of online media.

The bill goes back to the National Council with the remaining differences. The aim is to finalize the package by the end of the summer session.

However, the voters could have the final say on the expansion of media funding. The "Friends of the Constitution" association is flirting with a referendum against the bill. It believes that the independence of the media will be called into question if the state drip on which they depend continues to grow. (SDA)