SRG takes Alinghi decision further

 SRG is defending itself against a fine imposed on Swiss television by the Federal Office of Communications for violating sponsorship regulations. It is lodging an appeal against the ruling on Alinghi coverage with the Federal Administrative Court. Spokesman Daniel Steiner confirmed a corresponding report by NZZ am Sonntag. The case concerns the sponsor UBS. The major bank sponsored both the sailing yacht Alinghi and the special SRG television broadcasts from Valencia, where the America's Cup was held almost a year ago. In its ruling of April 25, OFCOM criticized the fact that sponsorship logos referred to UBS's financial commitment. According to the law, television should not have done this, Bakom ruled. SRG was only allowed to declare that the bank was supporting the special programs (see
). According to the ruling, SRG would have to surrender revenues of an unknown amount and pay a fine "in the low six-figure range", as Steiner confirmed. Swiss television has already been reprimanded by the Independent Complaints Authority for Radio and Television (UBI) for its coverage of the America's Cup. The UBI found that television had engaged in surreptitious advertising, as the Alinghi logo was emblazoned on the presenter's microphone.