Free TV channels must not be encrypted
The Council of States has reined in the cable network operator Cablecom. As it decided on Thursday by a vote of 24 to 9, Cablecom will no longer be allowed to profit from television channels that it receives for free over the air.
The Council of States is calling a halt to cable network operator Cablecom. As it decided on Thursday by 24 votes to 9, Cablecom should no longer earn money in future from television channels that it obtains free of charge from the airwaves. The Small Council thus approved a motion by consumer protector Simonette Sommaruga (SP/BE). The encryption of free television channels from Switzerland and abroad is economically scandalous and dubious in terms of media policy, Sommaruga was quoted as saying in an SDA report. It forces customers to purchase the set-top box from Cablecom, which is inadmissible customer loyalty, she continued.
