Indirect press promotion decided
For a long time, the National Council and the Council of States were unable to reach an agreement, but a decision has now been made: The federal government will provide support in the form of reduced postal rates only to regional, local, and selected member newspapers. This is in line with the Council of States’ proposal for press subsidies totaling 30 million francs.
The federal government will reduce postal charges for regional and local press and member newspapers by 30 million a year. The Council of States has prevailed with the Unification Conference's proposal for indirect press subsidies. 20 million is earmarked for regional and local newspapers with a circulation of up to 40,000 copies. 10 million will be paid to member newspapers of non-profit organizations with a circulation of up to 300,000. According to the SDA report, the organs of Coop, Migros and TCS will not be considered.
The National Council had originally proposed an 80 million "watering can solution", from which major publishers could have benefited as before. In the last round, the Council of States changed its mind on the reduced model, but wanted to double the federal contributions to 40 and 20 million respectively.
The Council of States opposed this because the total of 30 million guaranteed the current tariffs and further funding or even free distribution was out of the question. The majority of the conciliation conference agreed.
In a secondary point, the conference and the councillors followed the National Council on Thursday: unlike the aid for the member newspapers, the aid for the 120 or so regional and local newspapers is not to be limited until the end of 2011. The scope is limited because a total revision of the Postal Services Act is in progress.
The amendment to the Postal Services Act is ready for the final vote on Friday. It must come into force on January 1, 2008 so that there is no interruption in indirect press subsidies.
The National Council had originally proposed an 80 million "watering can solution", from which major publishers could have benefited as before. In the last round, the Council of States changed its mind on the reduced model, but wanted to double the federal contributions to 40 and 20 million respectively.
The Council of States opposed this because the total of 30 million guaranteed the current tariffs and further funding or even free distribution was out of the question. The majority of the conciliation conference agreed.
In a secondary point, the conference and the councillors followed the National Council on Thursday: unlike the aid for the member newspapers, the aid for the 120 or so regional and local newspapers is not to be limited until the end of 2011. The scope is limited because a total revision of the Postal Services Act is in progress.
The amendment to the Postal Services Act is ready for the final vote on Friday. It must come into force on January 1, 2008 so that there is no interruption in indirect press subsidies.
