Strengthening media diversity: historic cooperation between SRG and VSM
SRG and the Swiss Media Publishers Association (VSM) have reached an agreement to strengthen Switzerland’s media landscape and ensure that the public has access to well-researched, independent information. The focus is on SRG’s digital strategy and increased collaboration with private media outlets.
In a historic agreement, the SRG and the Publishers Association have jointly decided on measures to promote media diversity in Switzerland. This is the first time that public and private media in Switzerland have entered into such a collaboration.
This cooperation includes, among other things, the reduction of SRG's digital offering, which will focus more on audio and video formats in future. It will also continue to do without advertising in its online offering and will only use "foreign platforms such as YouTube or Instagram in exceptional cases", according to the statement. SRG will also limit its text contributions to 2,400 characters and refrain from using text-based live tickers for exclusively broadcast sporting events. In addition, SRG will link to contributions from private Swiss media where it makes editorial sense, thereby strengthening their reach.
For sports broadcasts, SRG will concentrate on content that is not covered by commercial providers and will take greater account of private providers when selecting rights. SRG is actively examining cooperations such as bidding consortia, always taking into account the requirements of antitrust law. SRG is also expanding cooperation in a targeted manner by providing usable raw material and participating in a replay TV industry solution. In addition, it invests the majority of its online marketing funds with private Swiss media companies, thereby sending an important signal to strengthen the Swiss advertising market.
Strengthen streaming, regulate AI
It was also agreed that SRG would share its streaming technology and that private media would also be able to distribute their content on the new digital SRG platform with the working title "PlayNext". SRG is also participating in the Login Alliance and its further development, and supports the regulatory clarifications for a login obligation in its own online offering.
A joint coordinated stance will also be taken towards artificial intelligence: SRG will block its content for AI platforms if the leading publishers do the same. It also supports the VSM's regulatory initiatives to protect journalistic content under copyright law (ancillary copyright and AI).
The agreement therefore restricts SRG in key areas. In return, the VSM is committed to financing SRG fees and is against the halving initiative. The agreement will next be submitted to the Competition Commission (ComCo) for examination under antitrust law. The TX Group does not support the agreement, but will continue to be involved in the talks - the aim is a complementary media system between private and public providers. The sister organizations Médias Suisses and Stampa Svizzera are also expected to sign the agreement.
