Bill on indirect press funding goes out for consultation
Subscribed newspapers and magazines should continue to benefit from reduced postal rates. The Swiss Press Association welcomes the proposal.
Subscribed newspapers and magazines should continue to benefit from reduced postal rates. The Swiss Press Association welcomes the proposal.
The State Policy Committee (SPK) has drawn up the legal basis so that the press can continue to benefit from lower postal rates after 2007. The bill will be submitted for consultation until January 10, 2007. The National Council intends to discuss the bill in the next spring session.
Essentially, the previous system will be continued. Swiss Post will be obliged to grant preferential prices for the transportation of the press, irrespective of distance, in accordance with the previous tariff system, for which it will receive a maximum of CHF 60 million per year from the Confederation. It is now planned that the Confederation will make a further CHF 20 million available to Swiss Post for discounts for the transportation of titles with a small circulation.
Swiss Press Association welcomes "sensible reform "On Friday evening, the Swiss Press Association welcomed the sensible and practicable reform of the current system. The model of indirect press funding has proven its worth in Switzerland for decades. The proposal would take into account the important democratic function of the press and contribute to maintaining a pluralistic media landscape. The model presented would also allow the current system to be adapted to today's needs by simply amending the law. However, the Swiss Press Association points out that the model of cross-subsidization of small titles only works if the large titles also participate. If this is not taken into account when setting prices, the large-circulation titles could switch to alternative offerings - which would cause the entire subsidy system to falter. It therefore makes sense to include other providers, as a significant proportion of the daily press is currently distributed by early delivery organizations in densely populated areas. However, as the small-circulation local press is dependent on distribution by the postal service, it is justified to limit the reduction in distribution costs to the postal service.
As part of the consultation process, the association announced a more detailed examination of the SPK's proposal.
The template can be obtained from the postal regulation authority (PostReg, Bundeshaus Nord, 3003 Bern) and is available at:
www.admin.ch/ch/d/gg/pc/pendent.html
viewable.
The State Policy Committee (SPK) has drawn up the legal basis so that the press can continue to benefit from lower postal rates after 2007. The bill will be submitted for consultation until January 10, 2007. The National Council intends to discuss the bill in the next spring session.
Essentially, the previous system will be continued. Swiss Post will be obliged to grant preferential prices for the transportation of the press, irrespective of distance, in accordance with the previous tariff system, for which it will receive a maximum of CHF 60 million per year from the Confederation. It is now planned that the Confederation will make a further CHF 20 million available to Swiss Post for discounts for the transportation of titles with a small circulation.
Swiss Press Association welcomes "sensible reform "On Friday evening, the Swiss Press Association welcomed the sensible and practicable reform of the current system. The model of indirect press funding has proven its worth in Switzerland for decades. The proposal would take into account the important democratic function of the press and contribute to maintaining a pluralistic media landscape. The model presented would also allow the current system to be adapted to today's needs by simply amending the law. However, the Swiss Press Association points out that the model of cross-subsidization of small titles only works if the large titles also participate. If this is not taken into account when setting prices, the large-circulation titles could switch to alternative offerings - which would cause the entire subsidy system to falter. It therefore makes sense to include other providers, as a significant proportion of the daily press is currently distributed by early delivery organizations in densely populated areas. However, as the small-circulation local press is dependent on distribution by the postal service, it is justified to limit the reduction in distribution costs to the postal service.
As part of the consultation process, the association announced a more detailed examination of the SPK's proposal.
The template can be obtained from the postal regulation authority (PostReg, Bundeshaus Nord, 3003 Bern) and is available at:
www.admin.ch/ch/d/gg/pc/pendent.html
viewable.
