SRG wants fee increase of 8 percent
The SRG has submitted its funding request through 2010 to the Federal Office of Communications (Bakom). This would entail an 8 percent increase in fees. The conservative parties oppose the increase.
At the beginning of 2007, the Federal Council will decide on the level of SRG fees that will apply from April. SRG has notified the Federal Office of Communications (Bakom) of its financial requirements until 2010. This would mean an 8% increase in radio and TV reception fees. As a result of the new regulation on fee splitting in the new Radio and TV Act (RTVA), the SRG will face a shortfall in income of almost CHF 40 million. SRG anticipates a reduction in income of 60 to 70 million francs as a result of the loss of sponsorship and advertising money due to the new regulations in the RTVA. SRG is also claiming higher costs for the broadcasting of sporting events and inflation, reports the NZZ am Sonntag.
Objections from the conservative partiesHowever, the fee increase would go down badly with the conservative parties. The NZZ am Sonntag gives representatives of the SVP, CVP and FDP the opportunity to express their opposition to a fee increase. Only the SP representative in question shows understanding for the SRG.
SRG points out that the financial requirements have been presented honestly and transparently. SRG is also in the process of saving CHF 80 million. Further rounds of savings could follow - because Swiss television has to accept losses in advertising money (see
). However, it is out of the question to announce the highest possible financial requirements in order to then achieve at least a small fee increase, SRG Chairman of the Board of Directors Jean-Bernard Münch told the newspaper. It is up to the Federal Council to determine the level of the fee.
Objections from the conservative partiesHowever, the fee increase would go down badly with the conservative parties. The NZZ am Sonntag gives representatives of the SVP, CVP and FDP the opportunity to express their opposition to a fee increase. Only the SP representative in question shows understanding for the SRG.
SRG points out that the financial requirements have been presented honestly and transparently. SRG is also in the process of saving CHF 80 million. Further rounds of savings could follow - because Swiss television has to accept losses in advertising money (see
). However, it is out of the question to announce the highest possible financial requirements in order to then achieve at least a small fee increase, SRG Chairman of the Board of Directors Jean-Bernard Münch told the newspaper. It is up to the Federal Council to determine the level of the fee.
