SF: End of "Time information" before the news
Swiss television engaged in unauthorized advertising by mentioning sponsors in its «Zeitinformation» segment before news broadcasts. The Federal Administrative Court has upheld the decision of the Federal Office of Communications (Bakom).
The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG shows the 10-second "Time Information" before the news and information programs "Schweiz Aktuell", "Tagesschau" and "10vor10". A clock is displayed together with a sponsor. Last June, OFCOM came to the conclusion that SRG was in breach of the provisions on sponsorship. The Federal Administrative Court has now rejected the SRG's appeal against this decision. In their ruling, the judges in Bern initially supported the view of Bakom that the permanent insertion of the sponsor led to unauthorized advertising emphasis. Furthermore, it was not clear whether the actual "time information" was being sponsored or the subsequent information programs.
However, according to the Radio and Television Act (RTVA), sponsorship of information programs is prohibited. As SRG spokesperson Daniel Steiner told the news agency SDA on request, SRG will not appeal the decision to the Federal Supreme Court. The sponsored "Zeitinformation" will no longer exist in this form in future. Steiner points out that according to the amended Radio and Television Ordinance, commercials up to 10 seconds in length may be broadcast with immediate effect without a recognition signal or commercial break. By the middle of this year, a form should be found to replace the "time information" in this way.
SRG has been sponsoring watches for 16 years. In 1998, the SRG won its dispute with Bakom. In 2007, the revised RTVA came into force, on the basis of which the currently rejected complaint was now to be assessed. (Judgement A-4521/2009 of 19.3.2010)
However, according to the Radio and Television Act (RTVA), sponsorship of information programs is prohibited. As SRG spokesperson Daniel Steiner told the news agency SDA on request, SRG will not appeal the decision to the Federal Supreme Court. The sponsored "Zeitinformation" will no longer exist in this form in future. Steiner points out that according to the amended Radio and Television Ordinance, commercials up to 10 seconds in length may be broadcast with immediate effect without a recognition signal or commercial break. By the middle of this year, a form should be found to replace the "time information" in this way.
SRG has been sponsoring watches for 16 years. In 1998, the SRG won its dispute with Bakom. In 2007, the revised RTVA came into force, on the basis of which the currently rejected complaint was now to be assessed. (Judgement A-4521/2009 of 19.3.2010)
