Complaint Against «Kassensturz»: Political Advertising
The Swiss Insurance Association (SVV) accuses the SF program «Kassensturz» of political advertising and has filed a complaint with the Federal Office of Communications (Bakom). The SVV is calling on Swiss television to immediately terminate «Kassensturz’s» media partnership with the consumer magazine «K-Tipp.» The bone of contention is «K-Tipp’s» referendum campaign against the reduction of the BVG conversion rate.
The SVV announced on Sunday that it must be ensured that, in the future, there is no «unacceptable favoritism toward political actors» in Swiss television broadcasts and that political advertising is avoided. Specifically, the insurers took issue with a segment that aired on the January 12 broadcast. The insert showed the magazine’s cover page with the slogan «No to pension cuts,» and the commentary noted that «K-Tipp» is a partner magazine of the consumer affairs program. The special edition covering the March 7 referendum was distributed to mailboxes nationwide the following day.
According to the Radio and Television Act, television programs are prohibited from airing advertisements for issues that are the subject of referendums. It is not clear to viewers whether «Kassensturz» participated in the referendum special or to what extent it supports the campaign.
SF Director Ueli Haldimann resigned from the board of directors of Konsumenteninfo AG, the publisher of «K-Tipp,» back in mid-January.
According to the Radio and Television Act, television programs are prohibited from airing advertisements for issues that are the subject of referendums. It is not clear to viewers whether «Kassensturz» participated in the referendum special or to what extent it supports the campaign.
SF Director Ueli Haldimann resigned from the board of directors of Konsumenteninfo AG, the publisher of «K-Tipp,» back in mid-January.
