Swiss television: Everyday life instead of idyll
According to a report in the Sonntagszeitung, SRG members are criticizing what they see as an unbalanced portrayal of the country on Swiss television. Instead of focusing on calves and traditional costumes, they say the programming should focus more on everyday life.
According to the Sonntagszeitung, the critical comments come from the SRG Board of Directors for the Basel region. Rural, idyllic and Alpine Switzerland is overrepresented in the SF program. In contrast, the reality of life in the cities and agglomerations is neglected, says Alexandra Hänggi, SRG Basel regional councillor. She does not even partially recognize her own life situation in the SF programme. Hänggi told the Sonntagszeitung that her life is less about preserving plums dressed in traditional costume and more about managing the balancing act between her job, children and household.
Swiss television justifies formats with strong Swissness such as "SF bi de Lüt" or "Gipfelstürmer" with high market shares and good ratings. However, SRF media spokesman Martin Reichlin rejects the accusation of one-sidedness. The entertainment program is not dominated by the image of an idyllic Switzerland, as the SRF entertainment portfolio includes over 60 different formats.
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