SRG approves merger of TSR and RSR to form "Radio Télévision Suisse"
The SRG Board of Directors approved the French-speaking Switzerland media convergence project yesterday, which is part of the «Convergence and Efficiency» initiative.
This gives TSR and RSR the green light for the creation of "Radio Télévision Suisse", SRG's new public audiovisual service in French-speaking Switzerland. Radio Suisse Romande (RSR) and Télévision Suisse Romande (TSR) will thus be merged into one company.
According to the press release, the corporate model corresponds to the national framework conditions defined by the SRG Board of Directors on March 18, 2009, in particular Retention of the main sites in Lausanne and Geneva as well as the regional offices where trimedial activities take place; maintenance of the existing radio and television stations with their respective profiles; one program and one news management. The RTSR BoD placed particular emphasis on journalistic polyphony and media diversity.
"RTS Radio Télévision Suisse" will be launched at the beginning of January 2010. The convergence project will be implemented over a period of five years, with two different time horizons: Firstly, the rapid merger of support and production activities (2010/2011), and secondly, the gradual cooperation in the programming area, which is to be realized by 2015.
Gilles Marchand becomes Director of "Radio Télévision Suisse"
The RTSR Board of Directors has appointed Gilles Marchand, the current Director of TSR, as Director of the new company. Gérard Tschopp, Director of RSR, will remain in office until December 31, 2009. He will then be responsible for the national "Convergence and Efficiency" project and program coordination at SRG's General Management in Bern and will report directly to the Director General.
According to the press release, the corporate model corresponds to the national framework conditions defined by the SRG Board of Directors on March 18, 2009, in particular Retention of the main sites in Lausanne and Geneva as well as the regional offices where trimedial activities take place; maintenance of the existing radio and television stations with their respective profiles; one program and one news management. The RTSR BoD placed particular emphasis on journalistic polyphony and media diversity.
"RTS Radio Télévision Suisse" will be launched at the beginning of January 2010. The convergence project will be implemented over a period of five years, with two different time horizons: Firstly, the rapid merger of support and production activities (2010/2011), and secondly, the gradual cooperation in the programming area, which is to be realized by 2015.
Gilles Marchand becomes Director of "Radio Télévision Suisse"
The RTSR Board of Directors has appointed Gilles Marchand, the current Director of TSR, as Director of the new company. Gérard Tschopp, Director of RSR, will remain in office until December 31, 2009. He will then be responsible for the national "Convergence and Efficiency" project and program coordination at SRG's General Management in Bern and will report directly to the Director General.
