National Council committee intervenes
The National Council's Committee on Transport and Telecommunications (KVF) is now stepping in to address the dispute over the advertising alliance between SRG, Swisscom, and Ringier. It aims to ensure that private media companies are on a level playing field.
Among other things, the KVF recommends that the Federal Council include private media companies in the procedure for SRG's participation. They should also be given access to the documents relating to the procedure.
The Federal Office of Communications has prohibited SRG from participating in the advertising alliance until the end of March. It first wants to examine the participation under broadcasting law. Among other things, this involves the question of whether SRG's participation in the alliance significantly restricts the scope of other media companies. If this is the case, the Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) can impose conditions or prohibit participation altogether.
The KVF adopted its recommendation by 13 votes to 11, as detailed in a press release issued by the parliamentary services on Tuesday. By 13 votes to 10, it also called on the Federal Council to ensure that all Swiss media companies have access to Swisscom's customer data.
The majority of the Commission is of the opinion that this data should not only be available to the partners involved in the alliance, but to all media, Commission President Natalie Rickli (SVP/ZH) told the SDA news agency on request. The private media fear suffering a competitive disadvantage because the advertising alliance can use the data to target advertising more effectively.
Finally, the KVF recommends that the Federal Council impose conditions to ensure data protection. The government is not bound by the recommendations, Rickli clarified. However, the majority of the commission had also taken the concerns of private media companies into account in their decision. The Commission President herself is employed by the marketing company Goldbach Group.
The three partners SRG, Swisscom and Ringier announced in August 2015 that they would market their advertising in print, online, TV and radio in a joint company in future. Thanks to the Swisscom data, the alliance will be able to offer advertising tailored to target groups. According to the three partners, this data will be available to all media.
The Competition Commission approved the joint venture in December without any conditions. Next up is the Federal Council. (SDA)
