Swiss Sports Television SFF goes on air
From next Wednesday, the Swiss television landscape will have one more channel: Swiss Sports Television SFF will go on air at 12 noon. Those responsible promise a full program that will cover sport in its entirety.
From next Wednesday, the Swiss television landscape will have one more channel: Swiss Sports Television SFF will go on air at 12 noon. Those responsible promise a full program that will cover sport in its entirety. SSF's declared aim is to become a platform for national and regional sporting activities in every conceivable discipline, from fistball and beach volleyball to car racing, crossbow shooting and the Football Challenge League.
The aim is not just to broadcast competitions, but to show sport in all its breadth and importance, SSF Chairman of the Board Peter Weigelt told the media on Thursday, according to SDA. "For us, this also includes popular sporting events and health aspects." The SSF makers are not newcomers: over the past 18 months, they have completed a test run on the private channel StarTV, during which they broadcast a total of 250 sports programs, including the Football Challenge League matches, which were broadcast on Monday evenings.
"It doesn't always have to be football"
So far, SSF has signed contracts with over 40 Swiss sports associations to contribute half of the production costs. "In return, we are given the opportunity to raise awareness of our sport every week," said Christian Bigler, Director of Swiss Volley. They are very happy to have this opportunity. Other broadcasters are closed to a B sport like volleyball, as they mainly report on the top disciplines. "But it doesn't always have to be football," said Bigler.
The face of the station will be presenter Claudia Lässer, who is also responsible for the program. Weigelt said that Lässer will try to improve the somewhat modest 30 percent share of female viewers in the program design. Lässer also wants to bring a female perspective to the football talk show "Kick-it!". Together with ex-footballer Jörg Stiel, she will be taking footballers and officials to task for an hour. Finally, the "Healthy Sports Magazine" in collaboration with a private clinic in Zurich will focus on health and prevention.
It deliberately avoids scandals such as doping in cycling or violent football fans.
Full program from autumn
It will start on July 1 with a program that is still largely based on reruns and purchased programs. By the start of the indoor sports championships in the fall, however, SSF will be expanded into a full program, said Weigelt. The channel will be broadcast on the former site of the German sports television channel DSF, which will be shut down shortly before the SSF launch. In February 2009, the Federal Office of Communications OFCOM decided that Cablecom must broadcast the new channel for at least three years in the analog service. SSF will also be broadcast via other channels, such as the Graubünden cable network Telerätia, via Cablecom's basic digital service, via BluewinTV and via InternetTV.ch.
As far as advertising revenue is concerned, SSF is still hoping for a few more solvent customers and sponsorship partners. "It's difficult to generate advertising money at the moment," said Weigelt. However, the SSF will prove to advertisers that it has a lot of potential.
The aim is not just to broadcast competitions, but to show sport in all its breadth and importance, SSF Chairman of the Board Peter Weigelt told the media on Thursday, according to SDA. "For us, this also includes popular sporting events and health aspects." The SSF makers are not newcomers: over the past 18 months, they have completed a test run on the private channel StarTV, during which they broadcast a total of 250 sports programs, including the Football Challenge League matches, which were broadcast on Monday evenings.
"It doesn't always have to be football"
So far, SSF has signed contracts with over 40 Swiss sports associations to contribute half of the production costs. "In return, we are given the opportunity to raise awareness of our sport every week," said Christian Bigler, Director of Swiss Volley. They are very happy to have this opportunity. Other broadcasters are closed to a B sport like volleyball, as they mainly report on the top disciplines. "But it doesn't always have to be football," said Bigler.
The face of the station will be presenter Claudia Lässer, who is also responsible for the program. Weigelt said that Lässer will try to improve the somewhat modest 30 percent share of female viewers in the program design. Lässer also wants to bring a female perspective to the football talk show "Kick-it!". Together with ex-footballer Jörg Stiel, she will be taking footballers and officials to task for an hour. Finally, the "Healthy Sports Magazine" in collaboration with a private clinic in Zurich will focus on health and prevention.
It deliberately avoids scandals such as doping in cycling or violent football fans.
Full program from autumn
It will start on July 1 with a program that is still largely based on reruns and purchased programs. By the start of the indoor sports championships in the fall, however, SSF will be expanded into a full program, said Weigelt. The channel will be broadcast on the former site of the German sports television channel DSF, which will be shut down shortly before the SSF launch. In February 2009, the Federal Office of Communications OFCOM decided that Cablecom must broadcast the new channel for at least three years in the analog service. SSF will also be broadcast via other channels, such as the Graubünden cable network Telerätia, via Cablecom's basic digital service, via BluewinTV and via InternetTV.ch.
As far as advertising revenue is concerned, SSF is still hoping for a few more solvent customers and sponsorship partners. "It's difficult to generate advertising money at the moment," said Weigelt. However, the SSF will prove to advertisers that it has a lot of potential.
