Aktion Medienfreiheit is against the expansion of commercial activities by SRG
The SRG cited the possibility of increasing commercial revenue—for example, by relaxing the rules on commercial breaks and lifting the ban on online advertising—as short-term measures to combat rising debt. In a press release, the Media Freedom Campaign opposes an expansion of commercial activities.
SRG has announced a wage and investment freeze as a short-term measure against its rising debt. However, a further CHF 40 million per year is needed to balance the finances in the medium term. In its communiqué, SRG mentioned in particular the possibility of increasing commercial income - for example by softening the regulations on interruption advertising and lifting the ban on online advertising. In view of SRG's high fee income, the media freedom campaign is against an expansion of SRG's commercial activities.
In the current economic situation, all media companies are forced to drastically increase efficiency, according to the media freedom campaign in its press release. In this environment and in view of SRG's current high level of financing through fees, it would be a further distortion of the market to allow it further commercial sources of income such as online advertising or additional interruption advertising. This would further strengthen its monopoly position at the expense of private providers. The SRG must bring about its own financial recovery through a massive increase in efficiency, just like the other media companies, the communiqué continues. Concentration on its concession mandate, the public service, and convergence, the merging of television and radio, play an important role in this.
In the current economic situation, all media companies are forced to drastically increase efficiency, according to the media freedom campaign in its press release. In this environment and in view of SRG's current high level of financing through fees, it would be a further distortion of the market to allow it further commercial sources of income such as online advertising or additional interruption advertising. This would further strengthen its monopoly position at the expense of private providers. The SRG must bring about its own financial recovery through a massive increase in efficiency, just like the other media companies, the communiqué continues. Concentration on its concession mandate, the public service, and convergence, the merging of television and radio, play an important role in this.
