National Council wants to enable media companies to expand
The National Council is making room for larger media companies. It wants to abolish the rule according to which a broadcaster can hold a maximum of two television licenses and two radio licenses. In addition, the journalistic coverage areas are to be enlarged.
A motion of the Commission for Transport and Telecommunications (KVF) was adopted on Monday by 106 votes to 72. The aim is to strengthen the electronic public service offerings outside the SRG.
Larger publishing coverage areas allow the companies to exploit organizational, personnel and financial synergies, explained commission spokeswoman Regula Rytz (Grüne/BE). The goal is to improve profitability. "This can break the vicious circle of declining advertising revenues," Rytz said.
Media Minister Doris Leuthard recalled that the so-called 2-plus-2 rule has already been softened. The Federal Council is also prepared to repeal the provision with the planned Electronic Media Act.
However, the Federal Council rejects the enlargement of the journalistic coverage areas. Leuthard said that broadcasting had long since been technically liberalized via the Internet. However, she doubted that larger coverage areas would also be more interesting economically.
This would mean covering larger and more complex regions, Leuthard said. This would require more journalists. "So this primarily costs more money once, without generating additional revenue to the same extent." The motion now goes to the Council of States. (SDA)
