Change of baton at SRG: New team at the top
A new team has taken the helm at SRG. Director General Gilles Marchand took over from Roger de Weck at the beginning of October. He wants to maintain a constructive and open dialog with the other media and the audience.
Marchand presented his priorities to the media in Bern on Friday. In addition to the former director of Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS), his new deputy Ladina Heimgartner and new Executive Board member Bakel Walden also introduced themselves.
Marchand said he was aware of the major challenges of his new role. The media landscape is in a state of upheaval. He would do everything in his power to master this with all teams and in all regions. Together with the employees, he would be fully committed to the future of the public media service. He is convinced of its importance for Switzerland.
To this end, Marchand wants to continue "offering excellent programs in all four national languages. The independence of the editorial teams and professionalism are to be assured. He wants to drive forward the digital transformation, maintain contact with young audiences and continue to invest in culture.
No Billag initiative existential
Jean-Michel Cina, SRG's new president since May 1, said the challenges facing the company in 2018 are the existential vote on the No Billag initiative to abolish radio and TV fees, the pending Federal Council decision on fee levels, the transitional concession until the end of 2018 and the planned new law on electronic media.
In August, the Federal Council extended the license for SRG by one year until the end of 2018. The current license expires at the end of the year. The new concession is to apply from 2019 and will then be based on the planned new law. The national government intends to present this law by the end of 2017.
The 37-year-old new Deputy General Manager Heimgartner was previously Director of Radiotelevisiun Svizra Rumantscha (RTR). She will be responsible for the "Media and Society" division on the Executive Board. She explained that SRG must become more open and dynamic, seek more dialog with the population and listen attentively.
Bakel Walden takes over the new "Development and Offer" directorate in the Executive Board. Core businesses such as program direction , digital transformation, market and audience research and international exchange are bundled there. The 42-year-old was previously head of program strategy at SRF radio and television. He explained that SRG must address everyone - on television, radio and digitally. (SDA)
