U-turn: National Council wants to allow beer advertising
On Wednesday, the National Council approved a revision of the Radio and Television Act in order to secure participation in the EU film promotion program Media. In future, advertising for beer and wine will be permitted for all radio and TV broadcasters.
On Wednesday, the National Council approved a revision of the Radio and Television Act in order to secure participation in the EU film promotion program Media. In future, advertising for beer and wine will be permitted for all radio and TV broadcasters.
Thanks to Media, Swiss filmmakers should soon be able to benefit equally from EU programs. The obligation linked to the EU agreement to apply the EU "Television without Frontiers" Directive from 2009, which conflicts with the advertising bans in the new RTVA, is causing problems. The Federal Council has therefore agreed a compromise solution with the EU: The stricter advertising regulations can be enforced as part of an arbitration procedure, provided they are proportionate, non-discriminatory and in the public interest. The ban on religious and political advertising as well as advertising for spirits and mixed drinks such as alcopops can be upheld thanks to this procedure. The situation is different for advertising for beer and wine. According to the RTVA, this is permitted for local but not for national TV stations.
The Council of States opted for the radical solution of banning all advertising for alcoholic beverages in SRG TV programs, private channels and foreign advertising windows in Swiss media. The decision was motivated by the idea of prevention and the protection of minors.
The National Council rejected the idea of banning advertising for alcoholic beverages altogether by 91 votes to 78. Motions by the SVP to also allow political and religious advertising in the electronic media were rejected by 121 votes to 33 and 129 votes to 21. In the overall vote, the RTVA revision passed with 92 votes in favor, 30 against and 43 abstentions. The ball is now once again in the Council of States' court.
According to a press release, the Swiss Press Association welcomes the decision. It sees it as support for the Swiss media industry and domestic beer producers as part of the Swiss economy, as well as in terms of freedom of advertising as part of freedom of communication.
Thanks to Media, Swiss filmmakers should soon be able to benefit equally from EU programs. The obligation linked to the EU agreement to apply the EU "Television without Frontiers" Directive from 2009, which conflicts with the advertising bans in the new RTVA, is causing problems. The Federal Council has therefore agreed a compromise solution with the EU: The stricter advertising regulations can be enforced as part of an arbitration procedure, provided they are proportionate, non-discriminatory and in the public interest. The ban on religious and political advertising as well as advertising for spirits and mixed drinks such as alcopops can be upheld thanks to this procedure. The situation is different for advertising for beer and wine. According to the RTVA, this is permitted for local but not for national TV stations.
The Council of States opted for the radical solution of banning all advertising for alcoholic beverages in SRG TV programs, private channels and foreign advertising windows in Swiss media. The decision was motivated by the idea of prevention and the protection of minors.
The National Council rejected the idea of banning advertising for alcoholic beverages altogether by 91 votes to 78. Motions by the SVP to also allow political and religious advertising in the electronic media were rejected by 121 votes to 33 and 129 votes to 21. In the overall vote, the RTVA revision passed with 92 votes in favor, 30 against and 43 abstentions. The ball is now once again in the Council of States' court.
According to a press release, the Swiss Press Association welcomes the decision. It sees it as support for the Swiss media industry and domestic beer producers as part of the Swiss economy, as well as in terms of freedom of advertising as part of freedom of communication.
