Federal Council considers further advertising restrictions for SRG
As part of the planned Electronic Media Act, the Federal Council intends to examine further advertising restrictions for the SRG. It states this in its response to a parliamentary motion. As examples, it cites a restriction on advertising after 8 p.m. and an upper limit.
However, the Federal Council also points out that the SRG's TV programs are of great interest to the advertising industry in Switzerland due to their wide reach.
Restricting advertising opportunities would hardly benefit the press, but would primarily benefit international internet portals such as Google and Facebook as well as foreign advertising windows. Around 42 percent of net advertising revenue already flows abroad, writes the Federal Council in the statement published on Thursday.
It wants to maintain the ban on online advertising. As far as new forms of advertising are concerned, the Federal Council is of the opinion that the SRG and the
other licensed broadcasters should not be deprived of developments. He believes that further advertising restrictions would be better than technical bans.
With regard to the advertising marketing company Admeira, the Federal Council confirms that, in its view, other media companies will not be significantly restricted in their scope of action as a result of the SRG joining.
CVP member of the Council of States Beat Vonlanthen (FR) made the enquiry. He put a whole series of questions to the Federal Council with a view to the vote on the No Billag initiative on March 4. A convincing answer would help to prevent a "Waterloo" for the SRG and its important public services on March 4, Vonlanthen wrote in his interpellation. (SDA)
