To the point: panem et circenses
Mein Mitleid hält sich in Grenzen: Die SRG steht seit längerer Zeit im Kreuzfeuer der Kritik. Schelte hagelt es von allen Seiten. Schon die Wahl von Roger de Weck zum SRGGeneraldirektor führte zu heftigen Reaktionen.
The SVP in particular took a shot at him. At last they had proof of the alleged left-wing infiltration of Swiss television. De Weck's friendliness toward Europe was also a thorn in their side. Then, when negotiations between the Swiss Football League and SRG broke down in July, there were boos again. The SRG had lost the TV rights to the soccer championship matches; they were sold by the league to Cinetrade for 186 million.
Right-wing circles have long been calling for SRG structures to be slimmed down. The campaigns Bye-Bye-Billag and Gebührenmonster, which were launched on social media and strongly supported by SVP National Councilor Natalie Rickli, were well received. After all, over 140,000 signatures were collected for a petition for a steep fee reduction from 462 to 200 francs. The parties are unhappy. Politicians of all stripes complain that they are disadvantaged compared to the politicians of the respective opposing parties.
The publishers are also dissatisfied. Their criticism is not about forbidding SRG to give its viewers the opportunity to find new access to the programs via online and thus also with mobile devices. Rather, the publishers are right to oppose the expansion of the content of SRG's own station portals. Because such a move threatens a clear distortion of competition. Thanks to the guaranteed income from the license fees, the SRG could easily free up sufficient resources to build up a high-quality news portal. If advertising were then allowed on this portal, the online portals of the private publishers would come under heavy pressure.
So trouble is everywhere. So it comes in handy that, coincidentally, good news can be announced now of all times. Cinetrade and SRG have reached an agreement.
Starting next season, there will be a live broadcast of a soccer match every Sunday at 4 pm. 18 times per season, SRG can choose which match it wants to broadcast. And in international match quality. The deal was probably not cheap. But even the SVP will only cautiously voice criticism, because they don't want to mess with the football fans.
Pierre C. Meier, Editor-in-Chief
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