Lebrument's firing speech causes discussion on Twitter

SWISS MEDIA In his opening speech at the Epiphany Conference, publisher president Hanspeter Lebrument attacked the SRG head-on. The reactions on Twitter were not long in coming.It has almost become a tradition for Hanspeter Lebrument, President of the Swiss Media Association, to open the Epiphany Conference with a polarizing speech. Since the SRG, Ringier and Swisscom founded a new marketing organization, the fronts between the Swiss Media Association and the SRG have hardened. Among other things, this has led to Ringier leaving the association. "We should not gloss over this battle," said Lebrument in his speech. "Private media companies are fighting on two fronts: the digital challenge and the media policy debate." Lebrument spoke of a "devious SRG strategy", which culminates in the joint venture with Swisscom and Ringier. "SRG has launched the advertising alliance project secretly and in secret." Advertising revenue is not necessary for a public service operation. The private publishers are disappointed by the SRG's power politics. Nevertheless, the Swiss Media Association will continue to seek talks with the SRG. However, Lebrument pointed out that the joint venture could only be approved once the publishers and the SRG had found a solution together, and the reactions on Twitter to Lebrument's emotional speech were not long in coming:

"Agreement between private broadcasters + SRG is possible in upcoming negotiations", says Lebrument. The rest of his speech gives no indication of this... #3k16

- Daniel Ammann (@d_ammann) January 12, 2016

Swiss Media Association finds advertising on SRG stations hardly necessary! This would be detrimental to the TV market and advertising clients #3k16- Roland Ehrler (@RolandEhrler) January 12, 2016

The discussion about a shrinking advertising market for private media should be kept separate from the discussion about the purpose of state media #3k16- Jeremy Jay Zahner (@JeremyZahner) January 12, 2016

Appeal from the publisher's president #Instrument : More private, less #SRG From @sarsarsar https://t.co/Yg3OR6qPyS via @NZZ

- Michèle Schell (@schellmisch) January 12, 2016

Author: Simon Wolanin