New kids on the block
Pierre C. Meier on new players in the overregulated TV market.
Pierre C. Meier on new players in the over-regulated TV marketThe new Radio and Television Act (RTVA), which was crammed through the National Council in a monster debate in the spring, goes easy on the SRG. A majority of politicians do not want strong competition to the SRG. So they are making cosmetic changes, relaxing advertising guidelines and graciously offering local broadcasters the prospect of money from the licence fee pot. No one is entirely satisfied, but the protest is limited. A good federal compromise: the existing market partners have come to an agreement. The latest proposal for educational television, which is supported by the President of the Conference of Directors of Education, is also easily capable of winning a majority. This has already been submitted to the Council of States Committee for Transport and Telecommunications (KVF) and is to be considered in the current RTVA consultation. According to the SonntagsZeitung, the project is to be financed by advertising on the one hand, but also by at least one percent of the SRG fee money. These thirteen million francs would not really hurt SRG, even if Armin Walpen describes the request as a "misappropriation" of its funds. One more new old market partner to come to an agreement with.
Now, however, new players are shaking up the field of electronic media and disturbing the peace. Triple play (voice, data and moving images via a single channel) is the buzzword. Cablecom gave the starting signal with its entry into the telephone business. In return, Swisscom wants to get involved in the television business through its Internet subsidiary Bluewin. Swisscom CEO Jens Alder dreams of 400 channels and mobile television use. It is therefore only logical that Cablecom wants to expand its service channel into an actual channel and has submitted a corresponding application for a license extension (see also page 16).
The new RTVA over-regulates the electronic media,
based on today's technical conditions. However, it in no way takes into account what will be feasible in the near future.
> Pierre C. Meier, Editor-in-Chief
Now, however, new players are shaking up the field of electronic media and disturbing the peace. Triple play (voice, data and moving images via a single channel) is the buzzword. Cablecom gave the starting signal with its entry into the telephone business. In return, Swisscom wants to get involved in the television business through its Internet subsidiary Bluewin. Swisscom CEO Jens Alder dreams of 400 channels and mobile television use. It is therefore only logical that Cablecom wants to expand its service channel into an actual channel and has submitted a corresponding application for a license extension (see also page 16).
The new RTVA over-regulates the electronic media,
based on today's technical conditions. However, it in no way takes into account what will be feasible in the near future.
> Pierre C. Meier, Editor-in-Chief
