RTVV revision: Swiss press against online advertising on SRG stations
The Swiss Press Association is against the introduction of online advertising for SRG. In principle, it welcomes any relaxation of advertising regulations. However, the majority of the proposed revisions would benefit the SRG - private broadcasters would hardly have any more opportunities due to their respective program structure.
According to the association in its statement, an expansion of the activities of SRG broadcasters financed by fees in the commercial online sector would result in additional market distortion and disadvantage for private providers. SRG broadcasters could benefit from their publicly financed market strength, their brand awareness and the existing content and difficult-to-control cross-utilization from the fee-financed areas, which would worsen the market opportunities of private providers.
SRG has neither a public service mandate in the online sector nor a mandate for comprehensive multimedia provision. The communiqué goes on to say that SRG's intended expansion strategy in the area of online advertising is purely commercially motivated and is not justifiable in terms of media or competition policy. It would be unacceptable if SRG could also expand its strong market position in the online sector, as the remaining advertising growth market for private providers, and thus attack the online news portals in particular, which are financed with private funds, head-on.
SRG has neither a public service mandate in the online sector nor a mandate for comprehensive multimedia provision. The communiqué goes on to say that SRG's intended expansion strategy in the area of online advertising is purely commercially motivated and is not justifiable in terms of media or competition policy. It would be unacceptable if SRG could also expand its strong market position in the online sector, as the remaining advertising growth market for private providers, and thus attack the online news portals in particular, which are financed with private funds, head-on.
The main reason for the revision of the Radio and Television Ordinance (RTVO) is to adapt to the new international legislation in the area of television.
The association's statement is available on the Website to read.
