Top of the week: New agreement between the audiovisual industry and SRG

The presidents of the most important audiovisual production associations in Switzerland and SRG Director General Armin Walpen have signed an agreement governing cooperation between SRG, its business units and the various players in the field of television production and technical assistance. In the agreement, the parties reaffirm their intention to promote high-quality audiovisual production in Switzerland, to stimulate competition between independent producers of television programs and to promote the diversity of offerings. The parties have decided to outsource technical production services and the production of so-called turnkey programs by mutual agreement, thereby supporting the audiovisual industry in Switzerland, as SRG announced on Tuesday. Since 1998, SRG has invested almost CHF 220 million as part of the Pacte de l'audiovisuel. This contribution will be increased by CHF 1.5 million in 2009 and by CHF 500,000 each in 2010 and 2011.