Bakom fines Ringier for violation of sponsorship rules

After around two and a half years, the criminal proceedings against Ringier TV, producer of the "Gesundheit Sprechstunde" program, have been concluded. The broadcaster must pay a fine of CHF 5,000 and hand over part of the unlawfully obtained income. The amount is not known. Ringier TV accepts the decision as the Federal Office of Communications (Bakom) has dropped some of the charges, as reported by the news agency SDA.Bakom had opened administrative supervisory proceedings against the health program at the end of May 2004. At that time, the Federal Office expressed the suspicion that the program violated the financing regulations of the RTVA (see
Of the original charges, only two violations remain. One is the one relating to the Swiss Medical Association (FMH), which was named as a sponsor although it only passed on sponsorship money from third parties to Ringier. According to Bakom, the direct donors should have been named as sponsors. The sponsorship regulations were also violated in connection with the Lung League. However, according to Ringier's press release, Bakom showed a certain degree of understanding that the program was "surreptitious advertising" for the non-profit institution celebrating its 100th anniversary. The accusation of surreptitious advertising for medicines was dropped.