Federal Council examined various public service models

The current model is that of the national provider, supplemented by regional offerings. The advantage of this variant is continuity, the assurance of high quality standards throughout Switzerland and an equivalent offering for all language regions, the Federal Council wrote on Friday. Only by concentrating resources on a national broadcaster would it be possible to survive in international competition.

Prior to this, the Federal Council discussed various alternatives:

1. one provider per language region

If there were to be one public service broadcaster per language region, competition between the regional language offerings could increase. However, these would have to be obliged to report on a cross-regional basis. However, the question arises as to whether three independent companies would make economic sense. The Federal Council also wonders whether the journalistic offerings would still contribute sufficiently to national identity.

2. several organizers per language region

The Federal Council has also examined the model of several language-regional public service mandates with narrow content restrictions. This would result in more intense competition. The public service would thus be reduced to essential services in the areas of information, culture and education.

This variant would change the commercial conditions of private media
and costs could be saved thanks to the narrow definition of the public service. However, the report states that such a dispersed and limited public service offering would hardly be able to compete with foreign offerings. Cross-regional reporting would also be eliminated and with it the national bracketing function.

3. dual model

The model of a dual broadcasting system would combine an exclusively fee-financed and advertising-free public service with purely advertising-financed private stations. According to the Federal Council, the advantage would be clear differentiation.

However, the introduction of a purely dual model would result in a considerable reduction in income for SRG, which would have to be compensated for by higher fees because advertising revenue would be lost. According to experts, part of the advertising revenue would also flow abroad. The TV advertising market would also become less important.

4. a public content provider

As an alternative, the Federal Council also examined the establishment of a public content provider without its own distribution channels, as proposed by the Avenir Suisse think tank: The provider would produce content in all four national languages and make it available free of charge. It would be financed by fees.

However, with this model, there is a risk that content will not be broadcast at all. It would also remain unclear how the cost-intensive and advertising-relevant transmission of live sporting events or cultural, educational and background programs in the area of political information could be ensured.

BR's conclusion: current model is best

The Federal Council therefore concludes that the current model is best able to meet the requirements. The strength of the current system lies, on the one hand, in its breadth and, on the other, in the concentration of financial resources on one large provider, which guarantees that the content is noticed by the public and that the funds are used efficiently.

Reactions to the report

Opinions on the Federal Council's public service report differ. While some see it as a good basis for upcoming discussions, others had hoped for more reform proposals.

Critical voices

The report has been described as disappointing, sobering and incomplete by those organizations and parties that had expected the Federal Council to come up with fundamentally new ideas on the future of the Swiss media landscape. It lacks proposals on "how to create a public service capable of winning a majority under the conditions of digitalization and convergence.

The FDP also criticizes the Federal Council's "lack of a strategy for the future". "Simply sticking to the existing model of the public media service will not help the Swiss media landscape move forward, but rather pose greater difficulties," the party writes in a statement. The SVP is sounding the same note. The Federal Council has failed to recognize the signs of the times.

Some critics are also disappointed by the lack of proposals to reduce expenditure and increase competition. The SVP writes: "More competition would not only be possible, but also urgently needed, particularly in the entertainment sector, but also in sports offerings." The Swiss Trade Association (SGV), which narrowly lost the vote on the Radio and Television Act a year ago, is calling for a broad public debate on the content and scope of SRG's public service. The Federal Council has shown no willingness to "even begin to discuss a reduction in the scope of services and budget options."

The supporters

The SP and CVP are fundamentally positive about the Federal Council's report. The two parties believe that the paper offers a good basis for a well-founded and constructive discussion on the public service. And this is particularly important in a direct democracy so that voters can form their own opinion. The SRG must therefore make more room for programs that promote the formation of public opinion, writes the CVP. (sis/SDA)