Fee increase: Walpen predicts consequences

SRG Director General Armin Walpen told the NZZ am Sontnag that he was not very satisfied with the small fee increase of 2.5 percent from January 2007. SRG had requested 6.5 percent. At the moment, however, Walpen cannot say whether this will result in new savings. However, measures would have to be taken. Only after a thorough analysis will it be possible to decide whether and to what extent the program will be affected. It should also be examined whether Radio DRS, for example, could be relocated to Leutschenbach in order to exploit synergies. According to Walpen, there is a fundamental question of greater concentration. In Italian-speaking Switzerland, for example, the editorial offices of radio, TV and online are being merged. Walpen does not want to comment on the planned children's channel and the planned English-language radio program until after the overall assessment.