Bakom boss Philipp Metzger: "SRG must be present on all channels".

"It is crucial that SRG reaches the population - and in future it will increasingly succeed in doing so with online formats," Metzger said in an interview published in the newspapers on Wednesday. AZ Northwestern Switzerland and Südostschweiz published in an interview. This raises the question of "how many radio and television stations will still be necessary and financially viable in the future".

SRG SSR broadcasts on 17 radio and seven television stations in the four national languages. The No Billag initiative calls for SRG's fees to be abolished. This would restrict the SRG's offering. Bakom Director Metzger advises against this approach.

Switzerland too small a market

"Especially in a direct democracy, the public media fulfill an important function. And they do this for relatively little money: if someone wanted to put together a qualitatively comparable, comprehensive offering from private providers, they would have to dig deeper into their pockets." Switzerland is too small to finance a wide range of information, cultural and sports programs "on the market alone".

After the switch to the new system - all households will have to pay - the television fee will be "well below CHF 400". The Federal Council will determine the exact amount this year.

Media law: no revolution

Metzger countered the No Billag initiators' accusation that the federal government is unduly protecting the SRG from private media and competition by saying that the federal government is always concerned with the system as a whole. "Public and private media providers should exist side by side and together meet the high demands of the population and politicians."

This principle also applies to the work on the new Media Act. The draft should be available in spring 2018. "A revolution that overturns this tried-and-tested system from one day to the next would cause enormous damage."

SRG must sharpen its profile

This also applies to online offers that are newly included in the law. The old law dates back to a time when the internet was still in its infancy and hardly anyone recognized its potential or risks.

SRG will have to "sharpen its profile", said the Bakom boss. "The Federal Council expects it to focus even more on in-house productions, to reach young people better and to strengthen the exchange with the population and politicians." In the course of digitalization, SRG must become "more flexible" and even better with less money.

Ensuring quality journalism

Towards the newspapers Tages-Anzeiger and Confederation Television Director Ruedi Matter commented on the No Billag front against the SRG: "Those who pay the fee ensure quality journalism that is independent of economic and party interests," he said. "When you see how journalism is under pressure today, that's a great value"

A postulate from the responsible National Council committee is on the agenda for the fall session of parliament, which calls for a report on the SRG from the Federal Council. This should show how the public service mandate can be fulfilled with fewer radio and television stations. The National Council will also debate the No Billag initiative in the coming fall session.

Several parties have also announced initiatives following Tamedia's decision to set up one editorial office in German-speaking Switzerland and one in French-speaking Switzerland for national topics. (SDA)