Federal Council against rules on SRG cooperation with private companies
The Federal Council does not intend to enact new rules governing SRG's cooperation with private media. It is asking Parliament to reject a motion on this matter.
With its proposal, the Committee for Transport and Telecommunications of the Council of States (KVF) wants to ensure that only cooperations that contribute to strengthening the diversity of opinions and offerings are permitted. The regulation should also ensure that no media are discriminated against.
In its response, the Federal Council points out that SRG has been cooperating with other media for years - be it in the acquisition of rights, production or technology. Such activities serve at most indirectly to fulfill the performance mandate and are not covered by the concession.
The SRG can shape it as it sees fit. In principle, the Federal Council encourages the SRG to cooperate with other media in the licensed sector. However, restricting or prohibiting cooperation in non-licensed activities would go too far. The Federal Council points to the SRG's cooperation with private companies in the technical field or in infrastructure, which it describes as sensible.
The Federal Council also points out that work on a new law is underway. As long as the basic concept for the future electronic media landscape and the public service is not yet in place, it does not make sense to commit to regulating unlicensed SRG activities. Parliament will now decide on the motion of the Council of States Committee. Various parliamentary motions are pending on SRG's cooperation with private media. (SDA)
