National Council wants to exhaust fees for private radios and TVs
The Federal Council is tasked with submitting a draft amendment to the Radio and Television Ordinance (RTVV) that provides for an increase to 6 percent in the share of license fees allocated to private radio and television broadcasters.
However, the fees themselves are not to be increased. On Thursday, the National Council voted 77 to 62 with 52 abstentions in favor of a motion that Fabio Regazzi (CVP/TI) had taken over from former National Councillor Christophe Darbellay (CVP/VS). Darbellay had argued that regional radio and television stations urgently needed support in view of the importance of regional media, their significant contribution to a high-quality regional public service and in order to fulfill the performance mandate in accordance with their concession.
The Federal Council requested that the motion, which had been submitted before the referendum on the new Radio and Television Act (RTVA) in spring 2015, be rejected. Doris Leuthard argued that the motion had become obsolete. At the time, the people had voted for a share of 4 to 6 percent. One year after the vote, the percentage had already been raised by 5 percent. Leuthard said that the upper maximum of the share approved by Parliament would certainly soon be reached. The motion will now go to the Council of States. (SDA)
Photo: Parliamentary Services 3003 Bern
