Online media, but no text offerings: Federal Council wants new rules for media funding

On Thursday, the Federal Council opened the consultation process for the new Electronic Media Act. This is intended to support electronic media for their public service activities. Online media are playing an increasingly important role in the media landscape due to digitalization, writes the Federal Council. To protect the press, however, it only wants to support online media that rely primarily on audio and video content.

The Federal Council is convinced that the new law is in line with the times and guarantees a comprehensive, high-quality public media service. Such a service is necessary for the functioning of the democratic system, it states.

Support for public service

The SRG should continue to make a significant contribution. It must offer services in the areas of information, culture, education, entertainment and sports in all language regions and distinguish itself from commercial providers. As is already the case today, other providers can also provide public services and be supported with funds from the media levy, which was approved by the voters in 2015.

A maximum of 6 percent of revenues is available for this purpose - about the same as today for local and regional stations with a public service mission. Online media are a new addition. The support is regulated in a service agreement. Support can be provided for offerings with regional information services, offerings for specific population groups and offerings with audience involvement.

Also news agencies

A further maximum of two percent from the levy is available for indirect media promotion - media promotion that benefits the electronic media as a whole and strengthens the quality of journalism.

The law enables financial support for training and continuing education institutions that offer courses for electronic media professionals. The latter currently receive federal funding. Newly eligible for support are the Press Council, innovative IT solutions and non-profit news agencies that contribute to the basic supply of information to electronic media.

New independent authority

A new authority, independent of the federal administration, is to be created for regulation and supervision: the Commission for Electronic Media (Komem). Its members will be elected by the Federal Council. The Komem issues the SRG license and concludes performance agreements with other media.

Today, the Federal Council, the Uvek department and the Federal Office of Communications Bakom are responsible for this. With the new authority, the electronic media would become more remote from the state, writes the Federal Council. Supervision of the content of media offerings will remain with the UBI. The amounts paid to the SRG and the amount of the media levy will continue to be determined by the Federal Council. From 2019, this will be 365 francs per household.

Stricter rules for the SRG

The new law is to replace the Radio and TV Act. More detailed rules are envisaged for the SRG than before. The Federal Council can now set a maximum amount for advertising revenue. It can also determine what proportion of the levy the SRG must use for information. Today, around 50 percent goes to information.

The Federal Council also wants to enshrine in the law that the SRG may cooperate with other media - and that it must make its content available to them on fair and non-discriminatory terms. For investments in other media companies and the establishment of its own companies, the SRG would need approval from the Komem. Online advertising and advertising in radio programs remain prohibited for the SRG.

For radio stations and online media without a performance agreement, the new law does not provide for any regulation. For broadcasters without a performance mandate, minimum regulations continue to apply, for example on the protection of minors. The obligation to report programs, on the other hand, will be abolished.

The consultation lasts until October 15. (SDA)