Ombudsman decides: TVO reported correctly
The ombudsman for radio and television broadcasters rejects Tele Säntis initiator Günter Heuberger's complaint against Tele Ostschweiz.
According to the ombudsman, Tele Ostschweiz's reporting on the television license was appropriate and no programming regulations had been violated. In January, the Winterthur District Court had already dismissed a claim by Heuberger for unfair competition in the same context.
In the week from 14 to 18 December 2009, Tele Ostschweiz reported intensively on the Federal Administrative Court's decision on the licensing procedure and its impact on the Eastern Swiss television station. As a result, "Tele Säntis" initiator Günter Heuberger made accusations against TVO, as TVO writes in a press release. He claimed that the broadcaster had reported in a one-sided and unbalanced manner and had organized an actual media campaign. He initially made these accusations before the Winterthur district court and demanded a super-provisional injunction against TVO. The court rejected Heuberger's complaint on all points in January. Heuberger then also took his allegations to the ombudsman for radio and television broadcasters, who is tasked with investigating complaints against editorial broadcasts.
In his recently published statement, the ombudsman now also clearly rejects Heuberger's accusations. The various reports complained about were all factual and correct. TVO had provided the essential information and no program regulations had been violated, writes the ombudsman. Only the additional involvement of an external media expert would have been desirable from the ombudsman's point of view.
In the week from 14 to 18 December 2009, Tele Ostschweiz reported intensively on the Federal Administrative Court's decision on the licensing procedure and its impact on the Eastern Swiss television station. As a result, "Tele Säntis" initiator Günter Heuberger made accusations against TVO, as TVO writes in a press release. He claimed that the broadcaster had reported in a one-sided and unbalanced manner and had organized an actual media campaign. He initially made these accusations before the Winterthur district court and demanded a super-provisional injunction against TVO. The court rejected Heuberger's complaint on all points in January. Heuberger then also took his allegations to the ombudsman for radio and television broadcasters, who is tasked with investigating complaints against editorial broadcasts.
In his recently published statement, the ombudsman now also clearly rejects Heuberger's accusations. The various reports complained about were all factual and correct. TVO had provided the essential information and no program regulations had been violated, writes the ombudsman. Only the additional involvement of an external media expert would have been desirable from the ombudsman's point of view.
