Regional TV stations show high relevance for political information
The regional TV stations Tele M1, TeleBärn, and TeleZüri reached a broad audience in the second half of 2025. With comprehensive coverage of referendums and established original programming, they demonstrate the enduring importance of regional TV programming for political information in the regions.
With intensive coverage of national and regional votes, established in-house formats and major events in their coverage areas, the regional TV stations Tele M1, TeleBärn and TeleZüri reached a broad audience in the second half of 2025. "Especially when it comes to reporting on political decisions, whether regional, cantonal or national, it is clear that regional TV stations are used in a targeted manner and have a high level of credibility," says Oliver Steffen, Editor-in-Chief of TV at CH Media. The three stations thus make a measurable contribution to regional information and offer the audience orientation from a regional perspective.
Tele M1: Most-watched private station in the coverage area
Tele M1, AZ Medien's licensed TV station, achieved an average daily reach of 166,000 viewers in the second half of 2025. In the 6 p.m. hour, which is key for regional information, the station achieved a market share of 10.1% in its coverage area, making it the most-watched private TV station in its region.
Tele M1 was used intensively for political votes in particular: The referendum broadcasts on September 28 and November 30 reached a total of 141,000 contacts. This confirms the broadcaster's role as a relevant information platform for political decisions in the Mittelland.
New formats also met with interest. The newly launched magazine "Wirtschaft Mittelland" achieved a maximum market share of 18% in the coverage area and reached a total of 408,000 people across all episodes. The cultural program "Kultour" reached 270,000 viewers and added cultural perspectives from the region to the range of information on offer.
TeleBärn: News as a stable foundation for regional reporting
TeleBärn, AZ Medien's second licensed TV station, achieved a daily reach of 143,000 people in the second half of 2025. The daily news program forms the station's core offering and achieved an average market share of 13.2% in the coverage area.
The daily news coverage was supplemented by in-depth in-house formats. The weekly "SportTalk" launched at the beginning of the year reached a total of 278,000 viewers across all episodes. The new business magazine "Mini Firma" makes regional companies visible and achieved a total reach of over 339,000 people.
With the two-part documentary "Reitschule Bern: Between Culture and Conflict" and an accompanying talk show, which were broadcast in December, TeleBärn also focused on in-depth background reporting with a regional focus.
TeleZüri: High reach for votes and live events
The CH Media station TeleZüri achieved a daily reach of 301,000 people in the second half of 2025 and thus remains the highest-reach regional private station in Switzerland. In the 6 p.m. live hour, the station achieved a market share of 12.6% in the coverage area. ZüriNews remains TeleZüri's most relevant program.
Political reporting met with a particularly high level of interest: The referendum broadcasts on September 28 reached 185,000 contacts, those on November 30 203,000. In the 1 p.m. hour, a live market share of 8.9 percent was measured for the September broadcast.
TeleZüri was also heavily used for major socially relevant events. Coverage of the Street Parade reached 222,000 people.
