RTVG referendum: industry divided
Because the new media tax relieves the burden on many companies in practice, not all tradespeople are happy with the referendum that the trade association is submitting on Monday.
It took the association eight weeks to collect over 100,000 signatures against the new radio and TV fee. By the beginning of December, the decided in October referendum was held (Werbewoche.ch reported). However, as the NZZ am Sonntag writes in its current edition, the industry is anything but united behind the idea of fighting the new device-independent media levy. Both the restaurant association Gastrosuisse and many bakeries would not support the referendum.
The reason: 75 percent of all companies would no longer have to pay a fee at all, as they have a turnover of less than CHF 500,000. For a further nine percent, the amount would fall from CHF 612 to CHF 400. According to Gastrosuisse boss Casimir Platzer (photo), around 80 percent of the businesses affiliated to his association would pay less or nothing at all. CVP National Councillor Alois Gmür also points out that many businesses are busy consuming radio and TV. The trade association argues purely ideologically and ignores this reality.
Trade association director Hans-Ulrich Bigler, on the other hand, stands by the referendum. It is rare for the association to stand united and the great success of the collection shows the great anger about the media tax. He also fears that the fees would rise rapidly after the introduction and that Gastrosuisse's calculation would not work out. (hae/NZZaS)
Image: Gastrosuisse
