Swiss television should do more for national cohesion
Swiss television should do more to promote cohesion among Switzerland’s linguistic regions, but should not be required to create a separate channel for that purpose. On Wednesday, the National Council, acting as the second chamber, supported a motion to that effect introduced by Council of States member Theo Maissen (CVP/GR)—albeit in an amended form.
In doing so, he followed the majority of the Telecommunications Commission KVF. SP National Councillor Hans Stöckli, outgoing President of Biel, the largest bilingual city in the country, had previously withdrawn an identical motion. In Maissen's motion text, the large chamber deleted the demand for a Swiss television channel that would recycle programmes broadcast in the language regions - with subtitles in the other national languages or synchronized.
That would be too expensive, said Tarzisius Caviezel (FDP/GR) for the Commission. Studies show that SRG does not focus enough on the other language regions in the respective areas of the country. However, a separate channel would not remedy this situation and would at best lead a niche existence. However, the mission remains: the television company must strengthen the exchange and understanding between the language regions.
The Federal Council is now to report on the corresponding efforts by the end of 2012. Media Minister Doris Leuthard explained that the SRG is obliged to make its contribution to linguistic cohesion. However, this would be better achieved in a program with a high level of acceptance than in a minority channel. The company's Board of Directors had declared the promotion of linguistic cohesion to be a strategic goal, and a decision on implementation would be made in the spring.
That would be too expensive, said Tarzisius Caviezel (FDP/GR) for the Commission. Studies show that SRG does not focus enough on the other language regions in the respective areas of the country. However, a separate channel would not remedy this situation and would at best lead a niche existence. However, the mission remains: the television company must strengthen the exchange and understanding between the language regions.
The Federal Council is now to report on the corresponding efforts by the end of 2012. Media Minister Doris Leuthard explained that the SRG is obliged to make its contribution to linguistic cohesion. However, this would be better achieved in a program with a high level of acceptance than in a minority channel. The company's Board of Directors had declared the promotion of linguistic cohesion to be a strategic goal, and a decision on implementation would be made in the spring.
