SRF discloses the costs for the production of TV shows

SRF 1 broadcasts over two and a half hours of current affairs programs every day, plus special programs and extended news bulletins during major events. SRF invests a total of CHF 56.8 million annually in daily news programs. Of this, 23.9 million francs is spent on the daily news. By comparison, the German broadcaster ZDF invests around twice as much, 102 million euros, in its daily news programs. The various versions of "heute" news account for around 54 million euros of this.

For the weekly magazine programs, SRF calculated costs per edition of CHF 69,000 ("ECO"), CHF 72,000 ("Puls"), CHF 74,000 ("Kulturplatz"), CHF 99,000 ("Einstein"), CHF 114,000 ("Kassensturz") and CHF 115,000 ("Rundschau"). Among the talk shows, "Schawinski" is the cheapest at CHF 14,000. There is a "Club" for 25,000 francs and an "Arena" for 34,000 francs. The costs of "Sternstunden", "Aeschbacher" and "Literaturclub" are between 53,000 and 61,000 francs. Purchased or co-produced documentaries are available to SRF for between CHF 14,000 and CHF 40,000. In-house productions cost between 120,000 francs ("SRF bi de Lüt") and 212,000 francs ("Netz Natur"). Reports are comparatively cheap at CHF 38,000 per "Reporter" program.

817,000 francs for Saturday night box

Evening entertainment on Saturdays is the most expensive. Multi-part shows such as "The Voice of Switzerland", "Happy Day", "Gipfelstürmer" or "Kampf der Orchester" cost an average of CHF 817,000 per episode, while one-off shows such as "Hello Again!" or "Alperöösli" are slightly cheaper at CHF 607,000. Theater and cabaret recordings for Saturday evening programs cost an average of CHF 127,000. For international co-productions such as "Musikantenstadl" or "Eurovision Song Contest", SRF contributes an average of CHF 96,000. For a comedy program such as "Giacobbo/Müller", SRF expects to receive CHF 131,000. The CHF 79,000 per quiz and game show includes the winnings for the candidates. Between 15,000 and 237,000 francs are spent on a music program. For factuel entertainment programs such as "Verkehrte Welt", production costs amount to 183,000 francs; if such a program is purchased, 5,000 francs are sufficient. For the children's program "Zambo", SRF quotes an amount of 11,000 francs per episode.

22.3 million francs for Swiss films

SRF is one of the most important film promoters in Switzerland, according to the press release. Every year, 150 Swiss films are shown in the program. As part of its cultural mandate, SRG supports film production throughout Switzerland with CHF 22.3 million annually. SRF produces around four television films per year in the original language, Swiss German. SRF and SRG contribute CHF 1.6 million to a television film. The production costs of a Swiss "Tatorts" are around CHF 2.1 million. Cinema productions are supported with CHF 3.3 million annually. An episode of the series "Der Bestatter" costs CHF 719,000. SRF invests between 20,000 and 55,000 francs per episode for bought-in or co-produced crime dramas. The license costs for a purchased feature film are between 4,000 and 70,000 francs. Once or twice a year, SRF produces a blockbuster whose price is exceptionally "in the low six-figure range". SRF reports the costs of its regular sports coverage: 70 minutes of "Sportpanorama" cost 64,000 francs, the 20 to 45-minute "Sportaktuell" costs around 23,000 francs and the 35-minute background program "Sportlounge" costs 58,000 francs.

Figures from RSI, RTR and RTS will follow in spring

The information provided by SRF is the actual costs of the programs broadcast in 2014, based on the annual statement, as stated in the press release. The data will be updated annually in future. The costs of broadcasts in the other Swiss regions of RSI, RTR and RTS will be prepared in the coming months and communicated in spring 2016. (SDA)

SRG: The cost of broadcasting