SRF, RTS and RSI to cut jobs in the next two to four years

The job cuts will take place in two stages: 66 positions will be eliminated in January 2021, and 145 positions in the fall of 2021, according to the company. That's a total of 211 full-time positions that will be cut because SRF plans to create 95 new jobs at the same time.

The company urgently needs new job profiles and skills for the digital transformation of the company, SRF Director Nathalie Wappler is quoted as saying in Tuesday's announcement. In addition, there will be around 100 retraining programs. According to the statement, the training budget has been allocated.

SRF expects that a total of 120 people will have to be laid off - 25 in a first stage and 95 in a second. The remainder is to be reduced through natural attrition and early retirement.

Head of News Sandra Manca leaves SRF

To drive the development of the new organization, which is to take effect on April 1, 2021, Wappler has appointed interim heads for key new departments and divisions. In addition, the management of SRF News is to be reassigned: Sandra Manca is leaving the company. On an interim basis, Ursula Gabathuler, currently Head of Editorial Kassensturz/Espresso, will take over her duties from October 13, 2020. The position is to be advertised.

Changes in TV and radio programming

Adjustments to the TV program have also become known. For example, starting in summer 2021, instead of the early evening show "Mini Schwiiz, dini Schwiiz" on SRF 1, different formats based on the basic concept "Mini ..., dini ..." are planned. In addition, SRF is planning fewer new productions in summer and holiday programming.

The literature program on Radio SRF 2 Kultur is also set to change: The "52 Best Books" program will be dissolved next year with a holistically reorganized literature program. The programming changes are to make way for new - especially digital - formats.

Joana Mauch and Mathias Schenk new at Radio SRF 3

During SRF 3 presenter Anic Lautenschlager's maternity leave, which will last until spring 2021, Joana Mauch and Mathias Schenk will each anchor the daytime program for three months. Mauch, a 29-year-old from Appenzell, will mainly host the morning show until the end of the year. Schenk, 33, will join SRF 3 in January 2021.

The French-speaking Swiss television station RTS is cutting between 50 and 65 of a total of 1518 full-time positions by 2024. Due to the difficult situation in the media market in French-speaking Switzerland because of the Corona pandemic, RTS intends to forego layoffs in 2021.

In the years 2022 to 2024, however, layoffs could not be ruled out, RTS wrote in a statement on Tuesday. The company plans to save 15 million francs over the next four years. The sharp drop in advertising revenue in the first half of 2020 and the steady decline in commercial revenues of the Swiss Radio and Television Company (SRG) in recent years affected RTS to the tune of 10 million francs.

RTS does not yet expect any effects in the coming year. Then, from 2022, costs are to be reduced and programs adapted. In addition, new digital formats and offers for the younger audience are to be developed. RTS did not provide more precise details.

RSI radio and television in Ticino plans to cut 46 of a total of 1039 full-time positions over the next four years. RSI needs to save a further total of around eight million francs.

The new savings plan means that Radiotelevisione Svizzera RSI will have to cut another 34 jobs in addition to the 12 already eliminated, the Italian-language business unit of SRG announced Tuesday. It said 11 of the 12 jobs mentioned had already been eliminated thanks to natural departures and early retirements.

With regard to the 34 additional jobs to be cut, RSI cannot rule out layoffs, according to the statement. However, the age pyramid of the workforce allows the expectation that a large part of the reduction can be achieved through natural fluctuation. Between 2021 and 2024, 70 employees would reach retirement age. (SDA/swi)