SRF drives transformation with "SRF 4.0": job cuts and new direction

As part of the "SRF 4.0" strategic project, SRF is pressing ahead with its transformation. The focus is on the long-term optimization of the organization, processes and offering. Around 75 full-time positions will be cut, including around 10 percent in management. These steps are necessary in order to prevent a financial deficit from 2025, which is threatened by declining revenues and rising costs, according to the press release from Monday, September 23.

SRF emphasizes that the measures are not related to SRG's upcoming cost-cutting measures, which will take effect from 2025. Rather, they are part of a strategic realignment designed to prepare the media company optimally for technological change and the changing usage habits of viewers.

Realignment of the editorial offices

A central component of the transformation is the merging of the chief editorial offices for audio/digital and video. SRF plans to merge these areas in order to "create synergies" and "make journalistic work more efficient". This should be particularly effective in the areas of planning and reporting on major political and social events.

According to SRF Director Nathalie Wappler, the previous separation of the editorial teams is no longer in keeping with the times: "In the digital age, stories have to be told using multimedia. With a joint editorial team, we are increasing our expertise without jeopardizing quality or diversity."

Reduction in the range of information

The information offering will also be streamlined as part of the transformation. From summer 2025, the "Tagesschau" editions at midday and 6 p.m. will be replaced by moderated newsflashes. At weekends, the midday edition will be discontinued completely. According to SRF, these changes will allow it to concentrate its resources more on primetime programs.

Other formats such as "Club" and "Faces & Stories" will also be paused in future in order to focus on the core programs during the summer months. SRF is increasingly relying on its news app as its main news channel, which covers current events around the clock.

Focus on young target groups

For the young audience, SRF is concentrating its financial and human resources on a few core brands such as "SRF Impact", "Bounce" and "Studio 404". This focus should help to better reach the young target group. At the same time, less successful formats and channels such as "SRF Mood" and "We, Myself & Why" will be discontinued in order to keep the overall budget stable.

Increased efficiency in production and technology

Additional savings will be made in the areas of production and technology. The relocation of broadcasts to the News and Sports Center, such as "Rundschau" and "Kassensturz", and the integration of production management will reduce costs. A reduction in capacity would also be implemented in the technology department through process simplifications and synergies.

Future orientation and further steps

The "SRF 4.0" project is intended not only to stabilize SRF in the short term, but also to prepare it for the challenges of the media industry in the long term. Further measures, including the reduction of the Executive Board and structural adjustments in the cultural sector, are already planned. The final decisions will be made in spring 2025.

Nathalie Wappler emphasizes: "It is essential that we face up to the global changes in the media industry and adapt our organization to the changing conditions."

SRF walks a fine line between efficiency and quality

With the "SRF 4.0" project, SRF is once again demonstrating how media companies must adapt to structural change in the industry. The announced reduction of 75 full-time positions may seem unavoidable, but it raises questions about how far efficiency improvements can go without seriously jeopardizing journalistic quality.