SRG Audience Council Strikes a Conciliatory Tone Toward SF
Following a reprimand from the Swiss Television Viewers« Council regarding the excessive prominence given to the SVP in its coverage, the Council is now striking a more conciliatory tone. It also praises the programs »Hörpunkt« (DRS 2) and »Euro 2008 – Das Magazin” (SF), but is less than enthusiastic about the SF “City Duel.”.
Following the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG) Public Council’s rebuke of Swiss Television, published in January, the advisory body for Swiss radio and television is now taking a more conciliatory stance. At the time, the Council expressed irritation over the prominence Swiss Television gave to the role of the SVP (see: ). A press release issued on Friday now states that the Council has gained the impression that Swiss Television is committed to maintaining high journalistic standards while maintaining an independent and credible stance toward all political parties. A constructive and objective discussion on this matter was held with SF Editor-in-Chief Ueli Haldimann.The Audience Council heaped praise on DRS 2«s »Hörpunkt« theme day. It called it »a brilliant feature in a media world accustomed to bite-sized content” and a welcome change from everyday radio programming. The variety of topics and the surprising approaches offered listeners a wealth of new insights. However, the decision to air the program on a weekday was unfortunate.
The weekly SF sports program «Euro 2008 – Das Magazin» also received praise. It was described as varied, exciting, and thematically diverse. The segment focusing on Swiss soccer players abroad was considered a success. The host, Rainer Maria Salzgeber, who was perceived as confident and likable, received a great deal of praise. However, viewers felt that a critical overview was missing—one that would shed light not only on soccer itself but also on its immediate and broader context.
While the Council finds the concept of the entertainment show «Euro 2008 – The Great City Duel» interesting, it considers the language used less than ideal and the show, overall, simply too long. The tension often has to be created artificially, and several Council members were annoyed by host Roman Kilchsperger’s remarks. The Council finds it rude that dialect is spoken on a show featuring guests from Austria and French-speaking Switzerland.
