Council of States wants television channel for national cohesion
The Council of States wants to require Swiss television to broadcast programs from the other language regions, either with subtitles or dubbed.
Swiss television should do more to promote national cohesion. This is the view of the Council of States. On Wednesday, the Council of States adopted a motion to this effect by Theo Maissen (CVP/GR) by 22 votes to 7. According to the motion, the SRG should be encouraged to create a television channel to strengthen mutual understanding.
During the discussion, however, the proponents made it clear that they did not want a separate channel. Maximilian Reimann (SVP/AG) emphasized that the request should be fulfilled within the framework of the existing channels. Should this not be possible, he would not support it. Nevertheless, he criticized the SRG. It would rather broadcast expensive reports about the Mekong than pictures and reports from diverse, multicultural Switzerland. For his part, Dick Marty (FDP/TI) stated that the unity of Switzerland had to be re-established every day and that television played an important role in this.
Media Minister Moritz Leuenberger pointed out that the motion called for a new television channel, which is why the Federal Council is opposed to it. In the SRG's current financial situation, a new channel is not realistic. Furthermore, there was a risk that only those who already watched across the Röstigraben would be interested in this channel. However, the concern itself is justified - "so justified that we actually have to do something", said Leuenberger. In line with the existing concession, SRG must do more to promote exchange between the language regions and cultures. "It is important that viewers of the Tagesschau find out what is going on in French-speaking Switzerland or Ticino," continued Leuenberger.
During the discussion, however, the proponents made it clear that they did not want a separate channel. Maximilian Reimann (SVP/AG) emphasized that the request should be fulfilled within the framework of the existing channels. Should this not be possible, he would not support it. Nevertheless, he criticized the SRG. It would rather broadcast expensive reports about the Mekong than pictures and reports from diverse, multicultural Switzerland. For his part, Dick Marty (FDP/TI) stated that the unity of Switzerland had to be re-established every day and that television played an important role in this.
Media Minister Moritz Leuenberger pointed out that the motion called for a new television channel, which is why the Federal Council is opposed to it. In the SRG's current financial situation, a new channel is not realistic. Furthermore, there was a risk that only those who already watched across the Röstigraben would be interested in this channel. However, the concern itself is justified - "so justified that we actually have to do something", said Leuenberger. In line with the existing concession, SRG must do more to promote exchange between the language regions and cultures. "It is important that viewers of the Tagesschau find out what is going on in French-speaking Switzerland or Ticino," continued Leuenberger.
