Telesuisse regrets SRG decision of the Federal Council
Telesuisse, the association of Swiss regional television stations, objects to the Federal Council's decision allowing the SRG to broadcast major political, economic, sporting, and cultural events directly over the Internet in the future.
Until now, such Internet transmissions were only possible in connection with a simultaneous transmission in a television program or after a notification to the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM), the association wrote in a statement on Wednesday. With this decision, the Federal Council recognized the Internet as an additional distribution channel in the SRG's concession. In fact, the SRG has the possibility to create new channels directly on the Internet. This decision further destabilizes the media market in Switzerland and unnecessarily exacerbates the already existing imbalance between the SRG and private providers. In addition, the Federal Council had extended its authorization to include two areas (sports and culture), whereas Parliament had demanded authorization only for economic or political content.
In its statement, Telesuisse calls on politicians and the public to question the extent to which an absolute monopoly of the SRG in the area of information promotes democratic debate and the development of Switzerland.
