TV plans reduced
Private television Cablecom has toned down its application for the expansion of the Infochannel. The Canal Suisse channel will probably be postponed.
Private television Cablecom has toned down its application for the expansion of the Info channel. Cablecom, the private TV association Telesuisse and the SRG have been working for over a year on a TV program called Canal Suisse (working title), which was to connect the regions of Switzerland via the media. The plan was to make folk traditions, for example, which are broadcast by private TVs, accessible to the whole of Switzerland via a separate channel. Live broadcasts from parliament or reruns of SRG programs were also being considered. Some things were still open, and a license application had not yet been submitted. The reason for the probable withdrawal is the price regulator's rejection of Cablecom's plans to increase its subscription fees. Without this additional income, the cable network operator will have to cut back on investments, according to Cablecom CEO Rudolf Fischer. "We are now forced to rethink certain ideas," adds Cablecom spokesperson Stephan Howeg. It is not yet clear which projects will have to wait. "But it cannot be ruled out that Canal Suisse could also be affected." Cablecom wants to provide clarity by the end of the year.
Cablecom must cut back
The private TV association Telesuisse is expecting a halt. "Canal Suisse is now being put on ice, because the funds for it would have to come from Cablecom," says Telesuisse President Filippo Lombardi.
Cablecom is also cutting back on a second TV project. This year, it applied for a license to expand its existing info channel. However, because the private TVs feared that a cable network operator offering content could come into conflict with their interests, objections were raised. In fact, according to the application, Cablecom wanted to offer "sponsored and advertising-supported content" (WW 29/04), but also to be able to enter into "cooperations with program providers" and develop "new TV formats".
Cablecom has since "clarified" its intentions, as Howeg explains. "Misleading formulations" have been omitted or paraphrased differently. However, exact passages were not available from either Bakom or Howeg. However, the latter stated that it is now clear "that we do not want to be a broadcaster on the Infokanal." The responsible Bakom specialist Alfons Birrer confirms this. And as far as advertising content is concerned, according to Howeg, Cablecom only wants to be able to show its TV commercials on its own channel.
Canal Suisse, a project of Cablecom, SRG and Telesuisse, is being shelved for the time being.
Cablecom advances digital TVIn order to create the necessary capacity for a larger selection of television programs and additional functions, Cablecom is moving the previously analogue but relatively little-used channels France 3 and RTP Internacional to digital television. From December 1, they will only be available as part of the basic digital TV package and via set-top box. Cablecom intends to use the analog channels that become available for the expansion of digital television: Around ten digital channels can be transmitted per analog channel.
Over the course of the next year, Cablecom would like to include the most important free TV channels in its digital offering. This will give its subscribers more convenient access to these programs without having to switch back and forth between digital receiver and TV set. (mk)
Markus Knöpfli
Cablecom must cut back
The private TV association Telesuisse is expecting a halt. "Canal Suisse is now being put on ice, because the funds for it would have to come from Cablecom," says Telesuisse President Filippo Lombardi.
Cablecom is also cutting back on a second TV project. This year, it applied for a license to expand its existing info channel. However, because the private TVs feared that a cable network operator offering content could come into conflict with their interests, objections were raised. In fact, according to the application, Cablecom wanted to offer "sponsored and advertising-supported content" (WW 29/04), but also to be able to enter into "cooperations with program providers" and develop "new TV formats".
Cablecom has since "clarified" its intentions, as Howeg explains. "Misleading formulations" have been omitted or paraphrased differently. However, exact passages were not available from either Bakom or Howeg. However, the latter stated that it is now clear "that we do not want to be a broadcaster on the Infokanal." The responsible Bakom specialist Alfons Birrer confirms this. And as far as advertising content is concerned, according to Howeg, Cablecom only wants to be able to show its TV commercials on its own channel.
Canal Suisse, a project of Cablecom, SRG and Telesuisse, is being shelved for the time being.
Cablecom advances digital TVIn order to create the necessary capacity for a larger selection of television programs and additional functions, Cablecom is moving the previously analogue but relatively little-used channels France 3 and RTP Internacional to digital television. From December 1, they will only be available as part of the basic digital TV package and via set-top box. Cablecom intends to use the analog channels that become available for the expansion of digital television: Around ten digital channels can be transmitted per analog channel.
Over the course of the next year, Cablecom would like to include the most important free TV channels in its digital offering. This will give its subscribers more convenient access to these programs without having to switch back and forth between digital receiver and TV set. (mk)
Markus Knöpfli
