Relocation of RTS news department to Lausanne is definite
The relocation of the news department of French-speaking Swiss television station RTS from Geneva to Lausanne is definite. The building permit for the new 110-million-franc building on the grounds of the EPF Lausanne should be issued by the end of the year.
"We are in the process of eliminating the last objections," says RTS director Pascal Crittin in an interview with the newspaper Le Temps of Friday. The relocation of news broadcasts planned for 2024 still has to be approved by the SRG Board of Directors, he said. Around 200 jobs will be affected by the relocation.
Opposition to the relocation was not as fierce in French-speaking Switzerland as in the case of the move of the radio studio from Berne to Zurich, which has since been largely called off. Opposition came mainly from Geneva.
"The RTS working group has come a long way with the authorities of the city and canton of Geneva," says Crittin. "Geneva is important to us and will not be neglected." TV magazines, sports, fiction and documentaries would remain based in the RTS tower in Geneva.
News from radio in western Switzerland is already produced in Lausanne. Merging the news sector creates synergies to strengthen the regional editorial offices in the cantons, starting with Geneva, Crittin continues.
Several programs are discontinued
Only on Thursday, RTS had announced that it would discontinue several TV and radio programs from January 2020 to save money. For example, the TV programs "Au cœur du sport", "En ce temps-là", "Mauvaise langue" and "Toute une vie" will be canceled. The summer production of "Mise au point" and "Couleurs d'été" will also be eliminated. On the radio, the chronicle "Past Future" and the 5 o'clock broadcast of La Première will disappear from the airwaves.
Ten to eleven of a total of around 400 jobs in the news department will be cut. The cuts are to be made as far as possible through natural fluctuation. RTS wants to avoid layoffs if possible.
The reason for the cost-cutting exercise is SRG's falling advertising revenues and lower radio and TV fees. Director General Gilles Marchand informed staff around ten days ago that SRG would have to reduce its costs by a further 50 million francs in the coming year (Werbewoche.ch reported). RTS has to contribute just under CHF 15 million. (SDA)
