SRG Director Wille defends sports and entertainment offerings
Published: Saturday, Dec 14th 2024, 22:50
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In an interview, SRG Director Susanne Wille defended the sports and entertainment offerings of her media company. These sectors are important, she said, because entertainment can also provide information and sport brings people together.
Wille told the Sonntagszeitung newspaper that the Olympic Games had achieved a market share of over 40 percent among the younger audience. And the coverage of football or skiing ensured that other sports also received more attention. On days with football or skiing coverage, almost 70 percent more people also tuned in to popular sports.
It is difficult to reach the general public with information programs alone. However, SRG will receive a new license from 2029. These questions would then have to be clarified as part of the negotiations.
Job cuts still open
The reduction in fees from CHF 335 to CHF 300 by 2029, on the other hand, was "a done deal". Wille described the Federal Council's decision as an "entrepreneurial mandate". She wants to build a good, strong SRG with the new financial framework.
There are still many unanswered questions as to how the CHF 270 million savings program could be implemented. The amount would correspond to 1000 full-time positions. At the moment, however, it would be dubious to commit to a number of jobs, said Wille.
They naturally tried to find solutions that would result in fewer cuts. The FM switch-off alone could save CHF 15 million. The consolidation of IT services would also be conceivable.
New streaming platform
With regard to the halving initiative "200 francs is enough", Wille said that 83% of the population use an SRG service every week, and half of young people. That was the strongest response.
She is certain that SRG will continue to be needed even in times of streaming providers because its programs tell stories from Switzerland. And because people are increasingly consuming time-shifted and digitally, they are in the process of building a new central platform.
Wille was also convinced that both the SRG and private providers were necessary for a strong Swiss media center. SRG is dependent on strong private providers. And if SRG were weakened, the money would flow to the big American tech companies instead.
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