The broadcasting of radio programs via FM is now not to be switched off in Switzerland until the end of 2024 after all. The radio stations have agreed on this - original - date.
Last year, 42 out of 44 Swiss radio broadcasters and the SRG agreed on an early and staggered switch-off of FM transmitters: In August 2022 for SRG and in January 2023 for the private broadcasters. Swiss radio broadcasters announced on Thursday that almost three-quarters of radio usage would already be digital by the end of 2021.
Public discussion
In recent weeks and months, however, the switch-off has increasingly become a political issue: Former Media Minister Doris Leuthard had already joined the discussion in June and advised the government to hold back on the issue.
In July, media pioneer Roger Schawinski submitted a petition to the federal government with over 60,000 signatures against the shutdown of FM transmitters. Following a meeting with Schawinski, the National Council's Committee for Transport and Telecommunications (KVF-N) then also called for an in-depth examination of the consequences of not switching off FM radio stations.
Nevertheless, a large majority of broadcasters in German-speaking and Italian-speaking Switzerland were still in favor of the planned procedure, the radio stations continued. In French-speaking Switzerland, however, a majority could no longer be found.
More time for consumers
However, as a nationwide solution is needed, the radio stations have now returned to their original plan to switch off the FM transmitters on December 31, 2024.
In addition, the latest market figures indicate that listeners needed more time to make the switch, especially drivers of older models, which of course includes classic cars and youngtimers in particular. While the DAB+ share in new cars has been almost 100 percent since 2020, older cars still have some catching up to do.
Schawinski wants an even longer deadline
FM radio licenses expire at the end of 2024. After this date, FM stations will no longer be able to broadcast. In a statement, Schawinski criticized the fact that the new switch-off date is only based on the "expiry of private licences" and "not on actual radio usage".
Even after that, "over a million Swiss cars will probably still not have DAB reception". They will all be dependent on FM "in terms of road safety" for years to come.
Schawinski therefore called on politicians "not to leave the decision to the private radio broadcasters". And the SRG must also get involved in the discussion instead of "consistently hiding behind the private radio broadcasters."
For radio broadcasters, the postponement of the switch-off to the end of 2024 would entail costs in the multi-digit million range, they added. In the long term, no company could afford to double broadcasting via FM and DAB+.
