SUBMISSION

PMA submission in support of Switzerland’s international public media

9 May 2025

In April, PMA responded to the consultation on the Preliminary Draft of the Federal Act on the Relief Package 2027, with regard to the waiving contribution to the international offering from Swiss public broadcaster SRG SSR.

In January, the Federal Council of Switzerland opened a consultation process on the Preliminary Draft of the Federal Act on the Relief Package 2027 (RP27). The relief package proposed more than 50 measures intended to reduce the burden on the federal budget by between CHF 2.7 and 3.6 billion from 2027 onwards. Among the proposed measures was the waiving of federal contributions towards SRG SSR’s international mandate, which includes swissinfo.ch, tvsvizzera.it, 3SAT, and TV5 Monde.

The Public Media Alliance, which has SRG SSR as a Core Member, provided a submission to the Swiss Federal Government on the proposal.

Read our full submission by clicking the button at the bottom of the page. 

Summary: 

• SRG SSR’s international services, such as Swissinfo (SWI), provide a vital resource in combatting dis- and misinformation, they provide impartial news, and they support Switzerland’s global reputation for high-quality journalism and neutrality. They also foster cross-cultural dialogue and understanding.

• The proposal to waive the contribution to SRG SSR’s international services undermines the vital role these services play in connecting Swiss citizens abroad to their homeland and fostering democratic engagement.

• The Swiss government should recognise the international importance of these services as part of the country’s soft power, demonstrating its commitment to democracy, transparency, and impartiality. SRG SSR’s international media services not only benefit Swiss citizens abroad but they also play an essential role in shaping global conversations, particularly in regions with diminished press freedom and those vulnerable to state-aligned media and authoritarian influence.

• Defunding these services would diminish Switzerland’s global cultural and political influence and contribute to the erosion of trusted, independent journalism on the world stage. The collective efforts of international PSM organisations are more crucial than ever in maintaining a global ecosystem of free and impartial information, thereby counteracting the rise of authoritarianism.