Media National Council debates expansion of indirect press subsidies

On Monday evening, the National Council began the debate on a proposal from its Transport and Telecommunications Committee on indirect press subsidies. Due to time constraints, the large chamber has not yet been able to decide whether to take a position.

The debate will continue next Thursday.

The proposal by the National Council's Committee for Transport and Telecommunications (KVF-N) provides for a seven-year increase in indirect press subsidies for the daily delivery of regional and local press from the current CHF 30 million per year to a new CHF 45 million.

In addition, the National Council also wants to promote early delivery during the week. For the delivery of the membership and foundation press, the committee wants the contributions to rise from CHF 20 million to CHF 30 million.

Smaller publishers are to be given more financial leeway for the digital transformation thanks to the increase in federal contributions. The KVF-N believes that the diversity of the press is at risk due to the strained financial situation of many media. The bill takes up elements of the media package that was rejected by the people at the ballot box on February 13, 2022.

The Federal Council is proposing that the bill be rejected. One of the reasons for its rejection is the federal government's tight financial situation. If the National Council votes in favor of the bill on Thursday, the federal government will request that indirect funding for regional and local newspapers be increased by CHF 7.5 million to CHF 37.5 million per year for a limited period. It does not want an increase for early delivery.

Meanwhile, a KVF-N motion being debated together with the bill on Thursday calls for the introduction of channel- and business model-independent funding for electronic media - to secure the long-term future of media diversity. The Federal Council also opposes this demand for financial policy reasons.

SDA