Facts and figures. Published by SRG SSR idée suisse, Corporate Communications, Max Gurtner, Bern. Concept and editing Imelda Lütolf

Transcription

1 Facts and figures Published by SRG SSR idée suisse, Corporate Communications, Max Gurtner, Bern Concept and editing Imelda Lütolf Translations French and Italian: Media Services SRG SSR, Language Services, Bern, English: bmp translations ag, Basel, Illustrations Axel Weigend, D-Bachenberg; Andreas Rzadkowsky, D-Unna Pictures Dan Cermak, Zurich, Marc Doebler, Echallens Design Publicis, Werbeagentur AG, BSW, Zurich Printed by Stämpfli AG, Bern, Date of publication July 2007 Print run German: 20,000; French: 10,000; Italian: 5,000; English: 1,000 Orders SRG SSR idée suisse, Corporate Communications, Belpstrasse 48, 3000 Bern 14

2 Contents Enterprise profile 2 Overview of radio, television and internet services 3 SRG SSR idée suisse corporate principles 4 Enterprise structure Board of Directors 8 Executive Board 9 Radio, television and multimedia Schweizer Radio DRS 10 Schweizer Fernsehen 11 Radio Suisse Romande 12 Télévision Suisse Romande 13 Radiotelevisione svizzera di lingua italiana 14 Radio e Televisiun Rumantscha 15 Swissinfo/Swiss Radio International 16 Media consumption in the digital age 17 Financial framework 24 Legal foundations 26 Facts and figures 2007 SRG SSR idée suisse

3 Enterprise profile Overview of radio, television and internet services SRG SSR idée suisse is a media enterprise governed by civil law and operated in accordance with the principles of company law. Its remit is based on the Swiss Federal Constitution, the Federal Law on Radio and Television (RTVG) and its charter and is one of public service. As a nonprofit organisation, SRG SSR derives around 70 percent of its revenues from licence fees and about 30 percent from commercial activities. It is politically and financially independent. With some 5,800 employees (4,700 full-time equivalents), an annual turnover of 1.5 billion Swiss francs, sixteen radio stations and seven television channels, as well as complementary websites and teletext services, SRG SSR is the largest electronic media organisation in Switzerland. Its radio stations lead their respective markets in all four language regions as do the television channels at primetime. SRG SSR services successfully hold their own against a variety of competing foreign broadcasters with much more financial muscle. Public service SRG SSR media inform, entertain and also have an educational function. They distribute their services round the clock on all vectors to everyone in Switzerland, wherever they may be. What is more, they do so on the same terms everywhere. Services meet the needs of minorities and the mainstream alike, covering a broad range of issues with a varied schedule. SRG SSR pledges credibility, independence, diversity, creativity and fairness. Its programming shines the spotlight on the realities of life in Switzerland and thereby sets itself apart from wholly commercial or foreign radio and television broadcasters. Thanks to solidarity and a financial cross-subsidisation programme between the language regions, SRG SSR is in a position to offer the same breadth and quality of service in all regions of Switzerland. As such, it helps to promote mutual understanding, cohesion and exchange between the different parts of the country and in doing so plays a key role in social and cultural integration. Schweizer Radio DRS DRS 1 DRS 2 DRS 3 DRS Musigwälle Virus Schweizer Fernsehen SF 1 SF zwei SF info Radio Suisse Romande La Première Espace 2 Couleur 3 Option Musique Télévision Suisse Romande TSR 1 TSR 2 Radiotelevisione svizzera di lingua italiana Rete Uno Rete Due Rete Tre TSI 1 TSI 2 Radio e Televisiun Rumantscha RR TvR Swissinfo/Swiss Radio International National radio stations Swiss Satellite Radio Radio Swiss Classic Radio Swiss Jazz Radio Swiss Pop 2 Facts and figures 2007 SRG SSR idée suisse Facts and figures 2007 SRG SSR idée suisse

4 SRG SSR idée suisse corporate principles Mission We inform, entertain and contribute to education and cultural development. We promote democratic opinion forming, public information and preserve cultural identity. We broadcast programmes of comparable quality on the same terms within the four language regions. By taking into account the demands of majorities and minorities, we promote mutual understanding and solidarity. Vision Our audiovisual public service offering reflects and is part of reality in Switzerland. Our programmes are distinctive and are competitive on an international level. We are quick to identify changes in user behaviour and are open to technical innovation. Our services set quality standards and make an essential contribution to Switzerland s social cohesion. Principles Credibility We provide information with an emphasis on facts and transparency, while also offering a platform for different opinions. We demand and encourage a high level of professionalism from our journalists and programme-makers. We take responsibility for the accuracy and credibility of our programmes. Independence We select and create content independently, and are not influenced by political and economic pressure groups. Our public mandate and the licence fees we receive place a particular responsibility on us and require us to provide services of the highest quality. We are open to criticism, transparent towards the public and undergo internal and external reviews. Diversity When it comes to creating programmes, we orientate ourselves towards the varied needs of the majorities and minorities in multilingual and multicultural Switzerland. Diversity shapes our formats, content and viewpoint. We tackle international events and their impact on the role and importance of Switzerland. Creativity Creativity is both a precondition for and the driving force behind our success. We are open to changes that are necessary on the technical, social and economic fronts. We promote and insist on imagination and creativity in order to survive in the face of increasing international media competition. Fairness Respect for people is a basic requirement in our programme-making. People are treated with fairness and consideration in our media activities. Business and social partners can depend on us. We offer our employees modern working conditions and we count on their loyalty and sense of responsibility towards the concept of public service. Facts and figures 2007 SRG SSR idée suisse Facts and figures 2007 SRG SSR idée suisse

5 Enterprise structure 2007 Ente rprise SRG SSR idée su isse association Central Council Board of Directors General Management SRG SSR idée suisse Executive Board Head of the national units Directors of the Enterprise Units Director General Functional areas Business Unit Sport Deputy Director General Staff areas Media Services CFO Finance and Controlling Schweizer Radio DRS Schweizer Fernsehen Radio Suisse Romande Télévision Suisse Roma nde Radiotelevisione svizzer a di lingua italiana Radio e Televisiun Rumantscha Swissinfo/Swiss Radio International Regionalrat Verwaltungsrat SRG idée suisse Deutschschweiz Conseil régional Conseil d administration SSR idée suisse Romande Consiglio regionale Comitato CORSI Cussegl regiunal Directori CRR Council Committee Swissinfo/SRI Subsidi aries TV Productioncenter Zürich AG Swiss TXT Publisui sse SA Publica Data AG Telvetia SA Facts and figures 2007 SRG SSR idée suisse Facts and figures 2007 SRG SSR idée suisse 7

6 Board of Directors Executive Board Jean-Bernard Münch President of the Board of Directors 2 Max Friedli Vice-President of the Board of Directors 3 Claudio Generali Vice-President of the Board of Directors, President of CORSI 4 Duri Bezzola Member of the Board of Directors, President of CRR 5 Jean-François Roth Member of the Board of Directors, President of RTSR 6 Hans Fünfschilling Member of the Board of Directors, President of SRG.D 7 Trix Heberlein-Ruff Member of the Board of Directors 8 Renzo Respini Member of the Board of Directors, President of Swissinfo / SRI 1 Armin Walpen Director General 2 Daniel Eckmann Deputy Director General 3 Walter Rüegg Director of SR DRS 4 Ingrid Deltenre Director of SF 5 Gérard Tschopp Director of RSR 6 Gilles Marchand Director of TSR 7 Dino Balestra Director of RTSI 8 Bernard Cathomas Director of RTR 9 Beat Witschi Director of Swissinfo/SRI 10 Daniel Jorio Head of Finance and Controlling 9 Elisabeth Veya Member of the Board of Directors Facts and figures 2007 SRG SSR idée suisse Facts and figures 2007 SRG SSR idée suisse

7 Radio, television and multimedia Director Foreign services 6.7% Walter Rüegg Stations DRS 1, DRS 2, DRS 3, DRS Musigwälle, Virus Website DRS Seite 10 Programme output 2006 Own productions (in hours) Third-party productions Repeats Total Audience reach 2006 DRS (average number of DRS listeners per day) DRS DRS Musigwälle Virus Audience shares 2006 (24 hours, Mon Sun) SSF Seite 11 Director Channels SF 1, SF zwei Foreign services 6.7% SF info Swiss Website commercial broadcasters 25.6% Programme output 2006 Own productions Other (in hours) SRG SSR services 3.8% Virus 0.2% Third-party productions Repeats Total Audience reach 2006 SF DRS Musigwälle 4.1% (average number of SF zwei viewers per day) SF info Audience shares 2006* Foreign services 52.1% Ingrid Deltenre (primetime, Mon Sun) DRS % DRS 2 5.0% DRS % SF % Ko broadcasters 25.6% services 3.8% Virus 0.2% DRS Musigwälle 4.1% DRS % DRS 2 5.0% DRS % Staff numbers Full-time equivalents 664 ( ) Persons RSR Seite Operating expenses (CHF millions) Foreign services 52.1% broadcasters 4.5% SF % SF zwei 9.6% SF info 0.8% services 0.7% DRS % DRS 2 5.0% DRS % broadcasters DRS Musigwälle 4.5% 4.1% Virus 0.2% Andere SRG-SSR-Programme 3.8% Kommerzielle CH-Programme 25.6% Ausländische Programme 6.7% SF zwei 9.6% SF info 0.8% services 0.7% Staff numbers Full-time equivalents 853 ( ) Persons Operating expenses (CHF millions) Foreign services 12.8% *Rounding means that totals do not add up to exactly 100 percent. La Première 40.4% broadcasters 22.9% SF % SF zwei 9.6% SF info 0.8% Andere SRG-SSR-Programme services 7.0% 0.7% Espace 2 3.5% Kommerzielle CH-Programme 4.5% Ausländische Option Programme Musique 9.1% 52.1% Couleur 3 4.4% K TSR Seite 13 TSR % Foreign services 58.4% Foreign services 12.8% La Première 40.4 TSR 2 8.2% La Première 40.4% Espace broadcasters 22.9% Couleur Facts and figures 2007 SRG SSR idée suisse broadcasters Option Musique 0.4% 9.1 Facts and figures 2007 SRG SSR idée suisse 11 services 1.8% Andere SRG-SSR-Programme 7.0

8 Foreign services 6.7% broadcasters 25.6% services 3.8% Virus 0.2% DRS Musigwälle 4.1% DRS % DRS 2 5.0% DRS % Foreign services 52.1% DRS % DRS 2 5.0% DRS % Swiss DRS commercial Musigwälle 4.1% broadcasters 4.5% Virus 0.2% Andere SRG-SSR-Programme 3.8% Kommerzielle CH-Programme 25.6% Ausländische Programme 6.7% SF % SF zwei 9.6% SF info 0.8% services 0.7% K Director Gérard Tschopp RSR Stations La Première, Espace 2, Seite 12 Foreign services 52.1% Couleur 3, Option Musique Website Programme output 2006 Own productions (in hours) Third-party productions Repeats broadcasters 4.5% Total Audience reach 2006 La Première (average number of Espace listeners per day) Couleur Option Musique TSR Seite 13 Audience shares 2006* (24 hours, Mon Sun) Foreign services 12.8% broadcasters 22.9% services 7.0% *Rounding means that totals do not add up to exactly 100 percent. TSR % Foreign services 58.4% broadcasters 0.4% SF % SF zwei 9.6% SF info 0.8% services 0.7% La Première 40.4% Espace 2 3.5% Option Musique 9.1% Couleur 3 4.4% RSI Seite 14 Staff numbers Full-time equivalents 491 ( ) Persons 628 Operating expenses (CHF millions) TSR 2 8.2% services 1.8% Director Gilles Marchand Foreign Channels services 12.8% TSR 1, TSR 2 Swiss Website commercial SF % La Première 40.4% broadcasters Programme SF 22.9% output zwei 9.6% 2006 Own productions (in hours) SF info 0.8% Third-party productions Andere SRG-SSR-Programme Other SSR 0.7% Kommerzielle services CH-Programme 7.0% Repeats 4.5% Espace % 263 Ausländische Programme 52.1% Total Option Audience Musique reach 9.1% 2006 TSR 1 Couleur % 000 (average number of TSR viewers per day) Audience shares 2006* (primetime, Mon Sun) Foreign services La Première 58.4% 40.4 Espace Couleur Swiss Option commercial Musique 9.1 Andere broadcasters SRG-SSR-Programme 0.4% 7.0 Kommerzielle CH-Programme 22.9 Operating expenses Foreign (CHF millions) services 9.8% Swiss *Rounding commercial means that totals do not add up to exactly 100 percent. broadcasters 7.5% TSR services 11.4% TSR Andere SRG-SSR-Programme 1.8 Kommerzielle Rete Tre CH-Programme 13.7% 0.4 Ausländische Programme 58.4 TSR % TSR 2 8.2% services 1.8% Ausländische Programme 12.8 Staff numbers Full-time equivalents ( ) Persons Rete Uno 51.0% Rete Due 6.6% Foreign services 9.8% broadcasters 7.5% services 11.4% Rete Tre 13.7% TSI Seite 14 Rete Uno 51.0% Foreign services 54.0% RSI Rete Uno 51.0 Rete Due 6.6 Rete Tre 13.7 Andere SRG-SSR-Programme broadcasters 1.4% 11.4 Kommerzielle CH-Programme 7.5 Ausländische Programme 9.8 TSI % TSI 2 8.2% services 5.2% 12 Facts and figures 2007 SRG SSR idée suisse Rete Due 6.6% Facts and figures 2007 SRG SSR idée suisse 13

9 broadcasters 4.5% broadcasters 4.5% SF zwei 9.6% SF info 0.8% services 0.7% services 0.7% SF info 0.8% Andere Foreign services 58.4% Ausländische SRG-SSR-Programme 52.1% 0.7% Kommerzielle CH-Programme 4.5% Ausländische Programme 52.1% broadcasters 0.4% TSR 2 8.2% services 1.8% Foreign services 12.8% RSI Seite 14 Foreign services 12.8% La Première 40.4% broadcasters 22.9% Director Dino Balestra La Première 40.4% Other broadcasters 22.9% RSI radio SRG stations SSR Rete Uno, Rete Due, Rete Tre services 7.0% Espace 2 3.5% Other TSI television SRG SSR channels TSI 1, TSI 2 services Option Website Musique 7.0% 9.1% Option RSI programme Musique 9.1% output Own productions Couleur Espace % 3.5% Couleur % (in hours) Third-party productions Repeats Total TSI programme output Own productions TSR % Foreign 2006 (in services hours) 58.4% Third-party productions Repeats TSR % Foreign services 58.4% Total TSR 2 TSI Seite 168.2% Swiss RSI audience commercial reach 2006 Rete Uno Other TSR SRG % 540 SSR broadcasters (average number 0.4% of Rete Due services 271.8% 650 broadcasters listeners per day) 0.4% Rete Tre services 1.8% TSI audience reach 2006 TSI (average number of TSI viewers per day) Foreign services 9.8% RSI audience shares 2006 (24 hours, Mon Sun) Swiss Foreign commercial services 9.8% broadcasters 7.5% RR Seite 15 broadcasters 7.5% services 11.4% Rete Uno 51.0% Rete services Tre 11.4% 13.7% Rete Uno 51.0% Rete Tre 13.7% TSI audience shares 2006 * Foreign services 54.0% Foreign services 54.0% (primetime, Mon Sun) Rete Due 6.6% Rete Due 6.6% TSI % TSI % TSI 2 8.2% Other TSI SRG 2 8.2% SSR broadcasters 1.4% services 5.2% broadcasters Staff numbers 1.4% Full-time equivalents services 5.2% 1020 ( ) Persons 1136 La Première 40.4 Foreign services Espace 9.8% La Première Couleur Director broadcasters Option Espace Musique 7.5% Bernard Cathomas Andere SRG-SSR-Programme Couleur Kommerzielle Radio Other CH-Programme Option SRG station SSR Musique RR Rete Uno 51.0% Andere Ausländische Television services SRG-SSR-Programme 11.4% channel TvR Kommerzielle CH-Programme 22.9 Ausländische Website Rete Tre Programme 13.7% RR programme output Own productions Rete Due 6.6% 2006 (in hours) Third-party productions Repeats 218 Total TvR programme output Own productions 69 TSR (in hours) TSR Third-party productions 7 Andere Foreign SRG-SSR-Programme services TSR 54.0% Repeats TSI % 529 Kommerzielle CH-Programme TSR Total 605 Andere Ausländische SRG-SSR-Programme Kommerzielle RR audience CH-Programme reach TSI % 420 Ausländische (average Programme number of 58.4 listeners broadcasters per day) 1.4% services 5.2% TvR audience reach 2006 Telesguard (average number of viewers) RR audience shares 2006 RSI (24 hours, Mon Sun) Foreign services 3.9% RR 14.1% Rete Uno 51.0 RSI Rete Due 6.6 broadcasters Rete 16.0% Uno Tre Andere SRG-SSR-Programme Rete Due Kommerzielle CH-Programme Rete Tre services 66.0% Andere Ausländische SRG-SSR-Programme Kommerzielle CH-Programme 7.5 Ausländische Programme 9.8 TvR audience shares 2006 Telesguard 9.5% (Mon Sat) Staff numbers TSI Full-time equivalents 110 ( ) Persons 148 TSI TSI Operating expenses 2006 RR 18.5 TSI Andere (CHF SRG-SSR-Programme millions) TSI TvR 7.1 Kommerzielle CH-Programme TSI Andere Ausländische SRG-SSR-Programme Kommerzielle CH-Programme 1.4 Ausländische Programme 54.0 Operating expenses 2006 RSI 81.3 Foreign (CHF millions) services 3.9% TSI RR 14.1% RR 14.1 Swiss Foreign *Rounding commercial services means 3.9% that totals do not add up to exactly 100 percent. RR 14.1% Andere SRG-SSR-Programme 66.0 broadcasters % Facts and figures 2007 SRG SSR idée suisse Kommerzielle CH-Programme RR Facts and figures 2007 SRG SSR idée suisse 15 Andere Ausländische SRG-SSR-Programme broadcasters 16.0% Kommerzielle CH-Programme 16.0

10 Media consumption in the digital age Director Internet platforms Beat Witschi Themed music stations Radio Swiss Classic * Websites Radio Swiss Jazz * Radio Swiss Pop * Reach of internet platforms (average number of page views per month) Audience reach of themed Radio Swiss Classic music stations 2006 Radio Swiss Jazz (average number Radio Swiss Pop of listeners per day) Audience shares for themed Radio Swiss Classic 0.9% music stations 2006 Radio Swiss Jazz 0.3% (24 hours, Mon Sun) Radio Swiss Pop 0.8% Staff numbers Full-time equivalents 141 ( ) Persons 169 Operating expenses (CHF millions) *Following the introduction of a new administrative structure on 1 January 2007, the three themed music stations now come under Schweizer Radio DRS. Audiovisual media are undergoing rapid and radical technological change. Scarcely a day goes by in which the media do not present us with new ways to consume radio and television. The new thing here is less that we can now get the news in 100 seconds, but that we can watch hourly news updates on our mobile phones from 7 in the morning to 11 at night. While there is still a place for radio and television sets at home, they face competition on several fronts. For example, we can now catch radio and TV programmes on our ipods during our daily train commute. Once in the office, we can watch and listen to video and audio documents that are streamed live over the internet; and wireless digital TV sets allow us to turn our gardens into public viewing areas for our friends and neighbours. Media has become an anytime, anywhere business as radio and TV content become independent of fixed schedules and locations. While our choice of transmission options is widening, picture and sound are also getting better and better. Soon, all TV channels will be broadcast in widescreen (16:9) format, so the picture will no longer be contained by black bars top and bottom. With high definition television (HDTV), we will be able to receive TV pictures that are sharper and more detailed than have ever been seen before. What s more, in the near future we won t need to go to the cinema to get the Dolby Digital experience the launch of HDTV will make three-dimensional sound standard. Meanwhile, drivers will soon be able to listen to their favourite radio stations without interruption or interference on DAB, whether their journey takes them from Basel to Chiasso or from Geneva to Val Müstair. What follows is a collection of pictures and brief explanations which we hope will shed a little light on some (as-yet) unfamiliar expressions and abbreviations. 16 Facts and figures 2007 SRG SSR idée suisse

11 Podcasting Podcasting describes the automatic downloading of audio and video files from the internet to an ipod or other, similar, product. Broadcasters generally offer elements of their programming as podcasts free of charge. Podcasting allows TV and radio programmes to be watched and listened to at any time, independent of their original broadcast. Internet-based archive Since its foundation in 1931, SRG SSR idée suisse has kept around a million hours of audiovisual materials audio and video documents which record Switzerland s cultural, social, economic and political history. Since these audio and video tapes and film reels are gradually disintegrating, and it should somehow be possible to view and listen to them using modern technology, SRG SSR s radio and television services are in the process of modernising their archives and converting documents into digital form. Maintaining its archive in a usable state is part of SRG SSR s public service remit. Nowadays, archive usage is characterised not only by digitisation, but also by new distribution channels. The internet, for example, allows audio and video files to be downloaded, and is therefore ideally suited to making radio and TV documents available to the general public. In doing so, it lends new importance to the SRG SSR s archives. Whether for educational or filmmaking purposes or simply for pleasure SRG SSR s multimedia treasure chest enjoys enormous interest from its audience. The website went live in Switzerland s four national languages in SRG SSR s 7 th anniversary year and has been expanding ever since. To complement its dossiers on various issues and programmes, offers compilations of clips from various radio and TV broadcasts and weekly newsreels that cover politics, society, the economy, the arts, science and sport, as well as everyday life in Switzerland. A brief text introduction to each dossier puts the programmes in their contemporary context.

12 Mobile TV With a specially equipped mobile phone or special mobile TV set, programmes can now be watched on a small screen while on the move. Signal transmission is very fast, using both radio waves (from one transmitter to a large number of receivers) and wireless telecommunications networks (with an individual connection for each receiver). Mobile TV allows regular SRG SSR idée suisse television programmes to be consumed live and interactively on specially configured channels. For example, since December 2006 Schweizer Fernsehen and Télévision Suisse Romande have been producing a 100-second news bulletin that is designed specifically for mobile phones. News is updated hourly from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) DAB is a digital broadcast technology which eliminates interference from radio reception. Since interference is a particular problem with mobile reception (i.e. car radios), this is an area in which DAB has particular advantages. Other pluses include excellent sound quality in comparison with FM, a wider range of additional services and the efficient use of the frequency spectrum. Currently under development is the use of DAB for visual radio with multimedia elements (DMB = Digital Multimedia Broadcas- ting). Certain DAB receivers also allow listeners to pause a programme, rewind, record and even pre-programme recordings. SRG SSR idée suisse has begun to roll out DAB in Switzerland and will finish constructing its first transmitter network in Streaming Streaming describes the live and on-demand distribution of radio and television programmes via the internet, to be watched and listened to immediately without any storage. Video on demand Video on demand allows consumers to watch one of a selection of video features at any time and anywhere. Digital Video Broadcasting Terrestrial (DVB-T) DVB-T stands for digital television that is broadcast via a transmitter and received via an aerial. The benefits of DVB-T are that it transmits several TV stations using a single frequency, in addition to improved picture quality, wireless portable TV reception, less electronic smog and additional functions for new types of television consumption. SRG SSR idée suisse began to introduce DVB-T to Switzerland in 2003 and is planning full national coverage from October 2007 onwards.

13 High Definition Television (HDTV) HDTV is a collective term which describes a series of technical standards for television. These offer greater vertical, horizontal and/or temporal resolution than is possible with standard definition television. Common to all standards is that HDTV requires a minimum screen resolution of 720 lines and 1280 pixels per line. To enjoy this high-definition television standard, the consumer needs an HD-enabled digital receiver and an HD-compatible display (television sets carry an HD-ready logo). SRG SSR idée suisse is planning to broadcast HDTV services in three languages via satellite, with onward broadcast on cable, from the end of Interactive TV Interactive TV allows viewers to play an active part in programmes, for example by answering quiz questions, making purchases or helping to decide what appears on screen. These functions are offered live by the broadcaster. True interactivity provides the viewer with a direct response channel to the on-air studio. SRG SSR idée suisse is not planning any interactive programmes with such a live feedback channel. In addition to postal correspondence, interactivity can also be achieved by telephone or text message voting. Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) MHP is an open technical standard for the transmission and presentation of interactive content on digital television. MHP facilitates radio-based services such as information pages, attractive digital teletext, schedule summaries, more complex electronic TV listings magazines, etc., as well as interactive services which require an additional response channel, such as games, voting, quiz questions and home shopping offers. To use MHP services, viewers need a set-top box or a TV receiver which supports MHP. Electronic programme guides (EPG) An EPG is either integrated into the TV set itself in the form of a scheduler, or goes out live from the broadcaster with the digital signal. With an EPG, the viewer can call up the name, time and duration of a programme and, in some cases, can view related pictures. EPGs also make it easy to record programmes automatically at home.

14 Financial framework SRG SSR idée suisse derives around 70 percent of its funding from the licence fee (1.1 billion Swiss francs) and around 30 percent from its commercial activities (0.4 billion Swiss francs). Combined with internal cross-subsidisation, this mix allows SRG SSR to provide the same quality of radio, television and other journalistic services in all of Switzerland s national languages. The annual licence fee must be paid on working or working-condition radio or television sets, as well as multifunctional equipment of the same standard (such as PCs), and is levied per household or business branch. Collection is handled on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) by the company Billag AG, which is independent of SRG SSR. The licence fee is intended to meet other costs in addition to funding SRG SSR s public service remit: Frequency management and monitoring, as well as transmitter network planning Licence fee collection (payment to Billag AG) Share for private radio and television broadcasters (fee splitting) Audience research (e.g. to determine the audience shares achieved by specific radio stations and TV channels) Promotion of new broadcast technologies Licence fees per year (in CHF, excl. VAT) 2007 Private radio reception Private TV reception Total for private radio and TV reception.00 Commercial radio reception Commercial TV reception Total for commercial radio and TV reception 7.40 The licence fee that SRG SSR receives, its advertising revenues and its broadcasting and treasury income, are collected and reported centrally. From this central pool, the SRG SSR broadcasters in German-speaking Switzerland, Suisse Romande, Svizzera italiana and Svizra rumantscha all receive the funding they need to offer services of equivalent quality. The same high standards are guaranteed by means of an internal crosssubsidisation programme. Relative to the number of people targeted, linguistic minorities receive more funding, while German-speaking Switzerland which has the highest population receives less. Funds are allocated at the end of an internal strategy, planning and budgeting process in accordance with a distribution algorithm which is the product of many years of experience. Operating revenues 2006 (in CHF millions) Television Radio Total Licence fees Commercial income Other income, reduction in earnings Total Operating expenses 2006 (in CHF millions) Television Radio Total Schweizer Radio DRS Schweizer Fernsehen Radio Suisse Romande Télévision Suisse Romande Radiotelevisione svizzera di lingua italiana Radio e Televisiun Rumantscha Swissinfo/SRI National organisational units (less inter-company set-offs) Total Allocation of funds 2006 German/Romansch- French- Italianspeaking speaking speaking Switzer- Switzer- Switzer- (in CHF millions) land land land Proportion of total population (in percent) Total number of licence fee payers: Radio Total number of licence fee payers: TV Proportion of SRG SSR revenues (in percent) Proportion of allocated funds (in percent) 24 Facts and figures 2007 SRG SSR idée suisse Facts and figures 2007 SRG SSR idée suisse 25

15 Legal foundations The activities of SRG SSR idée suisse are based on Article 93 of the Swiss Federal Constitution of 18 April 1999, the Federal Law on Radio and Television of 24 March 2006, the Radio and Television Ordinance of 9 March 2007, the SRG SSR charter of 18 November 1992 (to be superseded as of 1 January 2008), the Swissinfo/SRI charter of 14 June 1993 and the teletext charter of 17 November 1993 (soon to be brought under the SRG SSR charter). Swiss Federal Constitution Article 93 of the Swiss Federal Constitution (BV) states that legislation regarding radio and television is a federal government matter. Radio and television should make a contribution to education and cultural development, freedom of opinion and entertainment. They must take the country s particular characteristics and the needs of the cantons into consideration, present events factually and reflect the full diversity of views. The Constitution also guarantees the independence from state influence of radio and television, as well as autonomy with regard to service content. In addition, the Federal Constitution provides for an appeals body, like a court, which is independent of both the authorities and parliament. Federal Law on Radio and Television The Federal Law on Radio and Television (known by its German initials RTVG) states that radio and television broadcasters require a broadcasting licence issued by the Federal Council. Anyone wishing to receive radio and television programmes must pay a licence fee, the level of which is determined by the Federal Council. In doing so, it takes into account the funding needed for SRG SSR television and radio services and the other journalistic offerings that SRG SSR must provide to fulfil its programming remit. Consideration must also be given to support for services whose broadcast licence entitles them to a share of the licence fee, to tasks related to the actual levying of the licence fee, to the enforcement of reporting and payment, to support for the foundation for audience research and to the construction of transmitter networks as new technologies are launched. Charters SRG SSR holds two charters from the Federal Council the SRG SSR charter to produce radio and television programming for Switzerland and the Swissinfo/SRI charter to produce radio programming for broadcast outside Switzerland: Three radio stations each for the German, French and Italianspeaking regions and one radio station for the Romansch-speaking area, all of which to be broadcast on FM. Plus one music station playing classical music and one easy-listening music station, a multilingual arts station and a youth station to be broadcast via satellite One television channel for each of the German, French and Italianspeaking regions, with programming in Romansch. Plus one supplementary language-region-specific television channel in each region and one German-lanuage repeats channel The charter also lays down a programming remit which SRG SSR must fulfil across all its radio and television schedules: Promote understanding, cohesion and exchange between the different parts of the country Consider the non-swiss population and support contact with Swiss people resident abroad Promote Switzerland s international profile and foster understanding abroad of its concerns Produce own radio and television programming Collaborate with the Swiss film industry and commission work from the audiovisual sector The charter defines the statutory framework for the organisation of SRG SSR in greater detail. On 1 January 2008, the present charter will be replaced with a new charter which is based on the revised Federal Law on Radio and Television. SRG SSR holds a charter to broadcast national and language-regionspecific services and it must take the particular characteristics of the country and the needs of the cantons into account in its programming as a whole. The RTVG also lays down what services SRG SSR must offer. SRG SSR must be organised in such a way that its autonomy and impartiality are guaranteed, that it can be operated efficiently, that its audience is represented within the organisation and that it can be coordinated and managed nationally. 26 Facts and figures 2007 SRG SSR idée suisse Facts and figures 2007 SRG SSR idée suisse 27