This is the International Section of
The Broadcast Archive
Maintained by:
Barry Mishkind - The Eclectic Engineer
Swiss Broadcasting:
- History
- Regulation
- Station Identifications
Swiss Broadcast History:
The first station in Switzerland was
Swiss Radio International, a public
service broadcasting voice was founded in 1935
As of 1997, the total radio stations were 58 with 7 consisting on AM, 50 on FM
and 1 short wave (CIA World Factbook,
1999). and continues to operate by way of an operating budget that is 45 percent
government run. On a budget of 46 million Swiss francs ($30 million), the Swiss
Radio International is co-financed by the Swiss Federal government and the Swiss
Broadcasting Corporation. Although the Swiss Radio International financially
supports the station, editorial freedom and independence are guaranteed.
The SRI broadcasts in the Swiss national languages: German, French,
Italian and Romansch, plus English, Spanish and Arabic. It operates similarly to
its television broadcast in that it features radio formats in different
languages targeted at different target markets. Programming consists of world
news, Swiss news, as well as business, science and technology, medicine, culture
and tourism.
SRI also carries a service called Swiss Satellite Radio, which specifically airs
music in a wide variety.
Swiss Radio International does not carry any advertising, but they will
allow for the sponsorship of programming.
Switzerland has 108 television broadcast stations with over 2.5 million
people owning a television. In order to legally watch these stations, a license
is required by the government for proof of ownership of a television set.
2004: Swiss Radio International announced it would cease all radio broadcasts
at the end of October, and will thereafter concentrate exclusively on its
internet platform, www.swissinfo.org.
Stay tuned for more!
Regulation:
Early regulation of broadcasting
The current regulatory body is the Swiss Ministry of
Communications.
Station Identification:
My thanks to Toby Peecher for some of the above information.
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