The government wants to reduce the annual radio and television licence fee from the current CHF335 ($372) to CHF300 by 2029. The turnover threshold for companies to qualify for exemption has been raised from CHF500,000 to CHF1.2 million.
On Wednesday the government put out for consultation an amendment to the relevant ordinance. In a press release, the government explains that it prefers to act in this way rather than proposing a direct or indirect counterproposal to the “CHF200 is enough!” initiative, as it wishes to retain responsibility for setting the level of the licence fee.
The government rejects the initiative, which would have “significant repercussions on the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation’s journalistic offering and regional roots”. With its proposal, the government wants to send a signal to households, explained Communications Minister Albert Rösti.
The licence fee is to be reduced in two stages. It will first fall to CHF312 in 2027 and then to CHF300 in 2029. The change in the exemption threshold for businesses is scheduled for 2027 and will affect some 63,000 additional businesses. “80% of businesses will be exempt,” Rösti said. ...