FM switch-off in Switzerland: Parliament prepares to back down

The National Council—the large chamber of the Swiss parliament—has voted by a large majority in favor of abandoning the complete discontinuation of FM broadcasting in the country planned for the end of 2026. 124 MPs voted against 62 (with 8 abstentions) to cancel the planned discontinuation of the remaining (private) FM broadcasting for now, to extend the current FM radio licenses, or to carry out a new tender procedure for the period from 2027. According to the council majority, forcing a switch to digital technology such as DAB+ is unacceptable.

The preliminary consultation committee for transport and telecommunications already argued that the forced switch-off would endanger private (analogue) radio stations and lead to listeners migrating to foreign stations. The switchover to DAB+ should take place more slowly—in particular because many car radios are still unable to receive digital radio.

Significant losses after FM switch-off

The council majority also explains that the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR) has already lost 25 percent of its listeners since switching off its FM transmitters at the end of 2024. It fears similar declines in private FM radio stations and correspondingly “devastating” losses in advertising revenue. The figures presented to the council on the decline in listenership relate to the first quarter.

In contrast, SRG announced in April that its radio stations had lost 6% of their market share compared to the same period in the previous year following the FM switch-off. However, this was in line with expectations, as they remained the market leader with 53%. According to SRG, it assumes that usage figures will recover as digitalization progresses.

The Union of Non-Profit Local Radio Stations (UNIKOM), an association representing the interests of non-commercial local radio stations, is less than enthusiastic about the National Council's decision and is opposed to an extension of FM frequency licenses, as this would jeopardize their investments in DAB+. The National Council is leaving them out in the cold, as the DAB+ radio stations built up in recent years have geared their investments and business models towards FM being discontinued at the end of 2026. UNIKOM is calling for legal equality and planning certainty to secure their existence. Radio operators who have switched to DAB+ in good time would be at a clear disadvantage if those remaining on FM continued to have access to the audience and advertising market without additional investment.

The Federal Councillor responsible, Albert Rösti, opposed a further extension of FM services. The radio industry had wanted the changeover itself. The available funds should be better used for journalistic content. If Parliament accepts the motion, the Federal Council will put the FM licenses out to tender again for reasons of equal treatment, the media minister announced. The matter must now be decided in the small chamber, the Council of States.

Long back and forth

There has been a long back and forth about the end of FM programs. The Swiss government, the Federal Council, originally decided to end FM radio back in 2017. In autumn 2020, the members of the responsible Digital Migration Working Group (DigiMig) agreed to switch off SRF's FM stations in August 2022. In January 2023, the private radio stations were to follow suit and take their FM transmitters off the air. In 2021, the date was postponed again to the originally planned date of December 31, 2024. In October 2023, the Federal Council then extended the FM licenses one last time until the end of 2026, giving the radio industry the desired flexibility to successfully complete the migration process, according to Bakom at the time.

However, on 31 December 2024, SRG SSR (financed by general media levies in the same way as public broadcasters but formally organized as a private association) switched off its 17 radio stations in the four Swiss language regions on the analogue ultra-short wave (FM) frequencies. All FM stations have finally migrated to the digital world. The focus here is on DAB+ (Digital Audio Broadcast Plus). However, SRG radio stations can also be received digitally via the Internet or on DVB-C (Digital Video Broadcasting Cable) or DAB+ Cable as well as via satellite (DVB-S). SRG's main argument for phasing out FM was considerable cost savings, as the number of DAB+ antennas required is significantly lower.

(emw)