There are fears Switzerland could withdraw funding from international channel TV5 Monde.
It follows concerns expressed by CEO of the French-speaking channel, during a hearing at the Swiss Senate in February.
According to Swiss Daily Le Temps, the Federal Council’s 2027 budget relief, currently under consultation, proposes to eliminate the contribution of Swiss public broadcaster SSR’s services intended for abroad. It currently contributes 5.7 million Swiss francs per year (€6.1 million) to TV5.
SSR says funding TV5 without first receiving a federal subsidy isn’t an option.
The PSB is itself under pressure with one proposal to reduce its annual funding from 355 francs to 200 per year. “Without federal subsidy, the offer abroad would lose its legitimacy,” a spokesperson told Le Temps.
Geneva National Councillor Nicolas Walder, president of the Swiss delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie, has expressed his concern. “The Confederation is waiting for the SRG to take over the financing of this international mandate, but in the context of the reduction in the TV and radio licence fee, it will not be able to do so.”
Walder organised a meeting in Bern on 16 March that brought together senior figures from TV5 Monde SRG, regulator Ofcom and the FDFA (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs).
Walder then sent a letter to the Francophonie, signed by all ten delegates, asking them to abandon the plans.
On the side of French-speaking Switzerland elected officials are mobilising. “This amount of 5.7 million is ultimately modest compared to the tremendous impact of TV5 Monde, of which 10% of the content comes from the SSR. It is an essential tool that allows us to promote our country, whether it is its cultural production or its economy, worldwide,” explains Nicolas Walder, president of the Swiss delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie. According to him, information from Switzerland is prized and credible, especially in Africa.
For Laurent Wehrli, president of the Foreign Policy Commission and member of the delegation to the Francophonie, it is about making German-speaking deputies understand the essence and importance of the Francophonie. “It is a tool of soft power, not only for the Romands, but for the whole of Switzerland,” he explains. A withdrawal of the Swiss from TV5 Monde would certainly be a source of tension, particularly with France, where TV5 Monde is based, and which sees the channel as an essential tool to reach China and Africa. “The policy of the empty chair is never a good policy,” emphasizes Laurent Wehrli.
Six countries contribute to the funding of TV5 Monde: France, Switzerland, the Federation Wallonia-Brussels, Canada, Quebec, and, since 2021, Monaco.
With 60 million viewers per week in 200 countries, TV5 Monde is the largest French-language channel on the planet. A founding member when it was created in 1984, the SSR – via RTS – has always played a major role. His 7:30 p.m. slot also occupies the prime time slot, 8 p.m. But everything could be called into question. In its 2027 budget relief programme, which is currently under consultation, the Federal Council proposes to abolish the contribution to SRG services abroad. Among these, direct aid for TV5 Monde’s programmes, which represents the sum of 5.7 million francs per year.
Geneva National Councillor Nicolas Walder, president of the Swiss delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie, does not hide his concern. “The Confederation is waiting for the SRG to take over the financing of this international mandate, but in the context of the reduction in the TV and radio licence fee, it will not be able to do so,” says the Green MP, who organised a meeting in Bern on 16 March bringing together the general management of TV5 Monde, that of the SRG, but also representatives of Ofcom (Federal Office of Communications) and the FDFA (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs) in order to raise awareness of the problem. In the wake of this, Nicolas Walder sent a letter to the Federal Council, asking it to abandon this budget cut. The letter is supported by all ten members of the delegation.
