Swiss voters likely to reject plan to cut public broadcaster funding

Sunday 08 March 2026 - 14:00

Swiss voters appeared set on Sunday to reject a referendum aiming to reduce funding for the public broadcaster SRG SSR. Early projections indicated that approximately 62% of voters opposed lowering the annual licence fee, a move critics warned could weaken the media landscape and increase disinformation.

The proposal sought to cut the annual fee from 335 Swiss francs (around $432) to 200 francs, a reduction mainly supported by right-wing groups, including the Swiss People's Party (SVP). Supporters argued that the current fee—the highest in the world—was too costly, and that SRG, which operates 17 radio stations and seven TV channels in four languages, had become too large and inefficient.

Opponents warned that the plan reflected broader political pressure on public media organizations, echoing concerns globally that national broadcasters may face accusations of bias. The outcome of the vote is seen as a significant moment for Switzerland's commitment to public media and the fight against disinformation.