Technically yes - well done for spotting that. I had no idea. I obviously learnt nothing working in the VOD industry in it's infancy.

Under the old Billag rules I'm not.

They've changed the rules, not me. I don't own an actual TV.

My actual point was that BigFlag chose to watch TV all all day - his leisure time, his choice.

I chose to spend the day in the mountains. My leisure time - my choice.

The difference is I'm paying for him (well I will be when I get a Serafe bill) to sit on his arse and watch sport whilst I'm actually partaking in sport.

Surely it should be the other way around?

This thread...

some civilised people trying to talk reason into socialists, who don't understand why others don't like to sponsor their pleasure?

No really, that's totally fine. It's just the "reasoning" is the entertaining bit.

I´m not naive, I know it's hopeless.

Television (in the form the Swiss voted for) is so 20th Century. Media business models have changed so much since then.

Expensive infrastructure like it used to is no longer needed.

I pay for online Newspaper subscriptions. I understand that and although I miss a physical newspaper - I can still get news when I want it.

I can also have other newspapers free with the added distraction of advertising.

It's not as if there's a decent Swiss (German-speaking) news and current affairs radio station (if there is and I've missed it, then please let me know).

If I want to listen to music, I'd rather listen to my own choice of music and not that of some radio DJ.

Don't get me started on TV. I have friends in the industry who make documentaries - as long as it's not something expensive like D-Attenborough's Life on Earth (which nevertheless paid for itself easily with syndication, PPV and DVD sales), then the equipment and manpower needed nowadays for local current affairs programmes is really pretty basic. (Entire Hollywood feature films have been filmed on iPhones, for example).

20minutes manages to get its news videos for next to nothing from Joe Public.

Maybe the Swiss public voted in the way they did as they are misinformed and do not understand the technology (rather like the U.K. public were on Brexit issues)?

I think the impartiality of SRF was broadly addressed during the No Billag campaign. Arguably, the argument could have been better prepared and better put, but it was aired and made public and unfortunately it didn't fly. I dion't think trying to revive it and having another go is a meaningful use of time and resources.

Hopefully, some years down the line, opinions will have shifted sufficiently for another vote to produce a different result, helped of course by SRG not showing any real willingess to change or do something for those sectors of the population it has lost.

Maybe next time around, the text should be less about all or nothing. Let us ring fence the Rumantsch and Italian and other cultural stuff and admit it has value and needs to be financed, while at the same time taking a swipe at all the rubbish that actually absorbs most of the money. SRG would have much more trouble defending that.

what do you mean? or is this just a joke?

https://www.serafe.ch/en/exemption-f...or-television/

As do roads.

my gripe is with the cost: CHF 365 for a poor TV and Radio service. Yes I get some of the social aspects but really its expensive for what it is. Plus I pay for Cablecom on top.

The BBC licence costs GBP 155 which is a bargain given the quality of the TV and Radio services compared to the CH one.

The BBC has many, many more subscribers and, because its programming is mainly in the English language, can be syndicated around the world much cheaper.


My gripe is that local (to Switzerland) news and current affairs programming can be done much cheaper than it used to be nowadays.

Let people buy international sport, movies and so on from another source. Swiss TV does not need to provide this sort of expensive content.

And they are pants.

155 quids used to be pretty much 365 CHF until a few years ago.. in PPP it’s about the same.

Germans do pay MUCH more in PPP adjusted levels to their GEZ..

Excuse me pal. You don't know anything about me or what my Sunday looked like. 2 of those programs mentioned were early in the morning and the other in the late evening. I spent a good chunk of Sunday in the mountains too, so what?

And how dare you say you are paying for me? I pay my own Serafe and I don't owe you or anyone a damn thing.


LOL, 20mins...followed up by

The Swiss public are perfectly well informed. Might well be a different story if 20mins is the standard you would prefer them to enjoy.

Ah, so SRF is broadcast in the wrong language?


You know there was a guy playing in the Tennis on Sunday morning called Roger Federer? Not sure if you noticed, but he's fairly popular in Switzerland.

I couldn't really comment - voyeurism of other people's misfortune is not really my thing - it's enough to read that there was, for example, a house fire in the next Dorf, perhaps a photo or two but a video is not really necessary.

A bit like rubber-necking at a fatal accident on a motorway, wouldn't you say?

BAKOM now have the authority to enter your house to check to see if you have any devices and WIFI without a warrant. That's a major...and sinister...change.

Are they allowed to break the door down if you are not in or don't open?

The Swiss are clueless. They are brainwashed by...yes you guessed it...the SRF.

Read the small print on the back of the opt out form. They state they can enter. But nothing about breaking the door down. My guess is that yes they can.