Closeness of TV/radio vote surprises media

Just 50.08% in favour. Swiss newspapers weren’t expecting Sunday’s nationwide vote to reform the country’s public radio and television funding system to be so close. They are now calling for the framework of public service media to be clearly defined and at the same time warn of excessive meddling by politicians.  “That’s a brutal slap for the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC)!” wrote Blick on Monday. “Radio and TV fees will drop from CHF462 ($ 495) to CHF400 a year yet the Swiss still only accepted it by a whisker.”  Supporters on both sides were holding their breath as the results came in on Sunday. In what turned out to be the closest ever nationwide vote in Switzerland, the difference was a mere 3,696 votes of a total 2,253,042 cast. Turnout, at 43%, was average.  “That must really give the national media giants – but also politicians – food for thought,” wrote the Nordwestschweiz. “Both must go back over the books and return public service broadcasting to its …
Source Culture – SWI swissinfo.ch