Switzerland’s public radio network, SRG SSR, abandoned FM broadcasting last year in favor of the DAB+ digital mode.
But after the Swiss Parliament voted to postpone the nationwide switch-off of FM transmitters, and amidst reported listener declines, SRG SSR is bringing back analog FM transmissions, reportedly targeting the middle part of this fall for resumption.
And, according to one report, the public broadcaster desires further FM expansion.
OFCOM, the Federal Office of Communications in Switzerland, is expected to grant SRG SSR an FM broadcasting license this month, according to a report from Blue News.
SRG SSR was approved for tests on FM on July 20.
The wheels for SRG SSR’s reversal were set in motion back in December, when the Swiss Parliament narrowly voted to postpone the nationwide switch-off of analog FM transmitters until the end of 2031.
The end of this year had originally been the country’s target date to migrate all radio stations to DAB+.
But SRG SSR made that transition at the end of 2024.
In a release the public broadcaster put out right after the Swiss Parliament vote, SRG SSR said that it made the move to abandon FM “in solidarity to pave the way for private radio stations, which depend on advertising revenue.”
[Related: “Why Kopitz Thinks FM Will Remain Leading Form of Radio”]
Because the political landscape has changed, SRG SSR said that it can no longer afford to continue foregoing FM broadcasting and, consequently, many listeners.
As Radio World previously reported, Switzerland’s transport and telecommunications committee argued that a “catastrophic” drop in listenership for SRG SSR was a reason to rethink abandoning FM.
It pointed to data collected by Swiss-based research firm Mediapulse showing a 25% decline in listenership since the public broadcaster deactivated its FM broadcasts.
Further FM expansion
A feature in SonntagsBlick, a Swiss newspaper, offered details of SRG SSR’s plan. It cited internal documents describing a three-stage return.
Twenty-one former FM sites will be reactivated, covering 85% of the country’s population. Initial operating costs are expected to amount to around 6.6 million Swiss francs per year.
SRG anticipates being able to resume FM broadcasts during the 2026 third quarter, according to the report.
Not only will the existing sites be activated, but SRG SSR plans for FM expansion, which would offer coverage of 90% of the population. That would cost an additional 8.1 million Swiss francs per year.
By the end of 2028, in stage three, the SRG SSR desires 156 transmission locations.
“After the first expansion phase is operational, it will become clear how the public and politicians react and how many listeners can be won back,” the internal document said, according to SonntagsBlick.
We explore the expansion of digital radio in our latest ebook, “Global Radio Update.”
