SRG SSR

Reach

SRG SSR produces and broadcasts programmes and has a complex infrastructure in place to ensure that it can fulfil its broadcasting remit at all times.


Basic provision of radio and television

There are several ways to receive SRG SSR’s radio and television programmes. This guarantees almost 100% coverage of households in Switzerland. Radio and television audiences alike appreciate the benefits that new technologies bring. SRG SSR is thus pressing ahead with the modernisation of its radio and television operations and investing in the digital future of both media, for example in high-definition television (HDTV and Dolby Digital) and interference-free radio (Digital Audio Broadcasting or DAB).  

Radio

Terrestrial Reception of SRG SSR programmes through a house, room or car aerial:

DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) – digital reception: for every station within the respective language region as well as the first station for each of the other language regions. Various digital station packages are also available, depending on the language region. The aim is to upgrade from DAB to DAB+ over the next few years. The advantage of this is that, using the same infrastructure, almost twice as many stations can be broadcast from each transmitter.

FM – analogue reception: for every station within the respective language region as well as the first station for each of the other language regions.

MW – analogue reception: for Option Musique; this station, too, will only be available via DAB with effect from 2011, when the Sottens transmitter will be decommissioned.
Cable Reception of at least the SRG SSR stations within the respective language region as well as the first station for each of the other language regions.
Satellite Digital reception of all 18 SRG SSR stations via Hotbird from Eutelsat.
Internet Reception of all 18 stations via live streaming from the individual SRG SSR radio companies.

Television

Terrestrial DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial), nationwide digital reception: for both SRG SSR channels within the respective language region, the first channel for each of the other language regions and the repeats channel SRF info in German-speaking Switzerland.
Cable SRF 1, SRF zwei, SRF info, RTS Un, RTS Deux, RSI LA 1, RSI LA 2 (in German-speaking Switzerland).
Satellite Reception of seven SRG SSR channels (SRF 1, SRF zwei, SRF info, RTS Un, RTS Deux, RSI LA 1, RSI LA 2) via Hotbird from Eutelsat. This form of reception is becoming increasingly popular. Since television channels have to be broadcast via satellite in encrypted form for licensing and copyright reasons, a SatAccess card is needed to receive the SRG SSR television channels.
Internet A number of programmes can be viewed on demand as streams on the websites of the individual SRG SSR television channels. Various providers such as Wilmaa and Zattoo bring SRG SSR to viewers’ computer screens using software players.
IPTV Internet Protocol Television: the television signal is sent using Internet Protocol (IP) technology. Various digital channel packages are available, depending on the language region.

Basic provision in crisis situations

Its structure as a national enterprise ensures that SRG SSR can keep the public informed even under exceptional circumstances. The authorities can issue an alarm using the Icaro information system when the population at large needs to be given specific instructions. In serious crises, SRG SSR is the Federal Council’s official information medium. Service agreements ensure that the Federal Council can address the population at any time. To this end, SRG SSR has an emergency broadcast network. If it is no longer in a position to produce and broadcast its regular programmes, its journalists and technicians will produce emergency radio programmes in three languages under the direct responsibility of the federal government.


Diverse forms of media use

The digital revolution is changing media consumers’ habits and needs in Switzerland, just like everywhere else:

  • Multimedia Internet content is better placed to serve special interests than conventional, linear broadcasting.
  • Multifunctional devices such as computers and mobile telephones are a marketplace for audio, video and text content that can be accessed anywhere, any time – especially for young people.
  • Linear radio consumption is steadily declining among younger listeners. That said, the SRG SSR radio stations are faring better than their rivals as they are gaining new listeners through podcasts, radio on demand and Internet radio. 
  • The Internet is also becoming more and more indispensible when it comes to meeting the television audience’s needs. It allows people to tailor their own viewing and frees them from the constraints of fixed programme schedules.

SRG SSR’s multimedia offering is a response to the changes triggered in its audience’s behaviour by the constant stream of new technologies. SRG SSR is thus responding to changing media consumption habits and reaching out to the new media generation ever more effectively.

Links

swissinfoRSIRTRRTSSRF