The SRG SSR timeline since 1931
Annual report 1956
The television broadcast licence comes into force
The Federal Council grants SRG a licence to broadcast on television. It comes into force on 1 January 1958.
Proposals for state television meet resistance
The Swiss reject the proposed text of an article in the constitution covering radio and television. Opposition is concentrated in German-speaking Switzerland, and centres on plans to establish a state TV broadcaster.
Annual report 1957
The first television programmes
SRG starts regular television broadcasts, with programmes being broadcast in French and German from Geneva and Zurich respectively. Channels in the Ticino show the same programmes with commentary in Italian.
Regional centres of excellence
Programming is regionalised following an expert review (known as the Probst Report). Various centres of excellence are set up to ensure Switzerland is equipped to produce its own TV programming.
Annual report 1958
Willy Spühler
Willy Spühler becomes SRG's sixth chairman. He enters the Federal Council on 17 December 1959 and resigns from his position as SRG's chairman. Term of office: 1958–1959.
Annual report 1959
The Wengen downhill
The downhill on Wengen’s famous Lauberhorn was first shown on television in 1946, but fans had to wait until 1960 to see live coverage for the first time.
