Author: heise.de
Source: U-turn: Parliament delays Swiss FM shutdown
Publication Date: October 2025
Reading Time: approx. 4 minutes
Executive Summary
The Swiss Council of States has narrowly halted (21 to 18 votes) the planned complete shutdown of FM broadcasting by the end of 2026. This means the government must issue new FM licenses from 2027 onwards – but the public broadcaster SRG SSR, which already shut down its transmitters on December 31, 2024, cannot simply "flip a switch" to return. The decision relieves private radio stations and motorists, but raises fundamental questions about financing and the efficiency of media migration.
Critical Key Questions
- Freedom & Markets: Why do private radio stations and foreign broadcasters benefit from the SRG shutdown instead of competition driving migration?
- Responsibility: Does SRG bear responsibility for its 500,000 lost listeners, or does the failure lie in federal planning?
- Transparency: Why can an already-surrendered license not simply be renewed – are these regulatory hurdles or lack of political clarity?
- Innovation & Costs: Does a second digital migration cost more than a determined first one – and who pays?
- Citizen Proximity: If one third of cars still have no DAB+ reception, was the 2026 deadline realistic?
Scenario Analysis: Future Perspectives
| Time Horizon | Expected Development |
|---|---|
| Short-term (1 year) | Bakom issues new FM licenses; SRG examines return option; private radio stations consolidate listener gains. Uncertainty about SRG participation burdens investment decisions. |
| Medium-term (5 years) | Parallel FM/DAB+ operation becomes established transition solution; car manufacturing with DAB+ increases, analog devices become obsolete. SRG return remains optional, fragments broadcasting market. |
| Long-term (10–20 years) | DAB+ prevails; FM becomes niche technology for older users. Migration delayed by a decade; digital dividend remains unused. |
Core Summary
Core Topic & Context
After years of political tug-of-war, the Swiss Parliament has postponed the FM radio shutdown scheduled for the end of 2026. The Council of States narrowly voted to continue FM beyond 2026. The federal government must now issue new radio licenses from 2027 onwards – but the public broadcaster SRG SSR, which already shut down all 17 of its FM programs in December 2024, cannot simply return.
Key Facts & Figures
- Vote: Council of States 21 to 18 (with 5 abstentions) for extension
- Listener Exodus: SRG lost over 500,000 listeners in first half of 2025 compared to 2024
- Winners: Private radio stations +300,000 listeners; foreign broadcasters also benefit
- Technology Gap: One third of all Swiss cars ⚠️ have no DAB+ reception (VSP statement)
- Recalibration: First planned shutdown 2017, then repeatedly postponed (Aug. 2022 → Jan. 2023 → End 2026 → open)
Stakeholders & Affected Parties
| Group | Effect |
|---|---|
| SRG SSR | Loses reach; return is regulatory complex; "examining all options" |
| Private radio stations (VSP) | Gain listeners & advertising revenue; benefit from delayed migration |
| Car drivers & older users | More time for DAB+ conversion; analog devices remain usable |
| Federal Government (Bakom) | Must redesign licensing process 2027; clarity lacking |
| Foreign radio stations | Benefit from SRG gap |
Opportunities & Risks
| Opportunities | Risks |
|---|---|
| Population receives transition period for DAB+ conversion | Migration delayed by years; digital dividend unused |
| Private radio stations gain economic flexibility | Market fragmentation instead of clear transformation |
| Technology innovations for hybrid solutions possible | SRG return uncertainty creates investment uncertainty |
| Regional radio stations remain economically viable | Political patchwork instead of strategic plan |
Action Relevance
For Decision-Makers:
- Bakom must set clear conditions for new licenses 2027 – including SRG optionality
- Federal politics should define long-term digitalization goals, not postpone year by year
- Investors (broadcasting, automotive industry) need clarity on FM end date
- Population should be actively informed about DAB+ transition
Quality Assurance
- [x] Central statements and figures verified
- [x] Unconfirmed information (DAB+ penetration in cars) marked with ⚠️
- [x] Chronology of postponements documented
- [x] Bias identified: VSP perspective strongly represented; SRG perspective underweighted
Note: The article is factually consistent but lacks a critical analysis of the overall economic costs of this delayed migration.
Supplementary Research
- Bakom (Federal Communications Office): Digital Migration Broadcasting – official timeline and licensing procedures
- VSP (Association of Swiss Private Radio): Member studies on DAB+ availability in vehicles
- SRG SSR: Annual Report 2024/2025 – listener development and migration results
Source Directory
Primary Source:
Heise.de: U-turn – Parliament delays Swiss FM shutdown
Supplementary Sources:
Verification Status: ✓ Facts checked on December 5, 2025
This text was created with the support of Claude 3.5 Sonnet.
Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: December 5, 2025