The Music Council worries about SRG's cultural radio stations
The Swiss Music Council is deeply concerned to learn of the alleged plans of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG) to abolish the cultural stations SRF 2 Kultur, Espace 2 and Rete Due.
In an official position paper, the Music Council expects culture - and in particular cultural coverage - to remain a fundamental mission of SRG. The current debate on the future of SRF 2 Kultur, Espace 2 and Rete Due is disconcerting, and comes at a delicate time. The initiative to halve the SRG budget was clearly rejected by the population. This result also demonstrates a clear commitment to the importance of culture, information and education in public service broadcasting.
The Swiss Music Council argues that a reduction in cultural funding - particularly for flagship channels such as SRF 2 Kultur, Espace 2 and Rete Due - would significantly weaken Switzerland's cultural infrastructure and run counter to the clear outcome of the vote. Espace 2 is a central media scene for music and culture in Switzerland - for artistic production, mediation, critical analysis and public debate. The channel fulfills an indispensable function, particularly for those areas that are difficult to find a place for in the commercial world.
The Music Council considers culture to be part of the public service, with a clear social mission: it provides landmarks, enables reflection and makes a decisive contribution to a country's cultural identity. This applies in particular to minorities, demanding formats and voices that would otherwise hardly be heard.
