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Switzerland TV licence: Voters set to reject abolition Switzerland TV licence: Voters reject plan to scrap fee
(about 3 hours later)
Voters in Switzerland look set to decisively reject a proposal to abolish the national broadcasting licence fee. Voters in Switzerland have decisively rejected a proposal to abolish the national broadcasting licence fee.
The country was voting in a referendum on Sunday on whether to axe the mandatory yearly fee of 451 Swiss francs ($480; £348) per household.The country was voting in a referendum on Sunday on whether to axe the mandatory yearly fee of 451 Swiss francs ($480; £348) per household.
Early results show that about 70% have voted to reject the move. More than 71% voted against the plan, which was defeated in all 23 states.
The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) currently offers programming in four different national languages - German, French, Italian, and Romantsch. The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) offers programming in four different national languages - German, French, Italian, and Romantsch.
Its seven television channels and 17 radio stations are mostly funded by the compulsory licence, with roughly a quarter coming from advertising.Its seven television channels and 17 radio stations are mostly funded by the compulsory licence, with roughly a quarter coming from advertising.
The overwhelming defeat of the No Billag proposal, named after the organisation that collects the fee, came after a hard-fought campaign in the country.
Supporters of keeping the fee maintain it is essential to a small country like Switzerland, with population of just 8.4 million, to have a national broadcaster which reflects its cultural and linguistic diversity.Supporters of keeping the fee maintain it is essential to a small country like Switzerland, with population of just 8.4 million, to have a national broadcaster which reflects its cultural and linguistic diversity.
But anti-licence fee campaigners said citizens were being forced to pay for programmes they don't watch. But anti-licence fee campaigners said citizens were being forced to pay for programmes they did not watch.
The No Billag campaign, named after the organisation that collects the fee, accuses the organisation of becoming bloated, inefficient and too dominant of the nation's media. They accused the organisation of becoming bloated, inefficient and too dominant within the nation's media.
If the proposal does pass, Switzerland will be the first European country to abolish a compulsory fee for its public service broadcaster. Voter turnout was more than 54%.
Full results of the referendum are expected on Sunday afternoon. Gilles Marchand, the director general of SBC, called the rejection "a strong signal for public service and private regional radio and television".
On Wednesday, the government said that if voters decided to keep the fee, most households would see a "notable reduction" in their annual contribution from 2019 onwards. He confirmed that the organisation would, however, be reducing its budget and focusing on "efficiency" following the vote.
SBC will have its revenue capped at 1.2bn Swiss francs - meaning its current budget will have to be cut by 40m francs. The Swiss government has said that most households will see a "notable reduction" in their annual contribution from 2019 onwards.
Voters on Sunday were also deciding on whether to extend the federal government's right to levy taxes from 2021 to 2035 - a right that has to be periodically approved in Switzerland.Voters on Sunday were also deciding on whether to extend the federal government's right to levy taxes from 2021 to 2035 - a right that has to be periodically approved in Switzerland.
That was overwhelmingly backed at the polls, with more than 84% voting for the regime.