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Swiss public broadcaster SRG SSR has not ruled out a possible return to FM broadcasting if the country’s parliament decides to extend analog licenses, according to a report from Swiss broadcaster SRF.
SRG SSR’s radio stations have seen a significant drop in listeners since ending FM transmission earlier this year. In the first half of 2025, the group reportedly lost more than half a million listeners overall. SRF 3, which serves German-speaking Switzerland, saw its audience decline by more than a quarter, while French-language Couleur 3 lost nearly half its listeners.
SRG SSR Director General Susanne Wille told SRF’s “Samstagsrundschau” that the organization is taking the decline seriously. “I won’t sugarcoat it. Every listener we lose hurts,” she said. Wille added that SRG wants to win back the lost audience.
Political pressure for FM extension
The debate comes as Swiss lawmakers weigh the future of FM radio. In September, the National Council voted decisively in favor of extending FM broadcasting. The Council of States will take up the issue in December. If it also votes in favor, the federal government would issue new FM licenses for the period starting in 2027.
Asked whether SRG would seek to reapply for FM frequencies, Wille said the organization is “examining all options” but will wait until the legislative process concludes. A quick return, however, is impossible. According to the Federal Office of Communications, SRG gave up its FM license and the frequencies “will not be reassigned.” This means a return could happen no earlier than 2027.
Wille defends FM switch-off
SRG could have continued FM broadcasting for another two years but decided to lead the transition to digital radio alongside private broadcasters. Wille said the decision was not a mistake. “We made the decision together with private radio, and SRG went first because we’re not dependent on advertising,” she said. The move, she added, saves the public broadcaster 15 million Swiss francs per year — money she says she preferred not to cut from programming.
SRG turned off its final FM transmitters at the start of 2025, completing Switzerland’s transition to digital radio via DAB+ and online streaming.
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