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Roughly six months after Switzerland’s public broadcaster SRG SSR switched off FM, its radio stations still hold the largest market share across all language regions, at 53%. While total radio reach declined as expected compared to the previous half-year, the drop is primarily attributed to the early-2024 FM shutdown.
For the first time since the end of FM broadcasting by SRG SSR in late 2024, Mediapulse AG, the organization responsible for measuring radio and TV audiences in Switzerland, has released reliable figures on radio usage. Nationally, SRG SSR’s group of stations saw a 6-percentage-point drop in market share compared to the same period last year, which is well within expectations. These results are consistent with SRG SSR’s quarterly figures released in April. With 53% market share, SRG SSR remains the clear market leader. Market share is a key metric, as it reflects each station group’s proportion of total radio usage in Switzerland.
Decline in reach
Radio’s overall reach is falling, reflecting a broader shift in media consumption habits. SRG SSR’s net reach dropped by seven percentage points (–14%) compared to the same period in 2024. This aligns with projections related to FM switch-off and the ongoing decline in total radio reach.
Reach losses vary by station group and language region:
Today, 87% of all radio listening in Switzerland is digital. This is according to the latest DigiMig study, conducted this spring on behalf of Ofcom, the Swiss Federal Office of Communications, and the Swiss radio industry, and published alongside Mediapulse’s semi-annual figures.
SRG SSR views the growing adoption of DAB+ as a positive trend, particularly in cars. While it’s clear that technological shifts take time, SRG SSR’s decision to switch off FM by the end of 2024 has helped accelerate this transition. The move paves the way for private broadcasters to complete the FM shutdown plan, agreed upon and initiated a decade ago, by the end of next year at the latest.
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