Breaking News

MIW names 2026 mentee for NAB Leadership Foundation program

Industry Insider: Wheatstone and the Utter truth

BBC honors everyday heroes across local radio network

Saothair Capital Partners acquires GatesAir

Commercial radio reaches 12.4 million weekly listeners in Australia

Josh Hammer Show added to Salem podcast lineup

Open-source broadcast takes center stage in Hilversum

Beasley Media Group makes key finance appointment

Midday leads U.S. podcast listening, Edison Research finds

NAB opens call for BEIT Conference papers and panels

Friday October 17, 2025
Partners
Newsletter
Contact us
About
Edit Content
RedTech RedTech
  • News & Business
  • Strategy & Views
  • Technology
  • Products
  • All stories
  • Contact
  • Advertise
DAC System Redesigns Website
Trending
DAC System Redesigns Website

Featured

Las Vegas morning host Mike O’Brian to retire after nearly 40 years on air

The Beasley veteran bows out after defining Las Vegas mornings

Radio TechCon
Events Featured

Radio TechCon show announces free ticket plan

Deadline is Nov. 5 for program aimed at bringing in underrepresented groups

Featured News & Business

MIW names 2026 mentee for NAB Leadership Foundation program

"Launch” pairs emerging female professionals with senior industry leaders for a year-long mentorship

WorldCast Systems, NAB NY 2025
Events Featured

WorldCast exhibits at NAB New York

FCC-certified LPFM transmitters among equipment on display

Futuri, AI, advertising, SpotOn
Featured Products

Futuri releases SpotOn video ad generator

Out of beta and into full release

Wheatstone, Erik Utter, Utter Systems
Featured News & Business

Industry Insider: Wheatstone and the Utter truth

Catching the difference between radio studios and their formats

  • Contact
  • About RedTech
RedTech RedTech
  • News & Business
  • Strategy & Views
    • Strategy & Views
    • Videos
  • Technology
    • Tech Focus
  • Products
  • Events
    • RedTech Summit 2025
    • Previous RedTech Summits
      • RedTech Summit 2024
      • RedTech Summit 2023
      • RedTech Summit 2022
    • RadioWeek 2025
      • RadioWeek 2024
      • RadioWeek 2023
    • Global Online Content Series 2024
    • Events
      • IBC2025
      • 2025 NAB Show
      • IBC2024
      • 2024 NAB Show
      • IBC2023
      • 2023 NAB Show
      • IBC2022
    • Events Calendar
  • Publications
  • Advertise
  • News & Business
  • Strategy & Views
    • Strategy & Views
    • Videos
  • Technology
    • Tech Focus
  • Products
  • Events
    • RedTech Summit 2025
    • Previous RedTech Summits
      • RedTech Summit 2024
      • RedTech Summit 2023
      • RedTech Summit 2022
    • RadioWeek 2025
      • RadioWeek 2024
      • RadioWeek 2023
    • Global Online Content Series 2024
    • Events
      • IBC2025
      • 2025 NAB Show
      • IBC2024
      • 2024 NAB Show
      • IBC2023
      • 2023 NAB Show
      • IBC2022
    • Events Calendar
  • Publications
  • Advertise

Click Here to Subscribe to RedTech's Newsletter

RedTech RedTech
  • News & Business
  • Strategy & Views
    • Strategy & Views
    • Videos
  • Technology
    • Tech Focus
  • Products
  • Events
    • RedTech Summit 2025
    • Previous RedTech Summits
      • RedTech Summit 2024
      • RedTech Summit 2023
      • RedTech Summit 2022
    • RadioWeek 2025
      • RadioWeek 2024
      • RadioWeek 2023
    • Global Online Content Series 2024
    • Events
      • IBC2025
      • 2025 NAB Show
      • IBC2024
      • 2024 NAB Show
      • IBC2023
      • 2023 NAB Show
      • IBC2022
    • Events Calendar
  • Publications
  • Advertise

Click Here to Subscribe to RedTech's Newsletter

Featured Strategy & Views Technology

Switzerland prepares to cut FM

by Frédéric Brulhatour December 22, 2022 6 min read
 Switzerland prepares to cut FM
© SSR SGR
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

GENEVA — After multiple postponements, Switzerland’s FM switch off is planned for Dec. 31, 2024. The main reasons for the digital migration are to minimize operational costs and increase diversity through a more extensive frequency offer.

DAB+ allows more radio stations to operate, which is currently difficult given the saturated FM band. Local radio stations can also broadcast over a much larger area than that limited by their FM signal. Moving completely away from FM will minimize costs for stations, which will no longer need to fund two broadcast technologies. In addition, digital broadcasting, whether via DAB+ or the Internet, offers listeners better listening quality and associated services.

Three-quarters of radio listening in Switzerland is already digital (DAB+ and online) — only 13% is exclusively FM. Switzerland decided it would stop using FM over 10 years ago, but there has been some pushback. “Today, the radio landscape has evolved, but not necessarily in the direction imagined 10 years ago. If the transition to DAB+ is obvious, I’m not sure that being so determined about stopping FM is a good thing,” says Sébastien Rey, director of Rhône FM, one of the regional radio stations with a concession. “As experience in other countries shows, maintaining simulcasting beyond the scheduled dates should be considered.”

YouTube video for DAB+ in Switzerland

Even though public and private radio stations are communicating extensively about the switchover to DAB+ through TV advertising and on-air and print campaigns, some listeners will wait until the last moment, at the risk having nothing to listen to. “We can manage the transmission of the signal but not the reception, which depends on each individual. It’s up to us to communicate again and again about this upcoming change to avoid unpleasant surprises when FM stops,” adds Rey. “But it’s only in the last months before the shutdown that communication will be critical while not ruling out the idea that we should envision continuing FM beyond 2025.”

The changeover

According to Caroline Sauser of the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) press office, abandoning FM should not jeopardize radio stations. “Broadcasters have received financial support in recent years to help them transition to digital broadcasting and cover the costs of parallel broadcasting on FM and DAB+ during a transition period,” says Sauser.

Beyond the risk of audience loss, Rey is much more concerned about the image of forcing listeners to buy new devices to continue receiving radio. “I fear that reactions will only come at the time of the switchover,” says Rey. “By then, it will be too late, and the damage could be significant if the switch is badly communicated. I also believe we have underestimated the issue of vehicles not equipped for DAB+.”

Today, the radio landscape has evolved, but not necessarily in the direction imagined 10 years ago.

Sébastien Rey, director of Rhône FM

Not all stations are cooperating in communicating. Switzerland’s public broadcaster, SRG, carries public service announcements about the switch-off in French, German, Italian and Romansh. While some local radio stations fulfill a public service mandate, there are 235 radio stations that don’t. They may, for example, offer only entertainment programs focusing on a particular style of music or target foreign populations living in Switzerland.

After the FM switch-off, the remaining broadcasting methods — DAB+ and online — will coexist. Radio stations with a public service mandate have guaranteed access to DAB+ broadcasting. Other radio stations must sign a contract with a DAB+ network operator to broadcast digitally over the air. Some radio stations are not taking this step, mainly for financial reasons, preferring only to broadcast online.

Although there will be no FM broadcast in Switzerland after Dec. 31, 2024, residents will still pay license fees to service the public broadcaster. Each household currently pays CHF 335 (about €340) per year.

Collective households, such as homes for the elderly, hostels, prisons, boarding schools and asylum seekers’ centers, etc., pay a fee of CHF 670 (about €680) for all residents. A graduated tariff system applies to all companies depending on turnover, but those with a turnover of less than CHF 500,000 (about €505,000) — almost three-quarters of companies in Switzerland — are not subject to the fee.

The author is editor of RedTech’s sister publication, La Lettre Pro.

Tags: DAB/DAB+ Digital Radio FM switch off radio Switzerland
Previous post
Next post

Frédéric Brulhatour

author


Most Recent
Featured

Las Vegas morning host Mike O’Brian to retire after nearly

October 17, 2025
Events

Radio TechCon show announces free ticket plan

October 17, 2025
Featured

MIW names 2026 mentee for NAB Leadership Foundation program

October 17, 2025
Latest Newsletters

16 Oct 2025 – Is DAB+ The Answer? | Saothair Acquires GatesAir | Rethinking The Radio Console

9 Oct 2025 – Campus Radio Project | In The Club | AI In The Driver’s Seat

8 Oct 2025 – RedTech Magazine September/October 2025

2 Oct 2025 – BBC Mobile Tech | NPO Cuts Jobs | Awards Canned

25 Sept 2025 – AI Revisited | Rádio Rock Powers Up | RTL’s Six Of The Best

18 Sept 2025 – IBC2025 Insights | RedTech Award Winners | 2 Minutes Of Tech

11 Sept 2025 – Hearing Children’s Voices | Broadcast Giants Honored | Virtual Mixing

5 Sept 2025 – Read Now — Radio Futures: AI and Radio

4 Sept 2025 – IBC2025 All Change | Incentivizing Digital Transition | Video Takes The Lead

28 Aug 2025 – CH Media’s Digital Transition | Radiogroep Goes Back To School | IBC2025 Hits The Streets

21 Aug 2025 – Tindle Radio’s Impressive Reach | Inside RedTech Summit 2025 | Radio Extinguishes Fire

11 Aug 2025 – Read the July/August Issue of RedTech Magazine

7 Aug 2025 – Radio Contact in Ibiza ǀ New Digital Playbook ǀ U.K. Audio Habits

31 July 2025 – European Radio Trends ǀ Nielsen Tweaks Numbers ǀ Swiss Shift To DAB+

24 July 2025 – Re: Digital Definitions | Simplifying Broadcast Radio | Spain’s DAB+ Relaunch 

17 July 2025 – Re: Embracing The Visual | Radio Group Expansion | More Resilient Radio

10 July 2025 – Re: Joe On The Road | The Next Generation | Local Radio Training Boost

3 July 2025 – Re: Radio Still A Headline Act | Speaking Their Language | Tech For DAB+ Rollout

 

Related Stories for you

SRG may reconsider FM return if Swiss Parliament extends licenses

by RedTech Staff October 15, 2025 5 min read

The Swiss public broadcaster has seen a significant loss in listeners since switching off FM

Can DAB+ save terrestrial broadcast radio?

by Graham Dixon October 7, 2025 9 min read

DAB+ expansion across Europe and beyond offers hope for terrestrial radio amid largely unregulated competition from digital tech giants

Milling secures 10-year DAB+ license in Germany

by RedTech Staff October 1, 2025 4 min read

The decision marks a shift from pilot to full commercial operation

RedTech RedTech

RedTech International SAS
250 bis boulevard Saint-Germain
75007 Paris, France

contact@redtech.pro

Subscribe to our newsletter

About

About Us
Work With Us
Contact Us

Advertising

Advertise

Useful Links

Partners
Newsletter

more

Terms and Conditions
Privacy Policy

latest news

Featured

Las Vegas morning host Mike O’Brian to

Radio TechCon
Events

Radio TechCon show announces free ticket plan

Featured

MIW names 2026 mentee for NAB Leadership

WorldCast Systems, NAB NY 2025
Events

WorldCast exhibits at NAB New York

Futuri, AI, advertising, SpotOn
Featured

Futuri releases SpotOn video ad generator

Follow us:

Copyright RedTech International 2025. All Rights Reserved