Media Blind people fear exclusion from the program due to "SRG initiative"
The Swiss Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired spoke out against the halving initiative on Monday. The association fears that people with visual impairments will be excluded from the TV program.
19.01.2026, 16:19
SDA
According to the Swiss Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, people with visual impairments are dependent on broadcasts being offered in audiovisual format so that they can use the TV program. As SRG would have to make savings if the initiative is accepted, cuts will also be made to inclusion. The services provided by SRG for people with visual impairments are therefore "acutely endangered".
"With a halved budget, the quality, scope and diversity of the current offering could not be maintained," the SRG media office told the Keystone-SDA news agency in response to an inquiry. Such a budget reduction would have consequences for SRG in almost all areas, including services for the visually impaired. With the reduction in services, the accessible offering will also be reduced, SRG wrote.
In 2022, SRG signed a service agreement with Swiss associations representing people with sensory disabilities. Among other things, SRG has committed to broadcasting 1,300 hours with sign language and 2,000 hours with audio description - 1,000 hours of which will be first broadcasts. In addition, subtitles will be included in all editorial TV broadcasts and an increase in subtitles online.
The popular initiative "CHF 200 is enough (SRG initiative)" - also known as the halving initiative - wants to stipulate in the Federal Constitution that the Confederation should levy a tax of CHF 200 per year exclusively on private households to finance radio and television programs that provide an essential service to the general public.
The initiators argue that households need relief in times of rising health insurance premiums and rents. The Swiss currently pay the highest radio and TV fees in the world. Young people in particular, who have to finance media offerings that they do not consume, should be relieved of this burden.
In particular, the initiative committee calls for the SRG to concentrate on its core mandate. In the National Council debate on the initiative in June, SVP representatives criticized the broadcaster for spreading itself further and further in entertainment, sport and online activities.
