Radio SRG to switch off FM broadcasting at the end of 2024

The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation is switching off the outdated ultra-short wave broadcasting antennas (FM) at the end of December 2024. Those who listen to the radio will largely do so via DAB+ or the internet, the SRG announced on Thursday.

Fewer and fewer FM receivers are still in use in Switzerland. The remaining, pure FM usage is stagnating at less than ten percent. This confirms the forecast that DAB+ will become the new radio standard, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG) added. According to the Federal Office of Communications (Bakom), the share of digital radio usage in spring 2023 was 81%.

In addition, the maintenance of VHF antennas and investment in their renewal are expensive and disproportionate, the SRG added. In view of SRG's strained financial situation due to declining advertising revenues and inflation, further investment in outdated broadcasting technology is therefore no longer justifiable.

With DAB+ and the Internet, there are two digital reception options that offer better sound quality and a larger selection of programs, are more energy and cost efficient and can provide additional information in text and images.

New cars with DAB+ as standard

To be able to receive DAB+, you need an appropriate device or an adapter. New cars have been equipped with digital technology as standard for several years. In addition, the Federal Roads Office (Astra) will upgrade all tunnels on the national road network for digital radio reception by the end of the year and also switch off the FM antennas.

The Federal Council extended the FM radio licenses for the radio industry for the last time in October 2023 - until the end of 2026. After that, radio stations in Switzerland can no longer be broadcast via FM and only digitally. Originally, FM was to be switched off throughout Switzerland by the end of 2024. With the last extension, the radio industry will have the desired flexibility to successfully complete the migration process from analog to digital radio, Bakom announced at the time.