"If I had a hammer" sang Trini Lopez 57 years ago. It was a global hit. Now he's celebrating his comeback - at Leutschenbach. But this hammer is called "SRF 2024" and describes the realignment of Swiss radio and television for the next four years. That sounds more charming and also less harmful than the American smash hit from the sixties. 2024 is still a long way off, but the consequences of the new strategy are now known: programs like "Sportaktuell" or "Eco" are being canceled, people are being laid off, the entire production is to become smarter, whatever that means in reality. SRF boss Nathalie Wappler emphasizes that savings germany rcs data targets only played a secondary role in the reorganization; instead, the aim is to remain attractive to a younger audience in the future and to invest in YouTube and Instagram productions. This is undoubtedly welcome and also speaks for the foresight of those responsible. Nevertheless, the question remains whether it is in line with the statutory public service mandate if business, sports or folk music programs are suddenly dropped from the traditional schedule. Fortunately, the SRF bosses do not have to personally explain their considerations to the license fee payers in Entlebuch or Toggenburg.
It would have been a positive signal if the SRF officials had announced new programs and in-house services in addition to the entire reorganization and program reduction during this difficult time. The fact that Peter Wanner's TV channels now have a monopoly on program innovations contradicts the dynamic attitude that the SRG likes to convey to the outside world. But the loss of the Champions League rights to TV24 a few weeks ago is proof enough that the SRG is no longer the measure of all things.