Waves Return to the FM: the SSR threatened with prosecution
A private German-speaking radio station promises to take legal action against any return of public service to analogue airwaves, denouncing possible preferential treatment.
!The potential return to FM of the SSR is making many private radio stations in Switzerland cringe.
The potential return to FM of the SSR is making many private radio stations in Switzerland cringe.
Swiss Radio Battle escalates: Private Station threatens Legal Action Against SSR’s FM Return
Zurich, Switzerland – December 15, 2025 – A dispute between the Swiss Broadcasting corporation (SSR) and private radio stations is intensifying following the SSR’s announcement it intends to re-enter the FM band. Radio2GO.ch,a German-speaking Swiss radio station,is threatening legal action if SSR is granted permission to broadcast on FM,according to a report by SonntagsBlick.
The conflict arises after the Swiss Council of States voted on December 12th to extend FM broadcasting in Switzerland until 2031, reversing an earlier plan to phase it out by the end of 2026. This decision followed a significant drop in SSR listeners after the transition to DAB+ digital radio at the beginning of 2025. SSR subsequently announced its intention to leverage the extended FM availability to regain lost audience share.
However, a return to FM is not straightforward. currently, SSR does not hold FM broadcasting concessions, unlike many private radio stations which are authorized to continue broadcasting on FM until 2026.To re-enter the FM band, SSR would require an exceptional authorization from the Federal Office of Communications (Ofcom). Ofcom has confirmed that any such decision would be open to legal challenge.
“no Preferential Treatment”
Reto Wettstein, a member of parliament (PLR/AG) and owner of Radio2GO.CH, has vowed to contest any preferential treatment given to SSR. “In a rule of law, everyone must have the same rules. There can be no preferential treatment for the SSR,” Wettstein stated.He argues that any early reallocation of FM frequencies to SSR would be legally challenged.
Beyond the legal hurdles, significant technical challenges exist. Many FM transmitters have already been dismantled. Re-establishing FM broadcasting would necessitate securing building permits, re-installation of equipment, and an investment estimated to be in the millions of Swiss francs – a cost Wettstein describes as a wasteful use of public funds.
Private Radio Stations React
The prospect of SSR’s return to FM has sparked concern among private radio stations, many of whom have benefited from SSR’s audience decline. They fear a return to analog broadcasting will disadvantage stations broadcasting solely on DAB+.
The Swiss Association of Private Radios has stated it will closely scrutinize any exceptional authorization granted to SSR before 2027, aiming to prevent the public broadcaster from gaining an unfair competitive advantage during the upcoming concession renewal process.
Unikom, the association representing digital radios, has also expressed concerns and is considering filing a complaint with the Competition Commission, fearing that SSR’s return to FM could stifle the growth of digital radio adoption.
Sources:
* https://www.sonntagsblick.ch/aktuell/schweiz/radio-streit-privatsender-droht-ssr-mit-klage/
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