The Swiss appear to have swiftly adapted to their state broadcaster’s decision to transmit exclusively on digital platforms. On New Year’s Eve, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR) turned off connections to its analog FM transmitters at 11:59 p.m.
As we reported last year, Switzerland’s transition to digital-only radio broadcasting has been years in the making. Planning began about a decade ago when the Swiss Federal Office of Communications, private radio stations and SRG SSR collaborated to establish DAB+ as the new standard. Predictions of its success have largely been validated, solidifying digital platforms as the future of Swiss broadcasting.
In 2020, Swiss radio stations were no longer obligated to broadcast on FM. Confronted with the high costs of maintaining three broadcasting technologies and shifting audience habits, SRG SSR’s board of directors opted to phase out FM transmission by Dec. 31, 2024.
Listeners must now switch to DAB+ or internet radio to tune in to stations such as SRF1, SRF2 Kultur and SRF3. All other SRG SSR programs were already available exclusively via DAB+ or online. A few private radio stations will continue broadcasting on FM until the end of 2026.
The shift reflects changing audio consumption in Switzerland. Since 2015, DAB+ usage has grown from 23% to 41% in 2023, while internet radio listening has increased from 26% to 39%. FM radio usage, meanwhile, has dropped to under 10%, with the highest usage — 33% of listeners in 2023 — occurring in cars.
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