The Swiss government validated an agreement on November 4, 2026, cutting federal funding for Swissinfo by 44% for the 2027–2030 funding period.
The budget reduction slashes financial support from 18,8 to 10,5 million Swiss francs, lowering the total by 8,3 million francs, as reported by blue News.
The decision eliminates international programming in Portuguese and Japanese. It also cuts the Italian-language platform tvsvizzera.it.
The portal keeps eight languages instead of ten. It drops Portuguese and Japanese while retaining German, French, Italian, English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, and Arabic.
SSR Faces Job Cuts and Protests in Bern
The international service of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SSR) faces the elimination of roughly 22 full-time equivalent positions.
That total includes 12,7 specific posts within the Swissinfo newsroom, according to blue News. Approximately 15 people face layoffs or early retirement.
SSR spokesperson Gianna Blum said social plans apply to all affected personnel. She said the new agreement addresses federal and SSR savings targets.
About 50 demonstrators gathered in Bern outside the Swissinfo building to protest the reductions announced the previous week by the Federal Council, as detailed by RFJ.
Protestors carried banners bearing slogans against the cuts.
The signs included “Switzerland needs a strong voice internationally” and “SSR = Swiss Reduction Corporation”.
Two Japanese journalists from Swissinfo spoke at the demonstration. They described their work as an essential resource in their native language.
The journalists said people in Japan have little familiarity with Switzerland. They explained concepts like direct democracy, neutrality, referendums, and initiatives.
The Syndicat suisse des médias (SSM) condemned the cuts as a “dark day”.
The union denounced the decision as unacceptable and anti-democratic. It said parliament voted against any suppression or reduction of Swissinfo support in March.
The union called for current funding levels to be maintained. It also asked for personnel measures to be suspended.
The SSM pointed to a geopolitical context marked by disinformation and the rise of artificial intelligence.
National Councillor Andrea Zryd (SP/BE) and National Councillor Fabian Molina (SP/ZH) attended the demonstration.
Zryd criticized the government’s decision and the SSR’s failure to choose an alternative path. She argued that billions are invested in the military. She said defending Swiss values through Swissinfo also secures democracy and safety.
New Agreement Reduces Language Offerings and Funding
The new service agreement reduces the online portal’s language offerings from ten down to eight.
The platform will retain three national languages in German, French, and Italian. It keeps five international languages in English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, and Arabic, as outlined by RTS.
Funding for 3sat totals 3,7 million francs, split evenly between the government and the SSR, with each contributing 1,85 million francs, according to blue News.
The Federal Council said in a statement that the agreement maintains a comprehensive and high-quality international offering despite reduced means.
The Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) and the SSR are tasked with beginning discussions on the subsequent service agreement effective from 2031.
The talks aim to prevent any absolute increase in federal contributions compared to the 2027–2030 accord.
OFCOM must submit options to the Federal Council by the end of 2028.
The agreement takes effect on January 1, 2027. It runs through December 31, 2030, as documented by blue News.