The Swiss communications ministry has proposed cutting government subsidies to swissinfo.ch. The multilingual news platform currently receives SFr26 million (US$25.5m) in funds annually. Half of the amount comes from the government and half from the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC).
A committee of eminent persons has been set up and a petition launched with the support of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad calling on the government not to go ahead with the cuts. For its part the SBC has examined different scenarios to cut SFr7 million from the budget of swissinfo.ch. But the plan has been shelved pending the outcome of discussions in cabinet and parliament.
It is the second time in less than ten years that swissinfo.ch has been facing potential financial cuts. In 2004 its budget was reduced to SFr26 million from SFr44 million, jobs were cut and shortwave broadcasts were abolished.
(Source: swissinfo.ch)
