Switzerland Extends FM Radio Availability as Lawmakers Approve Longer Use of Analogue Frequencies
Switzerland will continue broadcasting radio over FM frequencies after the country’s upper house of parliament endorsed an extension of analogue licences.
According to information from RT, the decision follows lengthy political discussions and reverses earlier expectations that FM would soon be fully phased out in favour of digital broadcasting.
The extension comes after the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG) switched off its FM transmitters at the end of 2024 to accelerate the transition to DAB+. This shift coincided with a drop in audience reach of about 14% by the summer, with drivers being among those most affected because many vehicles are equipped only with FM receivers. The lower house had already expressed support for prolonging FM availability, and private radio stations — which had originally planned to discontinue FM broadcasts by late 2026 — changed their stance once the impact on SRG’s listenership became evident. While commercial broadcasters welcomed the continuation of FM, non-commercial stations maintained their support for the original shutdown plan.
The parliamentary decision does not result in an immediate operational return of SRG’s FM network. The organisation had relinquished its FM licences, and new authorisations would be required before broadcasting could resume, potentially no earlier than 2027. The Federal Office of Communications is reviewing whether exceptions might be granted if SRG submits a request, though officials emphasise that any reinstatement would involve technical and administrative hurdles. SRG leadership noted that returning to FM would demand substantial investment in a technology considered to be in decline. The broadcaster currently saves around 15 million Swiss francs annually by no longer operating FM transmitters, while its strategic focus remains on digital distribution.
The debate surrounding FM has been shaped in part by media figure Roger Schawinski, who has long campaigned against its shutdown. He warned years earlier that discontinuing FM could significantly reduce audience reach and argued that DAB+ remains a transitional format. His advocacy played a role in influencing parliamentary discussions ahead of the 2025 vote and again during the committee deliberations in the upper house, where the extension was approved by a narrow margin.
With the new decision, FM will remain available for news, traffic updates and music for the foreseeable future. The development occurs at a moment of internal pressure for SRG, as critics interpret parliament’s move as a setback for the broadcaster during an already challenging period marked by broader political debates over its funding and strategic direction.