Dispute over streaming services: free youth defend themselves against “Lex Netflix” – News

• The Federal Council wants to force streaming providers to promote national filmmaking.
• This meets criticism among young liberals: they defend themselves against the “Heimatschutz” and fear higher subscription fees for consumers.
• If the passage becomes law, the young liberals want to examine the referendum.

At the beginning of the fall session, the National Council advises on the cultural message. The Federal Council would like to invest a good 900 million francs in cultural finance over the next four years, and is targeting streaming giants like Netflix, Disney, Apple TV and Co.

In the future, they will invest four percent of their gross income in Switzerland in making independent films. Alternatively, they should be able to pay a replacement fee. Also, there should be a quota for European films on the platforms: the Federal Council provides 30 percent.

Young liberals want to “control” the referendum

The fact that the Federal Council wants to bind streaming services to “national security” faces criticism from Jungfreisinn: “It is not acceptable that private companies have to offer national productions as prescribed by the state. Productions that are of high quality and in demand should enter the program, ”the young liberals said in a press release.

Furthermore, the project would ultimately be borne by users, who would have to pay higher subscription fees. Online streaming services would easily pass the higher costs on to customers. If, however, the innovations make it into law, the young liberals want to examine the referendum.