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The streaming giants should invest in Swiss films, but less than the Federal Council intended.
How and to what extent should Swiss culture be promoted? The National Council discussed this in the “Cultural Message 2021-2024”. It is about a billion francs in the next four years.
The package is practically indisputable, except for one point: streaming platforms like Netflix, Apple TV or Disney + will now invest four percent of their Swiss revenue in financing local movies. Foreign TV channels with Swiss ad windows are also said to be searching for your wallets.
Share of European films
In addition, the Federal Council wants to introduce a quota for European films. As in the EU, 30 per cent of the catalog of films on video platforms should be reserved for European films.
Streaming providers should invest in making Swiss movies in the future, for example by securing the rights to local productions or helping to finance them.
Keystone
In the Council, however, the Federal Council’s plans were restricted: the 30 percent quota for European films found a majority. The four percent target for investments in Swiss cinema has been lowered to 1 percent. The decision was narrow with 97 to 91 votes: the bourgeois camp prevailed.
Compulsory consumption is not popular, it does not taste good.
FDP national adviser Christian Wasserfallen tried in vain to repeal the bill altogether. The Federal Council wants to create a “false market”, regardless of the quality and content of the productions: “Compulsory consumption is not popular, it does not taste good,” said Wasserfallen.
And: for streaming giants like Netflix, the requirements aren’t problematic. “Smaller providers have to push themselves to the limit to meet them,” the Bern National Council warned. The law only brings more bureaucracy for companies.
Are costs passed on to clients?
The four percent announced is very high in an international comparison, Philipp Kutter (CVP / ZH) said, warning that streaming providers could raise subscription fees: “Consumers will pay the price.”
The National Green Advisor, Fabien Fivaz, responded: The obligation to invest in local filmmaking would not have had any influence on the prices of suppliers in other European countries either.
Culture Minister Alain Berset defended the plans in the Great Hall. National providers are already obliged to invest. Legislators must ensure technology neutrality and equal market access for television and online providers.
In addition, the quota is also fixed in neighboring countries. This could avoid distortions and differences with neighboring countries and promote local production.
As second counselor, the Council of States will now take up the matter.
