Around 150 people gathered on Thursday at the foot of the RTS Tower to protest against the 2025 economy plan. 19 people will be laid off, others will take early retirement for a total of 46 full-time equivalents eliminated . Also deleted are programs like Sport Derniere or 10:30 p.m. on the radio. The director of RTS, Pascal Crittin, was the guest of Béatrice Rul, at 7:30 a.m.
Pascal Crittin, on Thursday, you detailed this economic plan for 2025, 46 full-time equivalent positions will be eliminated, 19 people made redundant. Is the public audiovisual service on the verge of disappearing in Switzerland?
“No, it is not yet in danger of disappearing, thank God! This 10 million, of course, is a lot of money. I still remind you for all intents and purposes that the RTS budget is 370 million, with our mandate to cover all areas, for all audiences, on all vectors, but it’s still a lot of money, it’s a program behind it and it’s also a lot of money. optimization. I hear it said here and there that the structure should be simplified. In recent years, we have reduced the number of executives by 15%, we have made a lot of effort in everything related to administration and support. and others. But in the end, 85% of our budgets are programs and therefore, we have to touch a little in the program too.
“85% of our budgets are programs and therefore, we are obliged to touch on the program”
These are announcements for this year, to face the reduction of advertising revenue and indexation of the license fee to inflation. This reduction in indexation will still be the case, again next year. So, another drop in money available, next year therefore new job cuts, emissions, in September 2025?
“It’s a somewhat difficult mission that I have to carry out here with all my colleagues who manage the SSR business units. We do not sell our products, so we cannot index price increases or inflation on the products, this is what we receive, this is the royalty. The Federal Council granted us a small indexation to cope, to avoid getting poorer every year. withdraws It is a significant sum, since it sets us back several years If the “200 francs is enough” initiative is refused, which I very much hope, because otherwise it would really be a disaster, in this case. case, it is the Federal Council’s proposal which would come into force in 2027/28/29 with a reduction in the fee to 300 francs. It is 35 francs in savings for households but for us, it is 150. million, because there are 4 million households paying, so it’s a huge amount at the end of the day.”
Helvetica, Sport Derniere, the 10:30 p.m. news on the radio will disappear to save money. So you’ve decided to cut into the information. Isn’t it, however, the primary mission of RTS to inform?
“It does indeed seem like a kind of cut in information. But there are few media that have invested as much in information in recent years as RTS. We are the leading media for young people, particularly through all the developments that we have done over the last five years, we have invested in young people in particular on social networks, with the RTS Info brand, our application. We estimated that at 10:30 p.m., it was no longer necessary, as at. era, to have on the radio an additional newspaper, which is in fact a news newspaper, without original contribution, there is no interview at 10:30 p.m., there is no new subject, we repeat the information of the day, but the public is already largely informed by all our editions, forums, etc. and the RTS Info application. It’s a small cut in information, but I reassure you, more than 50% of our resources. are devoted to information at RTS”
“I think we are fairly paid”
The staff meeting also called on senior RTS executives to reduce their activity rate and salary by 10% on a voluntary and united basis. Are you going to show solidarity with your colleagues, Pascal Crittin?
“The question is whether we are paid too much. We asked ourselves: we looked at the work we were doing. I believe that we are fairly paid. Compared to the market, we are sometimes broadly, underneath, it still has to be said too, including with media companies. I think our remuneration is correct. I’m going to say it a little cynically, but if I had to cut 10% of my time. I think I would still not be 100%. I find that the debate is poorly posed. The question is whether the work of managers is important and essential, especially when it is necessary to manage teams in contexts. economy and profound transformation, with all the developments, the public debate in which we are extremely engaged. Some people think that we are paid too much or that we do not do our job so well. Ok, I take note of that.
“This will be the second time that we go to popular vote. It’s very hard, it’s a lot of public and political pressure”
A word to send to your worried staff?
“They are doing a remarkable job, because you know, the RTS and the SSR have been under political and financial pressure for 7 years now. Certainly, like all the other media. I am not trying to complain today, but I think that there are not many media that must report on their activity, including on a public and political level, as much as the SSR, every year, constantly. the second time we go to popular vote It’s very hard, it’s a lot of public and political pressure Sometimes, I must say, there are forms of blackmail. He does his job, he does it very well, and what’s more, we have teams who are extremely professional and committed, despite these circumstances, and I congratulate them.
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