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Swiss Parliament Extends UKW Radio Until 2031On December 9, 2025, the Council of States approved prolonging analog radio licenses at least until the end of 2031.
- Both chambers of the Swiss Parliament agreed to keep analog UKW radio broadcasting alive beyond 2026.
- The Federal Communications Office will extend or reassign UKW licenses starting September 2027, potentially via auctions.
- Approximately 1.7 million vehicles in Switzerland still use analog radios, especially in French- and Italian-speaking regions.
- The decision divided the radio industry, with private stations fearing financial losses and the government opposing the extension.
I have sweated blood— Roger Schawinski, head of Radio 1, expressing his relief after the decision of the Council of States to continue UKW radio.
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Key FactsImpact of UKW Shutdown on Swiss Public and Private Radios
Jul 13, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: tagesanzeiger.ch
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: tagesanzeiger.ch
- SRG experienced significant listener drops following the UKW shutdown, with Couleur 3 losing 45.5% in the French-speaking region.
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- The shutdown was executed solely by SRG despite private radio stations advocating to maintain UKW broadcasting.
- A full UKW ban would severely threaten private radio revenues by late 2026 and benefit foreign broadcasters.
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