Switzerland is about to introduce an investment obligation for Netflix and other streaming services. In a referendum on Sunday, 58 percent of the Swiss voted in favor of foreign streaming platforms and TV stations having to spend four percent of their sales on Swiss films and series, the SRF broadcaster reported, citing initial data.
This would mean that the same requirements would apply to them in the future as to private domestic providers. In addition, the streaming services must have at least 30 percent European productions in their program.
With the decision, Switzerland would follow developments in large parts of Europe. In Germany, streaming services have to give up 2.5 percent of sales. According to the Swiss government, supporting the film industry is particularly important because the market in the quadrilingual country is small. According to estimates, services such as Netflix, Disney or Amazon generate over 300 million Swiss francs per year in Switzerland.
With the change in the law now in the room, a further CHF 18 million should flow into Swiss filmmaking every year. Opponents of the project fear consumer paternalism and higher fees for streaming services.
According to the SRF, the Swiss also voted for the country to participate financially in the expansion of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), which protects the external borders of the Schengen countries. According to SRF, the approval was 72 percent according to the first figures.
The annual contribution is expected to increase from the last CHF 24 million to CHF 61 million by 2027. According to the government, if it were rejected, Switzerland would have risked being excluded from the Schengen area, within which there are no systematic border controls.
The Swiss also approved the transplantation law. Anyone who does not object during their lifetime will automatically become a possible organ donor in the future.
