SRG has conducted a systematic analysis of its editorial offerings with a focus on culture. The study by the Mileva Institute in Toffen/BE is based on a standardized content analysis of 4,890 editorial contributions from television, audio/podcasts, online articles, and social media, examining a constructed, i.e., a randomly assembled week in 2025. The results regarding the cultural contributions in the editorial offerings are now available.
According to the study 'Between Yodelling, Jazz, and Youth Literature', 28.1% of the analysed editorial contributions across all SRG channels have a cultural reference. Culture is particularly prominent on television (36.6%) and in audio and podcast sectors (32.0%). The share is lower in digital offerings (Online: 11.1%, Social Media: 15.0%). However, cultural content is disproportionately often published as video on social media (51.4% vs. 29.3% for other content). Thus, culture is deliberately placed in attention-grabbing formats on social media.
When considering the extent of contributions, the significance of SRG's cultural contributions becomes even more evident: In audio and podcast sectors, cultural content constitutes over half of the total airtime of non-fictional, editorial contributions (51.5%).
SRG Covers a Wide Array of Themes
The investigation shows a broad spectrum of cultural themes. SRG frequently reports on customs (14.2%), popular music (11.8%), film (10.9%), and classical music (10.2%). At the same time, less prominent cultural forms are regularly considered: The greatest thematic diversity is seen on television, whereas there is a stronger concentration on music on radio.
A key finding concerns SRG's role as an actor in the cultural sector: Medially staged events account for the largest proportion of cultural reporting at 40.8%. Thus, SRG acts not only as a mediator but also as a producer of cultural content. This is complemented by reporting on cultural events taking place outside the media (36.6%) as well as book or film reviews and portraits (22.6%).
Regional Anchoring and a Look Beyond National Borders
SRG's cultural reporting is strongly anchored in the respective linguistic regions: The majority of SRF's contributions relate to the German-speaking part of Switzerland (57.1%), RTS to the Romandy (58.4%), RSI to the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland (50.1%), and RTR to the Romansh-speaking part of Switzerland (78.6%) - with each regional unit additionally focusing on the corresponding foreign-speaking lands. Simultaneously, SRG also reports on international culture, especially from neighbouring countries.
High Visibility of Cultural Actors
In over three-quarters of cultural contributions, specific cultural actors, whether individuals, groups, institutions, or associations, are made visible. The reporting is strongly person-focused: 85.2% of the actors are active cultural creators, while the remaining 14.8% are institutional actors. The results also show developmental potential regarding gender distribution: Around two-thirds of the visible actors are male, with just under a third being female.
Overall, the results confirm that SRG fulfills its legal mandate: According to the Radio and Television Act as well as the concession, it contributes to cultural diversity, promotes Swiss identity, and fosters cultural exchange within the country with its offerings. The study provides a comprehensive, comparable, and data-based foundation for making these achievements visible and further developing them.
Press Contact:
Media Office SRG
Nik Leuenberger
media@srgssr.ch
Tel. 058 136 21 21