Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 KR
SRG is in a fundamental transformation process with 'Enavant'. It is driving this forward with all its might, adapting its internal structures in the next three years, sharpening the offer, and becoming more digital. Additionally, SRG must implement significant cost-saving measures by 2029, partly because the Federal Council has decided to reduce the media fee. To protect the programme and staff as much as possible and because digital transformation allows for the redesign of production and workflow processes, SRG is also aiming for savings on buildings and infrastructure. With a consistent real estate strategy, SRG optimises locations, reduces space and thus lowers costs.
RTS remains based in Geneva
In this context, RTS has already replaced the location in Lausanne (La Sallaz) with a modern production site on the EPFL campus in Ecublens. This is oriented towards multimedia production processes and the changing demands of the audience and is currently being gradually put into operation. On the weekend of May 30 to 31, the public has the opportunity to discover the new workplace. Lausanne- Ecublens was fully financed according to SRG's real estate strategy by selling old buildings. The sale of the tower in Geneva is unrelated.
RTS will continue to be present in Geneva as a tenant of the tower. At this site, RTS is investing in a new video production centre, where digital transformation is further advanced. For this reason, the same teams continue to work in Geneva as before - with the exception of the current affairs and sports editorial teams, which are moving to Ecublens.
A vision for the tower
The initiative for the sale of the property between SRG and the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation came from the Canton of Geneva. The aim is to make this iconic building a vibrant hub in the service of democracy. The tower is to be a laboratory for ideas and new methods, where topics such as digital transformation, information quality, and also the question of social understanding are developed. RTS, as the main tenant along with other media such as Le Temps, Heidi.news, and the think-tank Prospera, is an important part of this vision.
Today the sale was sealed with the signatures of the parties. The sale price is 150 million Swiss francs, with around 100 million Swiss francs recorded as a gain in the current financial year. With this revenue, SRG can bear the restructuring costs that will face the company in the coming years. It can also be used for future investments or to repay loans.
The management of the property will be transferred to a Swiss private law foundation newly created by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, the 'FOCUS, Fondation La Tour en Communs'. The Canton of Geneva is the owner of the land and grants the owner of the building a free building right.
'FOCUS, Fondation La Tour en Communs'
The foundation 'La Tour en Communs' creates a vibrant space in Geneva dedicated to high-quality information and innovative forms of dissemination, committed to democratic integrity. The foundation aims to provide specific spaces and communal areas for production, dissemination, reflection, and administrative activities, particularly for non-profit organisations in information, content creation, and research fields.
It aims to make Geneva an international reference for a new social contract in view of the challenges of digitisation, misinformation, and social cohesion. The foundation promotes high-quality information as a public good and the redesign of public spaces in the service of citizens.
The foundation can carry out any activities or businesses directly or indirectly related to its purpose, particularly organising events and supporting research or media projects. It is neither political nor denominational and is not for profit.
Press contact:
SRG SSR, Media Office
Nik Leuenberger, Marco Ferrara
media@srgssr.ch / Tel. 058 136 21 21
FOCUS, Fondation La Tour en Communs
Yves Daccord, Joy Arnéodo
contact@latourencommuns.org
Canton of Geneva, State Chancellery
Thomas Dayer, Deputy Secretary General
thomas.dayer@etat.ge.ch / Tel. 022 327 95 27