The media
Switzerland supports a wide variety of media. The national radio and television stations broadcast programmes in German, French and Italian, though reception requires the payment of a license fee (Konzessionsgebühr).
Foreign channels are available from private cable providers, subject to a sub-scription fee. A wide range of international publications is available in major train stations and many kiosks.
Daily newspapers for the St.Gallen area include the St.Galler Tagblatt, Neue Zürcher Zeitung and Tages Anzeiger, as well as the daily tabloid 20 Minuten.
Radio
Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) has three main studios in Basel, Bern and Zurich. It offers six radio stations:
- Radio SRF 1 with current affairs and indepth information, traffic and weather reports and entertainment. Six regional news magazines report regularly from around Switzerland.
- Radio SRF 2 Kultur 2 features everything from classical music to jazz, from the arts to science, and from economics to politics, as well as items on philosophy and prevailing social issues.
- Radio SRF 3 is the dominant pop and information station in German-speaking Switzerland. It specialises in live concert broadcasts.
- Radio SRF 4 News is the 24-hour speech station with the latest news and background from the worlds of politics and business, science and the arts, society and sport.
- Radio SRF Musikwelle broadcasts traditional music of all genres, with news and DRS 1 programmes rounding out its schedule.
- Radio SRF Virus is radio for the multimedia generation, in tune and in step with the youth of today.