A bridge to Switzerland

SWI swissinfo.ch was founded in 1999 as the SBC’s online news and information service. It succeeds Swiss Radio International (SRI) which began its broadcasts as Swiss Shortwave Service in 1935 and gradually discontinued its services in the late 1990s. During the Second World War, it was often the only link to the homeland for about 200,000 Swiss expatriates. Through the war and much of the 20th century, the shortwave broadcasts underlined Swiss neutrality and the country’s democratic positions. Today, SWI swissinfo.ch reports exclusively online and provides content in ten languages from its headquarters in Bern.

As part of its public service mandate, SWI swissinfo.ch provides independent and in-depth reporting on Swiss politics, business, science, culture and society for an international audience with an interest in Switzerland. It further helps Swiss citizens living abroad form their own opinions which allows them to exercise their political rights during elections and popular votes and strengthens their ties to their homeland.

SWI swissinfo.ch places special focus on direct democracy, Swiss foreign policy, cutting-edge research, multinational corporations and developments out of International Geneva. Seeing things from a Swiss perspective is key to ensure stories and discussions about and from Switzerland can be understood abroad. Expert analyses of important international events and adapting our stories for our international audience accounts for a significant part of SWI swissinfo.ch’s coverage.

SWI swissinfo.ch must adhere to the provisions set out in the Federal Radio and Television Act (RTVG) and the SBC Charter. It is one of four news and broadcasting channels mandated to provide news services for foreign audiences. Therefore, its reporting must reflect a diversity of opinions and cultures and must be independent from any political or economic interests. SWI swissinfo.ch receives 50% of its funding from licence fees and 50% from a federal grant. You can find out more about SWI swissinfo.ch in our 2023 Annual Report and the following video: