The two new radio stations will be transmitted digitally from November 2007 on the existing digital transmitter network (Terrestrial - Digital Audio Broadcasting; T-DAB). The Federal Council is of the opinion that both stations will perform a public service function which will contribute to optimising the SRG's service provision. With these new services, the SRG is responding to the desires of the Federal Council's radio broadcasting strategy, which requires radio services to be enriched with new programming; this will boost take-up of digital radio in Switzerland.

DRS News is a Radio DRS station which targets those people in German-speaking Switzerland who want to keep up-to-date with the news at all times. DRS News is planning continuous reporting of current events, with news on the hour, brief news reports on the half hour and headlines every 15 minutes. In the afternoons and evenings, the focus will be on cultural, educational, scientific and social topics and sport.

WRS is an English-language radio station providing national and international news which will be broadcast throughout Switzerland. It is a successor to the World Radio Geneva station currently transmitting from Geneva and is targeted at Switzerland's English-language population, tourists and those who work in international organisations, corporations, diplomatic missions or in business and tourism.  It makes it possible for theses people to access information about Switzerland. Cooperation with the BBC in the area of foreign reporting will continue.

The new stations will involve additional annual costs of about CHF 10 million for the SRG.  After the Federal Council's decision on fees of 8 December 2006, which does not provide for any additional resources for these two offerings, SRG DRS News and WRS will have to be financed from existing resources or though improvements in productivity and efficiency.

This DAB platform is also designated for private radio stations. The Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications will in the coming weeks award licences to 8 private broadcasters out of the 18 candidatures originally submitted.

SRG's new digital radio stations