Swiss voters look set to approve ‘Lex Netflix’ TV streaming funding regulation

Some 58% of voters backed the proposal, in keeping with early projections by broadcaster SRF, in one in all three nationwide votes held over the weekend below the Swiss system of direct democracy.

The vote is the most recent launched in European nations to assist native TV and movie manufacturing and increase locally-produced content material.

In the binding referendum on what’s being referred to as “Lex Netflix”, Swiss voters determined whether or not worldwide streaming companies should make investments 4% of the income they make in Switzerland in native movie manufacturing, as home broadcasters now do.

The investments can take the type of shopping for locally-made reveals, making applications themselves or go into an funding fund.

An analogous regulation has been handed in Portugal the place streaming service suppliers should pay 1% on their revenue to the Institute of Cinema and Audiovisuals (ICA).

Denmark is contemplating a 5% tax to assist home TV manufacturing, whereas Spain additionally plans to introduce a levy.

France and Italy each have funding obligations the place streaming companies have to speculate a proportion of their revenues – as much as round 20% – in European content material in native languages.

In a separate referendum, Swiss voters additionally appeared set to approve spending extra money on Europe’s Frontex border safety company.

SRF projections confirmed 72% supporting the rise to 61 million Swiss francs a yr by 2027, up from 24 million francs in 2021.

A rejection may even have compelled Switzerland out of the 26-member Schengen passport-free journey zone and the Dublin system of coordinating asylum functions.

In the third vote, voters additionally supported a plan to make it simpler to reap human organs for transplants with 59% in favour, in keeping with projections.