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

Swiss voters on Sunday appeared set to again proposals to make world TV streaming companies reminiscent of Netflix Inc, Amazon and Disney make investments a few of their revenues generated in Switzerland into home film-making.

Some 58% of voters backed the proposal, in response to early projections by broadcaster SRF, in considered one of three nationwide votes held over the weekend underneath the Swiss system of direct democracy.

The vote is the most recent launched in European nations to help native TV and movie manufacturing and enhance 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 programmes themselves or go into an funding fund.

The same legislation has been handed in Portugal the place streaming service suppliers need to pay 1% on their earnings to the Institute of Cinema and Audiovisuals (ICA).

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

France and Italy each have funding obligations the place streaming companies have to take a position 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 more cash on Europe’s Frontex border safety company.

SRF projections confirmed 72% supporting the rise to 61 million Swiss francs a 12 months by 2027, up from 24 million francs in 2021.

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

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