Three years after the yes of the Swiss and Swiss in the ballot boxes, the Lex Netflix begins to have its effects. Of the more than 30 million expected thanks to this new source of financing for Swiss cinema, 15.9 million have already been awarded.
The new law on cinema, which entered into force on January 1, 2024, imposes on streaming companies, such as Netflix or Amazon, and large foreign channels, such as TF1 or M6, to invest in Swiss cinematographic creation. They must pay at least 4% of their raw revenues made in Switzerland.
>> Reread: Yes to “Lex Netflix”, streaming platforms will have to invest in Switzerland
More than 70 companies registered in late March 2024, 21 of which are affected by this funding obligation, said the Federal Office for Culture (OFC) in a information sheet published on Saturday in Locarno. The decisive turnover declared for 2024 reaches 752 million francs, online with the estimates put forward by OFC during parliamentary debates four years ago.
The streaming market continues its growth, but at a less sustained rate, while the advertising windows display a slight decline, still analyzes the office.
A “accepted” measurement
The 21 companies concerned will have to invest 30.1 million francs. They have for the moment paid 15.9 million (see detail in box). The remaining 14.2 million will have to be paid by 2027. If they should not pay their investment obligation, they should pay a tax – called replacement – after a period of four years.
The director of OFC Carine Bachmann says she is satisfied: “The measure is accepted, her introduction has not posed any major difficulty and the effects are already visible.” She specifies that it is still too early to take stock of the formats and beneficiaries most advantaged by this obligation.
Nine sustained projects
At this stage, nine projects have already benefited from funding: “Alpha”, “Early Birds”, “Landesverräter”, “Logout”, “Mutterglück”, “Tschugger Seasons 3+4”, “Winter Palace”, “Yopougon”, “Game Over – Credit Suisse”.
“For one of the productions, we cannot yet disclose the name of the investing company,” said a spokesperson for the OFC.
ats/iar
