Inside

A club that organises seasonal parties, regular activities, monthly contact coffee cloches and special projects for charities. Social interaction, support, friendship and information to newcomers in the area is promoted. Find out more...

A magazine offering diverse information, courses and workshops for English speaking families in Switzerland. Waesserwies 11, 8712 Staefae Find out more...

Harsch Transports S.A.

We move your belongings and remove your worries! In Geneva since 1957 and now in Basel and Zurich too, we ensure the safe transport of your precious possessions worldwide. You can entrust your move to the specialist: Harsch, The Art of Moving. Find out more...

Zürich Local Reference INFOrmation

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English Language Media in Zürich, Basel, Bern, Lucerne & Zug

A world of information, both local and global - in English. The local and international English-language print and broadcast media that is available to you if you live in German-speaking Switzerland.

Everyone that owns a television or radio in Switzerland must pay an annual licence fee to Billag, the collection agency for all television and radio registration fees. The radio licence fee is less than the television fee. Fees must be paid even if the only functioning radio is in the car, and any property with an ADSL or ISDN Internet connection is also required to pay the fee.

Control checks may be made at any time, and TV or radio users without a licence will be fined.

The OFCOM website has a comprehensive explanation (in English) of where and how to pay: Click here
See the AngloINFO INFOrmation Page, Television & Radio in Switzerland

Radio

BBC World Service can be received on digital FM 90.2 and Satellite Hot Bird 2-13º East.

For more information on receiving BBC World Service via satellite: Click here

The main BBC stations and other English-language radio can also be received via many satellite TV installations or over the Internet. Previously broadcast programmes can often be listened to again or downloaded.

Voice of America is also available on shortwave, with NewsNow.

For the region's frequency chart: Click here
For a programme guide: Click here
For webcasts of VOA programmes: Click here

Radio in Zürich

World Radio Switzerland (WRS-FM 88.4), available on 88.4 FM, broadcasts in English to Geneva and on cable and satellite to the rest of Switzerland. Programming includes contemporary music, chat, news and magazine shows. The programmes are also available streaming live via the Internet.

The English Show is broadcast from Basel on Tuesdays from 18:30 on Radio X (94.5 FM)

Radio on the Internet

Increasingly, radio stations are "streaming" their broadcasts on the Internet. You typically need RealPlayer although sometimes a feed is available in Windows Media format, compatible with the players that have shipped with recent versions of Windows and Microsoft Internet Explorer.

For a fairly comprehensive list of the many stations who provide this service, click here
Directory of over 13,000 radio stations: Streema Online Radio Stations

Alternatively, select one of the stations below for (relatively) instant access to live radio!

The BBC World Service (RealPlayer) (Windows Media)
Voice of America's NewsNow
CNN
BBC Radio 1 (RealPlayer required)
BBC Radio 2 (RealPlayer required)
BBC Radio 3 (RealPlayer required)
BBC Radio 4 (RealPlayer required)
BBC Radio 5 (RealPlayer required)

Television

It is possible to access UK-based free-to-air (FTA) programming on the same satellite that broadcasts Sky Digital. Please note, however, that there is no legal way to access encrypted programming on that satellite while in Switzerland or France (such as Sky Digital's premium channels accessible only through a Sky subscription package, or those channels that may only be watched in the UK using a satellite receiver with a free-to-view - FTV - card installed).

For a good (if not entirely comprehensive) list of what's on TV across Europe Click here.

Swiss Television

The SSG/SSR is the Swiss national public broadcaster. It provides two French-language TV channels, two Italian, three German and one channel in Romansch. These language channels are regional, available locally on terrestrial television but nationally on cable and DTH.

The Swiss Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) has a full list of the licensed television and radio broadcasters operating in Switzerland.

BlueWin TV from Swisscom broadcasts some UK TV channels (BBC, ITV, Film4 and others). CNN, Viva, TNT, NBC, Super Channel and MTV are available in most of the Swiss-German part of the country with cable subscriptions.

English-language Print Publications

Swiss News: National English-language newspaper focusing on Swiss news and events from an expatriate's perspective. Published monthly and available at most newsstands.
Swiss Style: Magazine providing information on services, products and events for the anglophone population in Switzerland.
Inside Switzerland Magazine: English-language culture and lifestyle magazine featuring Swiss life, fashion, design and events. Published quarterly and available by subscription or at some newsstands.
Mothering Matters: Bi-monthly journal in English for parents in Switzerland covering subjects such as health, education, travel, bilingualism and child development. Available by subscription.
New Stork Times: Published 10 times annually, this magazine provides information on parenthood for English-speaking parents in Switzerland. Available from the Orell Füssli English Bookshop in Zürich or by subscription.