Canal9 | Kanal9

Canal9 | Kanal9 is a Swiss regional television channel based in Sierre, in the canton of Valais. It is the oldest regional television station in Switzerland, with its origins in an idea conceived in the summer of 1973 by Marc Biderbost, an organiser at the Association sierroise de loisirs et culture (ASLEC). The channel was formally founded in 1984 by the Jeune chambre internationale de Sierre under the name "Sierre Canal9". The channel broadcasts in both French and German, serving the whole of Valais. Its main studios and French-language newsroom are in Sierre, while its German-language newsroom is in Brig. It reaches audiences from Monthey to Brig and into the side valleys, and since January 2013 it has been available throughout Switzerland via national operators. It is also streamed live on its website. Canal9 | Kanal9 is structured as a non-profit association. In 2026 it reported 200 members and is governed by a 17-member committee elected for four-year terms, with an executive bureau of seven members. In 2022 it employed 64 staff. Its leadership includes president Vincent Bonvin, director Marcelline Kuonen, and editor-in-chief Maxime Siggen. The channel produces around twenty regular programmes, broadcasting roughly one hour of new content per day with repeats. Its programming includes news, sport, culture, and regional interest shows such as "Histoires d'Arvines", which profiles winegrowers and artisans in the Fully area. Training has been a priority since its early days, and it is recognised as a leading trainer of television professionals in French-speaking Switzerland. Canal9 | Kanal9 has been a pioneer in Swiss regional broadcasting: in September 2005 it became the first European television station to adopt an all-computer-based production workflow, and in September 2013 it began broadcasting all its programmes in high definition. It holds a regional broadcasting concession, which it won on 31 October 2008 against the competing "Valais-Wallis TV" project.

Canal9 | Kanal9 is the oldest regional television channel in Switzerland. Its story began in the summer of 1973, when Marc Biderbost, an organiser at the Association sierroise de loisirs et culture (ASLEC), conceived the idea of a local television service. The channel was formally founded in 1984 by the Jeune chambre internationale de Sierre under the name "Sierre Canal9". In 2002 the channel extended its broadcast to the entire French-speaking part of Valais. In September 2005 it became the first European television station to adopt an entirely computer-based production workflow, using only IT means for all its production. At the same time its studios were consolidated in Sierre, while regional bureaux in Monthey, Martigny, Sion and later Brig remained connected by optical fibre. On 31 October 2008, Canal9 | Kanal9 was awarded the regional broadcasting concession, defeating the competing "Valais-Wallis TV" project. On 29 June 2009 it broadcast its first German-language programme, covering the whole canton with separate French and German newsrooms. The main studios and French-language newsroom are in Sierre, and the German-language newsroom is in Brig. Since 9 September 2013 the channel has broadcast all its programmes in high definition, and it is also available live on its website. From January 2013 it has been distributed throughout Switzerland via national operators. The channel is organised as a non-profit association. In 2026 it reported 200 members and is governed by a 17-member committee elected for four-year terms, evenly distributed across its broadcast areas, plus a seven-member executive bureau. In 2022 it employed 64 staff. Its leadership includes president Vincent Bonvin, director Marcelline Kuonen, and editor-in-chief Maxime Siggen. Canal9 | Kanal9 produces around twenty regular programmes, broadcasting about one hour of new content per day with repeats. Its French and German signals carry different programmes. Training has been a priority since its beginnings, and the channel is recognised as an excellent trainer of television professionals in French-speaking Switzerland; directors such as Denis Rabaglia and journalists such as Joël Cerutti, Flore Dussey, Romain Boisset and Emmanuelle Jaquet began their careers there. The channel reaches a potential audience of 310,000 viewers across the canton of Valais.

• 2026

  Reported 200 members.

• 2022

  Reported 64 employees.

• 2013

  From January, distributed throughout Switzerland via national operators; from 9 September, all programmes broadcast in HD.

• 2009

  First German-language broadcast on 29 June; coverage extends to the whole canton.

• 2008

  Awarded the regional broadcasting concession on 31 October, defeating the Valais-Wallis TV project.

• 2005

  Becomes the first European television station to adopt an all-computer-based production workflow; studios consolidated in Sierre.

• 2002

  Broadcast extended to the entire French-speaking part of Valais.

• 1984

  Founded by the Jeune chambre internationale de Sierre as "Sierre Canal9".

• 1973

  Marc Biderbost conceives the idea of a local television service in Sierre.

Switzerland's oldest regional television channel, a non-profit association serving the Valais in French and German, known for training and for pioneering all-computer and HD production.

• Le Journal

  Main daily news bulletin.

• Histoires d'Arvines

  Monthly programme profiling winegrowers and artisans of the Fully area.

• Taxi questions

  Regular programme.

• Humain passionnément

  Regular programme.

• Le Valais vu des airs

  Regular programme.

1. 1Canal9 / PROCHE DE VOUScanal9.ch
2. 2Canal9 / Histoires d'Arvinescanal9.ch
3. 3Canal 9 (Suisse) — Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org
4. 4Wikidata Q2935895wikidata.org