Tamedia exits DAB
Although SwissMediaCast is losing a major shareholder, its share capital is now being increased and the DAB expansion is moving forward.
In March of this year, SwissMediaCast, a consortium of around two dozen digital radio providers, was awarded a license to broadcast up to 18 digital radio stations in the new DAB+ standard (which is roughly equivalent to CD quality) in German-speaking Switzerland. Since then, however, the consortium has been so quiet that even the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) has become nervous. After all, the license clearly stipulates that DAB+ must be receivable at least in the conurbations of Zurich, Berne and Basel by spring 2009 - and in 80 percent of all households in German-speaking Switzerland by the end of February 2011.
However, SwissMediaCast has recently been given a new lease of life: the expansion of technical distribution, which will cost seven million francs, is now to be tackled quickly. The first step is to increase the share capital from 100,000 francs to one million francs, explains Chairman of the Board Günter Heuberger, who is also head of Radio and Tele Top. Although most of the existing shareholders, including NZZ, Ringier and SRG, will participate in the increase, new shareholders are also welcome, says Heuberger. There are several interested parties.
However, one major shareholder is withdrawing from the DAB consortium: Tamedia recently sold its 10 percent stake to its previous representative Andreas Meili, who sits on the Board of Directors of SwissMediaCast. It is still uncertain whether Meili will now be able to buy as a private individual, as the other shareholders have a right of first refusal - and according to reports, they will exercise it. Tamedia spokesperson Christoph Zimmer justifies the DAB exit by stating that, following the award of the FM concessions, the Zurich-based group is now focusing on FM - as well as radio streaming via the Internet.
To use DAB+, you need a radio device that can receive DAB+. At present, the distribution of such devices in Switzerland is still low. However, because DAB+ is also gaining ground in Australia and Asia, Asian manufacturers in particular are increasingly bringing multifunctional devices onto the market, i.e. devices that can receive FM, DAB and DAB+ and cost less than CHF 100. This development has also given SwissMediaCast a boost.
Markus Knöpfli
However, SwissMediaCast has recently been given a new lease of life: the expansion of technical distribution, which will cost seven million francs, is now to be tackled quickly. The first step is to increase the share capital from 100,000 francs to one million francs, explains Chairman of the Board Günter Heuberger, who is also head of Radio and Tele Top. Although most of the existing shareholders, including NZZ, Ringier and SRG, will participate in the increase, new shareholders are also welcome, says Heuberger. There are several interested parties.
However, one major shareholder is withdrawing from the DAB consortium: Tamedia recently sold its 10 percent stake to its previous representative Andreas Meili, who sits on the Board of Directors of SwissMediaCast. It is still uncertain whether Meili will now be able to buy as a private individual, as the other shareholders have a right of first refusal - and according to reports, they will exercise it. Tamedia spokesperson Christoph Zimmer justifies the DAB exit by stating that, following the award of the FM concessions, the Zurich-based group is now focusing on FM - as well as radio streaming via the Internet.
To use DAB+, you need a radio device that can receive DAB+. At present, the distribution of such devices in Switzerland is still low. However, because DAB+ is also gaining ground in Australia and Asia, Asian manufacturers in particular are increasingly bringing multifunctional devices onto the market, i.e. devices that can receive FM, DAB and DAB+ and cost less than CHF 100. This development has also given SwissMediaCast a boost.
Markus Knöpfli
