Schawinski's Radio AG files an appeal against the licensing decision in Aargau
Radio AG, which had applied for an FM license in Aargau, is appealing against DETEC's decision in favour of Radio Argovia. Roger Schawinski tells Werbewoche that he believes he has a "very good chance". Bakom had given far too little consideration to the important criterion of media diversity.
Radio AG has lodged an appeal with the Federal Administrative Court against DETEC's radio decision in the canton of Aargau. Roger Schawinski's radio project Radio AG, which had applied for an FM license, came away empty-handed; the license was in turn awarded to Radio Argovia, which is owned by AZ Medien. AZ Medien also operates the only major daily newspaper in the canton, Mittelland-Zeitung, as well as the only television station, Tele M1, and therefore has a de facto media monopoly, Radio AG wrote in a press release on Wednesday.
Based on the analysis of OFCOM's reasons for the license, Radio AG co-founder Roger Schawinski believes his appeal has a "very good chance", as he told Werbewoche. He sees "a lot of contradictions" in OFCOM's reasoning, such as the fact that Radio AG's concept is described as "realistic" in the criterion of distribution (technical development of the coverage area) at one point, but at another point it is stated that Radio Argovia performs better. "In addition, evaluation criteria suddenly appeared in the explanatory statement that were not included in the invitation to tender," says Schawinski.
Grotesque practices of Radio Argovia
However, Roger Schawinski considers the diversity of opinion criterion in particular to be underweighted. "We believe that diversity of opinion is the most important criterion in a licensing region, and that it was given far too little consideration in Aargau." In this context, Schawinski considers it "grotesque" that Radio Argovia pays the second radio licensee in the canton, the special-interest station Kanal K, to have the advertising monopoly in the Aargau radio business. "It doesn't make sense to me that this should be a positive thing in terms of diversity of opinion."
Schawinski wondered whether he had perhaps relied too much on his good name instead of hard facts when drafting the application for a license, particularly with regard to quality assurance and the training concept: "These are hard facts, certainly harder than nebulous promises about future quality controls. But since such concepts are obviously desired, we have delivered them, and solid ones at that." He is not the only one who considers quality assurance and training concepts to be partly nebulous promises. "Argovia was even criticized by its own (Aargau) government council for its poor quality."
The reasoning of the Bakom
In its letter, the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM), which is part of DETEC, justified the licensing decision in particular with the superior quality assurance system described in the license application and the better training concept of Radio Argovia. Argovia also performed better than Radio AG in terms of broadcasting, wrote Bakom on October 31, 2008 in its explanatory statement (See disposal).
Based on the analysis of OFCOM's reasons for the license, Radio AG co-founder Roger Schawinski believes his appeal has a "very good chance", as he told Werbewoche. He sees "a lot of contradictions" in OFCOM's reasoning, such as the fact that Radio AG's concept is described as "realistic" in the criterion of distribution (technical development of the coverage area) at one point, but at another point it is stated that Radio Argovia performs better. "In addition, evaluation criteria suddenly appeared in the explanatory statement that were not included in the invitation to tender," says Schawinski.
Grotesque practices of Radio Argovia
However, Roger Schawinski considers the diversity of opinion criterion in particular to be underweighted. "We believe that diversity of opinion is the most important criterion in a licensing region, and that it was given far too little consideration in Aargau." In this context, Schawinski considers it "grotesque" that Radio Argovia pays the second radio licensee in the canton, the special-interest station Kanal K, to have the advertising monopoly in the Aargau radio business. "It doesn't make sense to me that this should be a positive thing in terms of diversity of opinion."
Schawinski wondered whether he had perhaps relied too much on his good name instead of hard facts when drafting the application for a license, particularly with regard to quality assurance and the training concept: "These are hard facts, certainly harder than nebulous promises about future quality controls. But since such concepts are obviously desired, we have delivered them, and solid ones at that." He is not the only one who considers quality assurance and training concepts to be partly nebulous promises. "Argovia was even criticized by its own (Aargau) government council for its poor quality."
The reasoning of the Bakom
In its letter, the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM), which is part of DETEC, justified the licensing decision in particular with the superior quality assurance system described in the license application and the better training concept of Radio Argovia. Argovia also performed better than Radio AG in terms of broadcasting, wrote Bakom on October 31, 2008 in its explanatory statement (See disposal).
