Zurich government gives Tele Züri the cold shoulder
In its statement on the license applications, the Zurich Cantonal Government has come out in favor of awarding the license to Tele Top, thereby rejecting Tele Züri’s application. Regarding radio, it recommends awarding the licenses to Radio 1 and Radio Zürisee. For the third radio license, it leaves it up to the federal government in Bern to choose between Radio 24 and Energy Zürich.
In its statement on the license applications, the Zurich cantonal government is in favour of awarding the license to Tele Top and thus rejects Tele Züri. Tamedia also receives no clear support when it comes to radio: the government wants Radio 1 and Radio Zürisee to be awarded the license. For the third "major" radio license in the Zurich-Glarus region, it leaves it up to the federal government to choose between Radio 24 or Energy Zurich. The fifth application for the Zurich-Glarus licensing area, submitted by Gisueppe Scaglione for Radio 105 Züri, was not even mentioned by the government in its communication. The government announced on Thursday that the focus of the considerations had been on diversity of opinion and media. In the case of TV, both applicants could meet the licensing requirements and the performance mandate. The government council sees potential in Tele Top's broadcasting concept for a second strong regional television station alongside Tele Züri. According to the government, an expansion of Tele Top to the urban areas of Zurich would "contribute to journalistic diversity in Switzerland's largest city and at the same time continue to serve the entire metropolitan region with the current offering".
For the government council, supporting Tele Top is not a rejection of Tele Züri's quality programming. However, the position of the Tamedia channel in the media market is considered to be strong enough to survive economically even without a license.
According to the government council, Radio 1's program differs most clearly from the other applicants for FM licences and appeals to a different target group. Radio Zürisee also pursues an independent offering and complements Radio 1 in a meaningful way. Whether the third radio license for the large Zurich-Glarus area should be awarded to Radio 24 or Energy Zurich is left to the discretion of the cantonal government
the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC). "The two regional broadcasters are very similar in their mainstream programming," the Zurich government says verbatim. The government did not propose a station for the smaller Zurich concession area. Züri Live, Radio Monte Carlo RMC and Radio Alpenrosen are in the running. A license is to be awarded for area 24. "The government recommends to Bakom that those stations that do not receive a license for the large area could still apply for the smaller one at a later date," explained government spokeswoman Susanne Sorg-Keller.
However, the Federal Office of Communications has no ear for this request: "That's not possible. The deadline for applications has expired; broadcasters can no longer apply for a different area," said Bakom spokesman Bernhard Bürki at the request of Werbewoche.
For the government council, supporting Tele Top is not a rejection of Tele Züri's quality programming. However, the position of the Tamedia channel in the media market is considered to be strong enough to survive economically even without a license.
According to the government council, Radio 1's program differs most clearly from the other applicants for FM licences and appeals to a different target group. Radio Zürisee also pursues an independent offering and complements Radio 1 in a meaningful way. Whether the third radio license for the large Zurich-Glarus area should be awarded to Radio 24 or Energy Zurich is left to the discretion of the cantonal government
the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC). "The two regional broadcasters are very similar in their mainstream programming," the Zurich government says verbatim. The government did not propose a station for the smaller Zurich concession area. Züri Live, Radio Monte Carlo RMC and Radio Alpenrosen are in the running. A license is to be awarded for area 24. "The government recommends to Bakom that those stations that do not receive a license for the large area could still apply for the smaller one at a later date," explained government spokeswoman Susanne Sorg-Keller.
However, the Federal Office of Communications has no ear for this request: "That's not possible. The deadline for applications has expired; broadcasters can no longer apply for a different area," said Bakom spokesman Bernhard Bürki at the request of Werbewoche.
