Ostschweiz TV: Galledia applies for TV concession
Is the media landscape in Eastern Switzerland about to undergo a shake-up? The Galledia Group, which publishes the *Rheintaler* and the *Werdenberger & Obertoggenburger*, among others, is applying for a license to operate a television station in Eastern Switzerland. By the end of the year, the Department of Transport, Energy, and Communications (UVEK) plans to reallocate the licenses for regional TV stations.
In the context of the new invitation to tender for a total of 13 licenses for regional broadcasters in Switzerland, the Galledia Group, which includes m&k advertisingweek.ch for the Eastern Switzerland concession. "With our commitment and investment in regional television, we want to make a contribution to media diversity and the democratic process in eastern Switzerland," says Galledia CEO Daniel Ettlinger. With its programming strongly geared to the region and its population, the television station is to become the independent voice in eastern Switzerland. With its license application, "OTV" is competing against TV Ostschweiz, which is owned by CH Media, the joint venture of AZ-Medien and NZZ.
Galledia is an independent media company in eastern Switzerland. In addition to numerous trade and association publications, the media company includes three local daily newspapers in the Rhine Valley of St. Gallen, several online publications, graphic production companies, a marketing agency, two digital and software agencies, and two event agencies. Galledia employs over 400 people and trains around 20 apprentices. For operations, the Eastern Switzerland TV project envisages 31 full-time positions, distributed among 36 people.
Regional solidarity instead of uniformity
"We are at home in eastern Switzerland and want to create a television offering for our neighbors" - this is Galledia's guiding principle for the programming of the future regional Ostschweiz TV. Daniel Ettlinger emphasizes that they don't want to produce a one-size-fits-all approach and bought-in formats, but content that reflects the peculiarities, the regional ties and the understanding of home of the population.
The program line-up begins with the midday news program "Ostschweiz 12 nach 12". From 6 p.m., the almost half-hour flagship program "Ostschweiz Aktuell" starts, followed by the discussion program "Ostschweiz Talk" In the OTV talk show, personalities from eastern Switzerland discuss current events. A new feature is the culture program "Ostschweiz Kultur," which offers viewers an insight into the rich and varied art and culture scene in eastern Switzerland. On Sundays, the program "Ostschweiz Weekend Sport" is the ultimate address for all sports enthusiasts in eastern Switzerland. "With OTV, we are focusing on honest and 100 percent regional television from the cantons of St. Gallen, Thurgau, Appenzell IR and Appenzell AR," explains Ettlinger.
Galledia has also set itself the goal of realizing the first climate-neutral TV station in Switzerland. In order to be able to achieve this, Galledia is launching a project with the 21 research and development institutes of the FH OST specialized in this area, which have joined together to form an interdisciplinary climate cluster.
The Federal Office of Communications Bakom will announce the candidacy on Monday. By the end of the year, the Department of DETEC will then award the new licenses for the period from 2025 to 2034. The licenses for the local radio stations will also be awarded anew.
