The edelweiss blooms beautifully, beautifully
Basel Media Group Appoints Jean-Frey-Richterich to the Board of Directors of the Private Radio Station
Basel media group brings Jean-Frey-Richterich onto the board of directors of the private radio stationBy Markus Knöpfli Barely in new hands, Radio Edelweiss is now aiming to become the market leader in the Basel region. A big goal, because after six years of restructuring, the Basel media group's radio station still lags far behind Tamedia's Basilisk.
The new composition of the Board of Directors (BoD) of Radio Edelweiss AG contains two surprises in the form of Christoph Richterich and Francis Rivollet: Richterich was responsible for the repositioning of Jean Frey shares last spring on behalf of Swissfirst and, as co-owner of a marketing and communications agency, was appointed to the Edelweiss Board of Directors by the Basler Mediengruppe (BM). He will help with the repositioning of the station, he said.
The name Rivollet, on the other hand, is surprising because it is the first time that the French NRJ Group has taken a seat on the Board of Directors. Although NRJ, which operates throughout Europe, has been entitled to one seat since it swallowed up Edelweiss shareholder Radio Nostalgie (24%) two years ago, it has never filled it. Now it seems that the BM entry has also made Baselbieter Radio more attractive for NRJ. In the press release, BM also states that it intends to provide its youngest baby with NRJ know-how in future.
Even though NRJ left the board seat vacant, it fulfilled its other duties as a shareholder. It paid its annual share of the restructuring costs totaling CHF 1.15 million - until 2001, the first year in which no contributions were necessary and the radio station was finally in the black after six years.
But it was a long road to get there. When the restructurers Bernhard Burgener, Chairman of the Board of Highlight Communications AG based in Pfäffikon, and Alois Ehrat, owner of a transport company in Basel, took over the helm of what was then Radio Raurach in 1996, the station was at rock bottom. It had a daily reach of just under 26,000 listeners, an annual turnover of 887,000 francs and a deficit of 837,000 francs. Six years later, turnover amounted to 2.86 million francs, the first profit was 28,000 francs (despite investments in a digital studio) and the daily reach had doubled to 50,700 listeners by the end of the old measurement method. Edelweiss started the radio control era even higher, at 79,000 listeners, in 2001, but has since fallen back to 69,400, while competitor Basilisk has achieved around double that figure.
Although a similarly high profit had been budgeted, the economic situation is likely to result in a deficit of a similar magnitude (see interview). Nevertheless, Radio Edelweiss has undoubtedly taken the right path under Burgener and Ehrat.
The new Edelweiss VR
The new composition of the Board of Directors (BoD) of Radio Edelweiss AG contains two surprises in the form of Christoph Richterich and Francis Rivollet: Richterich was responsible for the repositioning of Jean Frey shares last spring on behalf of Swissfirst and, as co-owner of a marketing and communications agency, was appointed to the Edelweiss Board of Directors by the Basler Mediengruppe (BM). He will help with the repositioning of the station, he said.
The name Rivollet, on the other hand, is surprising because it is the first time that the French NRJ Group has taken a seat on the Board of Directors. Although NRJ, which operates throughout Europe, has been entitled to one seat since it swallowed up Edelweiss shareholder Radio Nostalgie (24%) two years ago, it has never filled it. Now it seems that the BM entry has also made Baselbieter Radio more attractive for NRJ. In the press release, BM also states that it intends to provide its youngest baby with NRJ know-how in future.
Even though NRJ left the board seat vacant, it fulfilled its other duties as a shareholder. It paid its annual share of the restructuring costs totaling CHF 1.15 million - until 2001, the first year in which no contributions were necessary and the radio station was finally in the black after six years.
But it was a long road to get there. When the restructurers Bernhard Burgener, Chairman of the Board of Highlight Communications AG based in Pfäffikon, and Alois Ehrat, owner of a transport company in Basel, took over the helm of what was then Radio Raurach in 1996, the station was at rock bottom. It had a daily reach of just under 26,000 listeners, an annual turnover of 887,000 francs and a deficit of 837,000 francs. Six years later, turnover amounted to 2.86 million francs, the first profit was 28,000 francs (despite investments in a digital studio) and the daily reach had doubled to 50,700 listeners by the end of the old measurement method. Edelweiss started the radio control era even higher, at 79,000 listeners, in 2001, but has since fallen back to 69,400, while competitor Basilisk has achieved around double that figure.
Although a similarly high profit had been budgeted, the economic situation is likely to result in a deficit of a similar magnitude (see interview). Nevertheless, Radio Edelweiss has undoubtedly taken the right path under Burgener and Ehrat.
The new Edelweiss VR
The Edelweiss main shareholder is BM with 55%, the NRJ Group holds 24%, the Edelweiss Club (sponsoring association) 8% and several small shareholders total 13%. BM CEO Beat Meyer has been Chairman of the Board of Directors since October 28; other members are BM Board member Ruth Ludwig-Hagemann, BM CFO Peter Wyss, Tanja Schmidt, Head of Audiovisual Media at BM, Edelweiss Managing Director Daniel von Wattenwyl, Christoph Richterich (Richterich + Partner, without shares) and Francis Rivollet (NRJ Group). Meyer, Wyss and Ludwig-Hagemann will sit on the Board of Directors of Radio Edelweiss Werbe AG (Rewag, at 100% at BM) (mk).
