"I don't understand the VSP President's approach"
Pool 2000 Director Martin Muerner on the New Million-Pool and the Industry's Image
Pool 2000 manager Martin Muerner on the new million-euro pool and the industry imageBy Markus KnöpfliThe Zurich module of Pool 2000 is breaking ranks and wants to sell the new million-euro pool of eight radios. Pool 2000 manager Martin Muerner (Radio BeO) does not agree with this.
Since a few days the Pool 2000 no longer exists...
Martin Muerner: That's not true, he was terminated on time by our Zurich module (Hitradio Z, Sunshine, Argovia) at the end of the year, in full compliance with the contract. The three are just not allowed to join a new pool straight away.
But they do. Pool spokesman Roland Baumgartner said that the market decides when the pool will be sold.
Muerner: If the pool of millions is actually sold before the end of the year, we will have to talk to the three radios again.
However, they are now saying that Pool 2000 has hardly been booked since the beginning of the year, when the Powerpool (24, Zürisee) was launched. Why do you still want it until the end of the year?
Muerner: That's not quite right. The pool was still booked, but less than before, which was due to the economic situation. However, it is true that our Zurich module is suffering from the power pool. We therefore discussed measures to strengthen the Zurich module. The expansion to include Radio Top was also an issue.
On May 13, the day before the million pool was announced, a meeting of Pool 2000 took place. Was the new pool not a topic there?
Muerner: Yes, we did. We decided three things: we unanimously said yes to expanding the pool without mentioning any names or dates. The proposal from our Zurich module to expand the pool to include not just Top, but Top, Grischa, Piz, Ri, Central and 32 and to offer six modules instead of three was then rejected. The Zurich team then requested that we release them from the pool early, which was rejected. The next day, we were surprised by the press release from the pool of millions.
Why was the extension rejected?
Muerner: The Basel (Regenbogen, Edelweiss) and Bernese (BE1, BeO, Canal 3) stations felt that the pool structure with so many modules was not optimal. And they wanted to discuss the Zurich draft agreement, which was only presented to us a week before the meeting, in more detail.
But now the Zurich module had to react, while the Basel and Berne modules were not under the same pressure, because they were booked in addition to the Powerpool or the Zurich module anyway.
Muerner: The whole thing is a Zurich problem. But I don't think that a tried and tested pool should be massively changed in a rush. We would have agreed to an expansion of the Zurich module with Radio Top, but the Zurich team overloaded the pool and wanted to almost double it.
What happens now?
Muerner: The Zurich module will have to explain this to us at the next meeting. If it insists on the pool of millions, the Bern and Basel modules will simply have to reorient themselves. But I'm looking for a solution that everyone is happy with in the end. I want to avoid a lawsuit.
The Basel and Bern modules could simply join the pool of millions.
Muerner: Or the Powerpool. There are several options open. However, after the last vote, I don't consider a connection with the Million Pool to be the first priority. But perhaps the Million Pool founders will put the brakes on.
The Bern and Basel modules are in a convenient position: they can be combined with the Powerpool, the Zurich module and the Million Pool. So you have time.
Muerner: You're right, we have a certain amount of breathing space. That's why I also want to proceed with caution in strategic terms.
Has the conflict between the intermediaries IP Multimedia and Radiotele contributed to this new industry dispute? In any case, the radios BE1, Canal 3 and Ihr Radio BeO, the only stations leased by Radiotele, have not moved along with Hitradio Z, which belongs to IP.
Muerner: This conflict also played a small role. However, it should be noted that the radio pie has not grown since IP entered the intermediary business, but has been divided up, which has not been to the benefit of the genre. This was said to be purely cyclical, but this is not true.
It has also been reported that Radiotele has hardly sold the Pool 2000 module Zurich with Hitradio Z because of the competition with IP.
Muerner: I can't say whether that's true or not.
A year ago, as an integrator, you were elected Managing Director of Pool 2000 and Vice President of the Swiss Private Radio Association (VSP). What is your balance sheet?
Muerner: We have succeeded in uniting the scene and bringing it together in one association. The VSP has never been as strong as it is today. I don't think we made any mistakes with the pool. However, I was unable to convince the Zurich module to take a different approach.
Was it a mistake to take over the pool management? The bridge builder himself is now in the middle of a conflict.
Muerner: No, that wasn't a mistake. The problem didn't arise because of me. I assume that things would be much nastier without me. People would probably be going at each other with lawyers now. I don't want that.
Can the radio scene, which resembles a bunch of fleas, be disciplined without complaining?
Muerner: Not the whole industry, just two or three exponents are so undisciplined.
They play it down: all eight members of the million pool, including VSP President Günter Heuberger, are aware of the legal situation in Pool 2000, yet they followed the Zurich module. And Zürisee and 24 had not bothered with the Leaderpool contracts in December either.
Muerner: Nevertheless, I am against such an image of the industry. But I don't understand the VSP President's approach either. I've already told him that. This will be discussed again at the next VSP meeting.
Since a few days the Pool 2000 no longer exists...
Martin Muerner: That's not true, he was terminated on time by our Zurich module (Hitradio Z, Sunshine, Argovia) at the end of the year, in full compliance with the contract. The three are just not allowed to join a new pool straight away.
But they do. Pool spokesman Roland Baumgartner said that the market decides when the pool will be sold.
Muerner: If the pool of millions is actually sold before the end of the year, we will have to talk to the three radios again.
However, they are now saying that Pool 2000 has hardly been booked since the beginning of the year, when the Powerpool (24, Zürisee) was launched. Why do you still want it until the end of the year?
Muerner: That's not quite right. The pool was still booked, but less than before, which was due to the economic situation. However, it is true that our Zurich module is suffering from the power pool. We therefore discussed measures to strengthen the Zurich module. The expansion to include Radio Top was also an issue.
On May 13, the day before the million pool was announced, a meeting of Pool 2000 took place. Was the new pool not a topic there?
Muerner: Yes, we did. We decided three things: we unanimously said yes to expanding the pool without mentioning any names or dates. The proposal from our Zurich module to expand the pool to include not just Top, but Top, Grischa, Piz, Ri, Central and 32 and to offer six modules instead of three was then rejected. The Zurich team then requested that we release them from the pool early, which was rejected. The next day, we were surprised by the press release from the pool of millions.
Why was the extension rejected?
Muerner: The Basel (Regenbogen, Edelweiss) and Bernese (BE1, BeO, Canal 3) stations felt that the pool structure with so many modules was not optimal. And they wanted to discuss the Zurich draft agreement, which was only presented to us a week before the meeting, in more detail.
But now the Zurich module had to react, while the Basel and Berne modules were not under the same pressure, because they were booked in addition to the Powerpool or the Zurich module anyway.
Muerner: The whole thing is a Zurich problem. But I don't think that a tried and tested pool should be massively changed in a rush. We would have agreed to an expansion of the Zurich module with Radio Top, but the Zurich team overloaded the pool and wanted to almost double it.
What happens now?
Muerner: The Zurich module will have to explain this to us at the next meeting. If it insists on the pool of millions, the Bern and Basel modules will simply have to reorient themselves. But I'm looking for a solution that everyone is happy with in the end. I want to avoid a lawsuit.
The Basel and Bern modules could simply join the pool of millions.
Muerner: Or the Powerpool. There are several options open. However, after the last vote, I don't consider a connection with the Million Pool to be the first priority. But perhaps the Million Pool founders will put the brakes on.
The Bern and Basel modules are in a convenient position: they can be combined with the Powerpool, the Zurich module and the Million Pool. So you have time.
Muerner: You're right, we have a certain amount of breathing space. That's why I also want to proceed with caution in strategic terms.
Has the conflict between the intermediaries IP Multimedia and Radiotele contributed to this new industry dispute? In any case, the radios BE1, Canal 3 and Ihr Radio BeO, the only stations leased by Radiotele, have not moved along with Hitradio Z, which belongs to IP.
Muerner: This conflict also played a small role. However, it should be noted that the radio pie has not grown since IP entered the intermediary business, but has been divided up, which has not been to the benefit of the genre. This was said to be purely cyclical, but this is not true.
It has also been reported that Radiotele has hardly sold the Pool 2000 module Zurich with Hitradio Z because of the competition with IP.
Muerner: I can't say whether that's true or not.
A year ago, as an integrator, you were elected Managing Director of Pool 2000 and Vice President of the Swiss Private Radio Association (VSP). What is your balance sheet?
Muerner: We have succeeded in uniting the scene and bringing it together in one association. The VSP has never been as strong as it is today. I don't think we made any mistakes with the pool. However, I was unable to convince the Zurich module to take a different approach.
Was it a mistake to take over the pool management? The bridge builder himself is now in the middle of a conflict.
Muerner: No, that wasn't a mistake. The problem didn't arise because of me. I assume that things would be much nastier without me. People would probably be going at each other with lawyers now. I don't want that.
Can the radio scene, which resembles a bunch of fleas, be disciplined without complaining?
Muerner: Not the whole industry, just two or three exponents are so undisciplined.
They play it down: all eight members of the million pool, including VSP President Günter Heuberger, are aware of the legal situation in Pool 2000, yet they followed the Zurich module. And Zürisee and 24 had not bothered with the Leaderpool contracts in December either.
Muerner: Nevertheless, I am against such an image of the industry. But I don't understand the VSP President's approach either. I've already told him that. This will be discussed again at the next VSP meeting.
