"Now we're doing a super job together with the editors-in-chief".
Christian Stärkle on His Return as CEO at Belcom
Christian Stärkle on his comeback as CEO at Belcom "Now we're doing a great job together with the editors-in-chief"
Until Tamedia took over Belcom, Christian Stärkle was its CEO. Then he had to leave. A few days ago, Tamedia put him back in the chair of Belcom CEO.
Two months ago you turned down a job offer from Tamedia as unacceptable, but now you have accepted it. Why?
Christian Stärkle: There is a difference between being offered the sales management position at Belcom and the CEO of the holding company. The second offer is great, I can fully back it.
The first offer gave you the impression that Tamedia wanted to get rid of you.
Stärkle: Yes, but I was impressed that Tamedia was able to go back on its decision at the time. The job appeals to me, and now we are doing a great job together with the editors-in-chief.
Did the two offers come from different people?
Stärkle: Of course.
By whom the first time?
Stärkle: From those who were responsible for bringing the media together.
Wildberger and Zimmermann?
Stärkle: I didn't say that.
What's it like when you replace the man who practically kicked you out the door?
Stärkle: I'm not replacing anyone. We have a kind of division of labor. Mr. Wildberger limits himself to the national electronic media, I concentrate on the local media.
Were you surprised by the decision about TV 3?
Stärkle: I expected that TV 3 in its current form would come to an end in the medium term. However, I did not expect TV 3 to be discontinued completely.
When did you first have doubts about the TV-3 concept?
Stärkle: TV 3 wanted to specialize in a younger target audience. However, there are almost one million young people in Switzerland who are mobile and therefore more inclined towards the medium of radio. With around 10 percent of this target group, TV 3 achieved a good result, but with 80,000 to 100,000 viewers, it is not possible to generate sufficient advertising volume in German-speaking Switzerland.
So did you doubt its success even before the TV 3 launch?
Stärkle: No, because at the time I was only involved with our projects at AZ Medien.
What grade between 1 and 6 would you give Tamedia's management for its performance around TV 3?
Stärkle: I give him a grade of 6 for my job.
TeleNewsCombi (TNC) is starting under new auspices: without former member Tele 24, without regional-language private competition and connected to Mediaoptimizer. As head of TNC, what turnover do you expect for 2002?
Stärkle: We budgeted three million francs for the TNC under the previous conditions. TV 3 and Tele 24 together had an advertising volume of 30 to 40 million francs, part of which is probably lost to television and part of which goes to other channels. So next year we should end up with around five million francs.
Will the TV-3 decision change anything significant about the Tele Züri concept (see WW 43/01)?
Stärkle: What is new is that not only Tele Züri, but the entire TNC is trying to acquire some program parts in the entertainment sector from TV 3 - for example "Robinson". But that is a question of price.
How do you comment on the fact that one day after the TV-3 closure decision, the SRG already applied for higher fees for 2003?
Stärkle: I understand the SRG's concerns; after all, the volume of advertising is declining, the IV and some AHV recipients will no longer have to pay fees in future, and the Federal Council wants to extend fee splitting.
Understanding? Probably only because you hope that higher fees will increase your chances of receiving a share of the fees.
Stärkle: That has nothing to do with each other. But the fact is that the market in Switzerland is distorted. Here in Switzerland, only the private Swiss TV stations have to finance their programs on the free market.
Last week, Radio 24 announced the Powerpool with Radio Zürisee. This is not legally possible, as Radio Zürisee is already part of the leader pool.
Stärkle: This clarification is primarily a matter for Radio Zürisee. However, we are of course available for an amicable solution.
However, the Competition Commission did not want Tamedia to have a dominant position in the Zurich radio advertising market, which is why it demanded the separation of Radio Zürisee. With the Powerpool, however, Tamedia would now gain this supremacy through the back door.
Stärkle: You've got that wrong. By dominant position, the Competition Commission means actual control. But Radio Zürisee doesn't have to enter into a contract with us.
Nevertheless, was this pool a clever move?
Stärkle: We simply wanted an advertising link that would make it easier for customers to occupy the Zurich market.
Did you come up with this idea before you left?
Stärkle: I was asked, but I didn't decide. But I support the decision 100 percent.
Your departure from Belcom made it easier for the radio industry to reunite to form an association. Will your return now bring peace or new discord?
Stärkle: That would mean that I'm argumentative.
No, that you are one of two main opponents.
Stärkle: I don't feel like that. We have to ensure that the entire radio industry moves forward. And I support this to the best of my ability.
Will Radio 24 become a member of the Association of Swiss Private Radio Stations?
Stärkle: That is conceivable.
How does the Tele 25 project differ from Tele 24?
Stärkle: According to our concept, Tele 25 would not be a mixed channel with Tele Züri, as would have been the case with Tele 24 in the Zurich area, but an independent news channel with a loop program.
Austrian investors are said to have shown interest.
Stärkle: Even if I knew something about it, I wouldn't say anything. Interview: Markus Knöpfli
Until Tamedia took over Belcom, Christian Stärkle was its CEO. Then he had to leave. A few days ago, Tamedia put him back in the chair of Belcom CEO.
Two months ago you turned down a job offer from Tamedia as unacceptable, but now you have accepted it. Why?
Christian Stärkle: There is a difference between being offered the sales management position at Belcom and the CEO of the holding company. The second offer is great, I can fully back it.
The first offer gave you the impression that Tamedia wanted to get rid of you.
Stärkle: Yes, but I was impressed that Tamedia was able to go back on its decision at the time. The job appeals to me, and now we are doing a great job together with the editors-in-chief.
Did the two offers come from different people?
Stärkle: Of course.
By whom the first time?
Stärkle: From those who were responsible for bringing the media together.
Wildberger and Zimmermann?
Stärkle: I didn't say that.
What's it like when you replace the man who practically kicked you out the door?
Stärkle: I'm not replacing anyone. We have a kind of division of labor. Mr. Wildberger limits himself to the national electronic media, I concentrate on the local media.
Were you surprised by the decision about TV 3?
Stärkle: I expected that TV 3 in its current form would come to an end in the medium term. However, I did not expect TV 3 to be discontinued completely.
When did you first have doubts about the TV-3 concept?
Stärkle: TV 3 wanted to specialize in a younger target audience. However, there are almost one million young people in Switzerland who are mobile and therefore more inclined towards the medium of radio. With around 10 percent of this target group, TV 3 achieved a good result, but with 80,000 to 100,000 viewers, it is not possible to generate sufficient advertising volume in German-speaking Switzerland.
So did you doubt its success even before the TV 3 launch?
Stärkle: No, because at the time I was only involved with our projects at AZ Medien.
What grade between 1 and 6 would you give Tamedia's management for its performance around TV 3?
Stärkle: I give him a grade of 6 for my job.
TeleNewsCombi (TNC) is starting under new auspices: without former member Tele 24, without regional-language private competition and connected to Mediaoptimizer. As head of TNC, what turnover do you expect for 2002?
Stärkle: We budgeted three million francs for the TNC under the previous conditions. TV 3 and Tele 24 together had an advertising volume of 30 to 40 million francs, part of which is probably lost to television and part of which goes to other channels. So next year we should end up with around five million francs.
Will the TV-3 decision change anything significant about the Tele Züri concept (see WW 43/01)?
Stärkle: What is new is that not only Tele Züri, but the entire TNC is trying to acquire some program parts in the entertainment sector from TV 3 - for example "Robinson". But that is a question of price.
How do you comment on the fact that one day after the TV-3 closure decision, the SRG already applied for higher fees for 2003?
Stärkle: I understand the SRG's concerns; after all, the volume of advertising is declining, the IV and some AHV recipients will no longer have to pay fees in future, and the Federal Council wants to extend fee splitting.
Understanding? Probably only because you hope that higher fees will increase your chances of receiving a share of the fees.
Stärkle: That has nothing to do with each other. But the fact is that the market in Switzerland is distorted. Here in Switzerland, only the private Swiss TV stations have to finance their programs on the free market.
Last week, Radio 24 announced the Powerpool with Radio Zürisee. This is not legally possible, as Radio Zürisee is already part of the leader pool.
Stärkle: This clarification is primarily a matter for Radio Zürisee. However, we are of course available for an amicable solution.
However, the Competition Commission did not want Tamedia to have a dominant position in the Zurich radio advertising market, which is why it demanded the separation of Radio Zürisee. With the Powerpool, however, Tamedia would now gain this supremacy through the back door.
Stärkle: You've got that wrong. By dominant position, the Competition Commission means actual control. But Radio Zürisee doesn't have to enter into a contract with us.
Nevertheless, was this pool a clever move?
Stärkle: We simply wanted an advertising link that would make it easier for customers to occupy the Zurich market.
Did you come up with this idea before you left?
Stärkle: I was asked, but I didn't decide. But I support the decision 100 percent.
Your departure from Belcom made it easier for the radio industry to reunite to form an association. Will your return now bring peace or new discord?
Stärkle: That would mean that I'm argumentative.
No, that you are one of two main opponents.
Stärkle: I don't feel like that. We have to ensure that the entire radio industry moves forward. And I support this to the best of my ability.
Will Radio 24 become a member of the Association of Swiss Private Radio Stations?
Stärkle: That is conceivable.
How does the Tele 25 project differ from Tele 24?
Stärkle: According to our concept, Tele 25 would not be a mixed channel with Tele Züri, as would have been the case with Tele 24 in the Zurich area, but an independent news channel with a loop program.
Austrian investors are said to have shown interest.
Stärkle: Even if I knew something about it, I wouldn't say anything. Interview: Markus Knöpfli
