Radio pools face fate question
Pool 2000 and City-Pool will remain for now—but the new data from Radiocontrol could change that
Pool 2000 and City-Pool will remain for the time being - but the new Radiocontrol data could change thatBy Markus Knöpfli The large radio advertising combinations City-Pool (Basilisk, Pilatus, ExtraBern) and Pool 2000 (Z, Argovia, BE1, Edelweiss, Regenbogen, Sunshine, BeO, Canal 3) will continue to exist as before for the time being. However, it cannot be ruled out that the Radiocontrol data will give rise to new teams within a year at the latest.
At separate meetings, City Pool and Pool 2000 decided not to separate. Any terminations at the end of the year would have had to be made in both pools by June 30. "We can live with this situation," says Felix Kilchsperger, Head of Radio Sales at marketer Radiotele.
The biggest change occurred at Pool 2000: BeO broadcasting manager Martin Muerner was unanimously elected as the new Pool Managing Director (but will remain with BeO). He succeeds pool founder Christian Stärkle. Two months ago, Stärkle moved to the marketing company Belcom (Radio 24, Tele 24, Tele Züri) as Managing Director of Radio Argovia and Tele M1 and has therefore left Pool 2000.
However, the fact that the two pool constellations have remained unchanged is not entirely self-evident. Firstly, because the city pool is "a courted bride", as both Monique Stauffer, Head of Sales at Radio Basilisk, and Joachim Freiberg, Managing Director of Radio Pilatus, emphasize.
However, neither gave any information about the source of the advances. Just this much: former member Radio 24 and Radio Aktuell are not among the suitors. And other independent radio stations would probably not be considered for the city pool anyway. And anyway, according to Stauffer, serious thought will only be given to expanding the pool once the Radiocontrol figures are on the table.
However, the City Pool had obviously also expected Pool 2000 to break up. It was not entirely far-fetched to assume such a move. After all, Christian Stärkle of all people had apparently tried to bring in Radio 24, which he now looked after, to take Radio Z's place.
However, Pool 2000 did not receive an official application, as Muerner said when asked, and this topic was not on the agenda. Nevertheless, this point was discussed - under the question: What next for Pool 2000? Muerner also confirms that there were "tough discussions", but points out that the necessary pool termination was never considered.
The broadcasters are most annoyed about price dumping
Under the aforementioned agenda item, the (lack of) price compliance of individual pool members was also criticized. According to reports, Radio Z seems to be the black sheep in the price range. This could also be the reason why some pool members have half-considered swapping "Radio 24 for Z". "No comment", says the good shepherd Muerner. Just this much: price dumping is a recurring theme in the whole scene.
Michael Frank, Managing Director of Radio Z marketer IP Multimedia, can "only laugh" at the accusation of dumping. "We don't charge dumping prices, but of course we have to compare ourselves with Radio 24," he says. And with reference to the new Radiocontrol figures, he asks why Radio 24 is looking for a pool again. He is right - but the question remains unanswered, as neither Stärkle nor Richi Gasser were available for comment from Radio 24.
The only thing that is certain is that everything will remain the same for Pool 2000. Muerner's reasoning behind this statement: "If the boat is floating reasonably well, it would be foolish to jeopardize the pool and its name." In addition, the radios had agreed not to present the new Radiocontrol figures to each other until Radio Day on August 30. Without knowing the facts, i.e. the losers and winners, a recomposition would therefore be "a bad prerequisite for a stir in the scene", said Muerner.
Radiocontrol and tariff policy A conference on "Radiocontrol and tariff policy" was held on July 3 at the invitation of Martin Muerner, member of the board of the Swiss Private Radio Association (VSP). In addition to Publica Data and Radiotele, all (!) private radio stations in German-speaking Switzerland were present, as were several representatives of the French-speaking private radio association RRR. The main question was how the new radio currency will affect the tariff structure and how Radiocontrol data should be offered to the market in future. Although it was agreed not to disclose the results, Muerner announced that the main points were agreed. A working group has now been formed to work out the details. A second meeting may follow at the beginning of August. In any case, definitive results should be available by Radio Day.
At separate meetings, City Pool and Pool 2000 decided not to separate. Any terminations at the end of the year would have had to be made in both pools by June 30. "We can live with this situation," says Felix Kilchsperger, Head of Radio Sales at marketer Radiotele.
The biggest change occurred at Pool 2000: BeO broadcasting manager Martin Muerner was unanimously elected as the new Pool Managing Director (but will remain with BeO). He succeeds pool founder Christian Stärkle. Two months ago, Stärkle moved to the marketing company Belcom (Radio 24, Tele 24, Tele Züri) as Managing Director of Radio Argovia and Tele M1 and has therefore left Pool 2000.
However, the fact that the two pool constellations have remained unchanged is not entirely self-evident. Firstly, because the city pool is "a courted bride", as both Monique Stauffer, Head of Sales at Radio Basilisk, and Joachim Freiberg, Managing Director of Radio Pilatus, emphasize.
However, neither gave any information about the source of the advances. Just this much: former member Radio 24 and Radio Aktuell are not among the suitors. And other independent radio stations would probably not be considered for the city pool anyway. And anyway, according to Stauffer, serious thought will only be given to expanding the pool once the Radiocontrol figures are on the table.
However, the City Pool had obviously also expected Pool 2000 to break up. It was not entirely far-fetched to assume such a move. After all, Christian Stärkle of all people had apparently tried to bring in Radio 24, which he now looked after, to take Radio Z's place.
However, Pool 2000 did not receive an official application, as Muerner said when asked, and this topic was not on the agenda. Nevertheless, this point was discussed - under the question: What next for Pool 2000? Muerner also confirms that there were "tough discussions", but points out that the necessary pool termination was never considered.
The broadcasters are most annoyed about price dumping
Under the aforementioned agenda item, the (lack of) price compliance of individual pool members was also criticized. According to reports, Radio Z seems to be the black sheep in the price range. This could also be the reason why some pool members have half-considered swapping "Radio 24 for Z". "No comment", says the good shepherd Muerner. Just this much: price dumping is a recurring theme in the whole scene.
Michael Frank, Managing Director of Radio Z marketer IP Multimedia, can "only laugh" at the accusation of dumping. "We don't charge dumping prices, but of course we have to compare ourselves with Radio 24," he says. And with reference to the new Radiocontrol figures, he asks why Radio 24 is looking for a pool again. He is right - but the question remains unanswered, as neither Stärkle nor Richi Gasser were available for comment from Radio 24.
The only thing that is certain is that everything will remain the same for Pool 2000. Muerner's reasoning behind this statement: "If the boat is floating reasonably well, it would be foolish to jeopardize the pool and its name." In addition, the radios had agreed not to present the new Radiocontrol figures to each other until Radio Day on August 30. Without knowing the facts, i.e. the losers and winners, a recomposition would therefore be "a bad prerequisite for a stir in the scene", said Muerner.
Radiocontrol and tariff policy A conference on "Radiocontrol and tariff policy" was held on July 3 at the invitation of Martin Muerner, member of the board of the Swiss Private Radio Association (VSP). In addition to Publica Data and Radiotele, all (!) private radio stations in German-speaking Switzerland were present, as were several representatives of the French-speaking private radio association RRR. The main question was how the new radio currency will affect the tariff structure and how Radiocontrol data should be offered to the market in future. Although it was agreed not to disclose the results, Muerner announced that the main points were agreed. A working group has now been formed to work out the details. A second meeting may follow at the beginning of August. In any case, definitive results should be available by Radio Day.
