Is Tamedia selling Radio 24 abroad?
Tamedia is reportedly preparing to sell Radio 24 to a foreign buyer. According to the newspaper *Sonntag*, Karlheinz Kögel’s name has been mentioned in connection with the deal. Roger Schawinski has announced his opposition.
According to Tamedia company spokeswoman Eliane Gräser, a high level of expertise in the radio sector has been identified in the neighboring foreign markets. A new owner from abroad would bring in this expertise and at the same time represent an enrichment for media diversity in Switzerland. For these reasons, a sale abroad could be interesting. According to Sonntag, one name is circulating: Karlheinz Kögel, Christian Heeb's partner at Radio Basel, who wants to leave the station. He left the question of whether he is also interested in Radio 24 unanswered despite several inquiries from the Sonntagspublikation.
Roger Schawinski, meanwhile, has announced his opposition to selling the station abroad. Radio 24 is an important and emotional part of Switzerland's media history. The station should therefore not be easily sold abroad. Schawinski receives support from Karl Lüönd: If Radio 24 came under foreign ownership, this could be problematic, the publicist told Sonntag. He is thinking of influencing the program. German private broadcasters also focus on a lot of music and radio plays, but less on information. Bakom Director Martin Dumermuth commented: "It is important to us that any new owner has a journalistic sensibility and does not see information as a compulsory exercise." The performance mandate is clearly defined and must also be fulfilled in the future.
Basel media lawyer Martin Wagner is also back in the race. Radio 24 is an issue for him, but he will only get involved if it is commercially viable, he told Sonntag.
