Radio Top applies for change of license

Radio Top was awarded the license for the Eastern Switzerland West region in 2008. This includes the cantons of Zurich, Schaffhausen, Thurgau and St. Gallen. The contract includes daily regional program windows. Five years after the concession was granted, Radio Top is "drawing a largely positive interim balance", according to the concession amendment application. However, income from advertising and sponsorship does not cover expenditure.

According to the application, Radio Top reported an annual loss of just under CHF 753,000 at the end of 2012. A "further substantial annual loss" is also expected for 2013, meaning that the balance sheet loss is likely to exceed CHF 5 million, it continues. Talks with shareholders and other potential investors have indicated a fundamental willingness to succeed in restructuring the company. However, Radio Top writes that it is not possible to cover costs with the current license conditions. On the other hand, the radio wants to stick to its performance mandate, as Managing Director Günter Heuberger told the SDA news agency on Thursday.

Radio Top operates a total of 20 transmitters in its coverage area, six of which are duplicated. "We could reduce the number here," said Heuberger. The media entrepreneur is also hoping for a more accurate representation of listener numbers. According to Heuberger, this could save a total of around CHF 500,000. Specifically, the current program windows for the regions served are to be "fundamentally eliminated" according to the application. The proportion of programs that relate directly to the coverage area in terms of content should be 40 percent. (SDA)