To the point: Who gets it?
Following the successful sale of TeleZüri and TeleBärn to AZ Medien, the question arises as to who will now take over the local radio stations Radio 24 and Radio FM. After all, AZ Medien was unable to acquire the two stations.
The reason for this is our great Radio and Television Act (RTVG), according to which a broadcaster or the company that owns it can acquire a maximum of two television licenses and two radio licenses. The issue of more than two television licenses was not a problem when AZ Medien took over, because TeleZüri does not have a license at all. In retrospect, Tamedia can therefore only be glad that TeleZüri did not receive a license; that certainly made the sale to an established publisher easier. The sale of the radio stations is now more difficult. Selling both radios in a package to one person or to a company is only possible if the company does not yet own a licensed radio station. And whether this is really a good prerequisite for the successful continuation of the two stations may be doubted. Even if some people from outside the industry would probably still find it exciting to own two radio stations.
Radio 24 alone should have no problem finding a buyer. All those who today only have a radio license and are interested in a successful radio station in an economically strong region could be interested. This goes from Hagemann, Heeb, Gut to Schawinski. The neo-SF talk show host would surely be only too happy to buy back his old station. Then he would have a second mainstay in addition to his radio for adults. The only question is what price he wants to pay for it. At the time, Schawinski paid a lot of money for radio and Tele 24. Connoisseurs think too much money, so Tamedia's willingness for a favorable selling price for Schawinski should be rather low.
Finding a buyer for Radio FM will not be that easy. On the one hand, radio and television are closely linked structurally and technically in the Espace media house in Bern (nota bene with the newspaper as well!). And then Radio FM is the number 2 in Bern and therefore not necessarily so attractive for a buyer outside the greater Bern area. On the other hand, it could be interesting for the Bernese Oberland, Emme or Canal3 radios. The only question is who is willing and able to pay a decent price. RadioBeo, with its enterprising and active boss Mürner, is the most likely to do so.
Pierre C. Meier, Editor-in-Chief
[email protected]
