Go west!
Markus Knöpfli on the plans of the Espace Media Groupe in Biel.
Markus Knöpfli on the intentions of Espace Media Groupe in Biel/Bienne If Espace Media Groupe is allowed to take over Biel/Bienne's Canal 3 radio station, its bilingualism will be jeopardized in the medium term for economic reasons. Some initiators of the new radio bilingual project keep repeating this (see also p. 15). As proof, they are dishing up an old story: According to the original concession, TeleBärn, which belongs to Espace Media, had the mandate to also serve Biel with a French program, but never fulfilled this mandate. That is why the bilingual TeleBielingue was approved, but the story is false, as an inquiry to Bakom revealed.
TeleBärn did not neglect anything in Biel; in fact, Bakom suspended the contract from the outset in order to give TeleBielingue, which was only just emerging, a chance. The contract was later canceled.
This is not a lance to be broken for the Espace Media. But repeating untrue stories does not make them any truer, it distracts from the essentials. And the essence of Espace Media's interest in Canal 3 is the underlying intention of the Bern-based group: it wants to expand - into Solothurn and French-speaking Switzerland. It is no coincidence that the former Berner Tagblatt Medien AG adopted a French name three years ago. Canal 3 is now Espace Media's first gateway to French-speaking Switzerland, as it has long been looking for one. With the declining Canal 3, it can prove to the audience in western Switzerland and the advertisers there that it is serious about the move westwards and also has something to offer in terms of content. The channel's bilingualism is therefore never in danger.
However, the previous cooperation between Berner Zeitung and Bieler Tagblatt is at risk or at least under strain. Although Espace Media is unlikely to terminate this, the way in which the Bernese have now penetrated the Biel market and offended even their long-standing partner signals: "I'm going to get this radio, even at the expense of our partnership." In any case, the cooperation with BT has become secondary for Espace Media - for strategic reasons.
> Markus Knöpfli, editorial assistant
TeleBärn did not neglect anything in Biel; in fact, Bakom suspended the contract from the outset in order to give TeleBielingue, which was only just emerging, a chance. The contract was later canceled.
This is not a lance to be broken for the Espace Media. But repeating untrue stories does not make them any truer, it distracts from the essentials. And the essence of Espace Media's interest in Canal 3 is the underlying intention of the Bern-based group: it wants to expand - into Solothurn and French-speaking Switzerland. It is no coincidence that the former Berner Tagblatt Medien AG adopted a French name three years ago. Canal 3 is now Espace Media's first gateway to French-speaking Switzerland, as it has long been looking for one. With the declining Canal 3, it can prove to the audience in western Switzerland and the advertisers there that it is serious about the move westwards and also has something to offer in terms of content. The channel's bilingualism is therefore never in danger.
However, the previous cooperation between Berner Zeitung and Bieler Tagblatt is at risk or at least under strain. Although Espace Media is unlikely to terminate this, the way in which the Bernese have now penetrated the Biel market and offended even their long-standing partner signals: "I'm going to get this radio, even at the expense of our partnership." In any case, the cooperation with BT has become secondary for Espace Media - for strategic reasons.
> Markus Knöpfli, editorial assistant
