Meteomedia: Kachelmann gets back in full swing
Following his acquittal, TV presenter Jörg Kachelmann will return to the weather service he founded, Meteomedia. The company announced this on Tuesday in Gais AR.
Kachelmann remained president of Meteomedia during his trial. The company is "pleased about the long overdue acquittal of its founder", it said in a statement. "Jörg Kachelmann will now be able to devote his full attention to the Meteomedia Group again." This also includes his commentaries on weather events in media such as Radio Basel, the German station Radio Primavera and Twitter. Additional public appearances are also not ruled out in the future.
More often on Radio Basel again
At Radio Basel, where Kachelmann has been on air once a week for months, the Swiss presenter will now "hopefully be heard more often", editor-in-chief Christian Heeb told the news agency SDA. Even after the weather presenter's arrest in March 2010, the Basel local radio station held on to its contract with his company Meteomedia. "The presumption of innocence applies from the first to the last day," said Heeb, explaining his stance.
Despite some "nasty emails" from people "who wanted to see Jörg slaughtered", Heeb allowed Kachelmann to present the weekend weather show again after his release from custody. However, due to the ongoing trial in Mannheim, Kachelmann was hardly ever on air during the week. For a short time, Kachelmann also worked for the Swiss station Radio Sunshine. However, due to complaints from listeners, the station decided not to feature the 52-year-old weather presenter. It was not initially clear whether Kachelmann would be allowed or willing to appear on the station again.
ARD awaits appeal
Despite the acquittal, Kachelmann will not be returning to ARD for the time being. "As long as the proceedings have not been finally concluded and a verdict has not become legally binding, we see no need to make a decision on this matter," said an ARD spokesperson.
The Swiss presenter had been presenting weather forecasts for ARD since the mid-1990s, and since 2002 he had regularly appeared on the "Tagesthemen" and the morning show, among others. Since the allegations came to light last spring, ARD has suspended Kachelmann's presenting activities. (SDA)
