Triple moderators waiting for their wages
The ad-free Lucerne youth radio station 3fach is facing financial difficulties, and in order to pay its ongoing bills, the hosts will have to take a pay cut for now. However, they remain loyal to the station.
Employees at the commercial-free Lucerne youth radio station 3fach are currently waiting for their wages to be paid. The station has money worries and in order to be able to pay the current bills, the presenters have to take a back seat for the time being. However, they remain loyal to the station. None of the employees have resigned due to the current situation. The hourly-paid presenters have not been paid since August, and the four permanent employees have also had to be patient since October, reports the Neue Luzerner Zeitung. According to deputy managing director Esther Unternährer, the employees will be compensated in January when the money arrives from the Federal Office of Communications (Bakom). For 2007, Bakom is transferring 145,807 Swiss francs to Radio 3fach. 80 percent should reach the station's account in January. If the budget is adhered to, the remaining 20 percent will follow at the beginning of 2008. In addition to the Lucerne youth station, Bakom supports a further six advertising-free radio stations with a total of CHF 1.6 million from the SRG fee splitting.
In order to receive the contributions, broadcasters must keep exact records. This is because the Bakom contribution may not exceed 50 percent of the total budget. If the requirements are not met, some money may have to be refunded.
Already short of money in the pastThis year's situation was partly due to the poor results of the Funk am See festival, which 3fach co-financed. However, this is not the first time that Radio 3fach has been plagued by financial worries. Two years ago, the local radio stations in Central Switzerland cut their contributions to the station, which in return had waived advertising and sponsorship (see
). To raise money, the station currently runs a members' club. It has almost 500 members, all of whom pay at least 33 francs per year. It also works with station sponsorship, which, unlike advertising spots, is permitted. At the moment, 30 percent of the programs are sponsored by a company.
In order to receive the contributions, broadcasters must keep exact records. This is because the Bakom contribution may not exceed 50 percent of the total budget. If the requirements are not met, some money may have to be refunded.
Already short of money in the pastThis year's situation was partly due to the poor results of the Funk am See festival, which 3fach co-financed. However, this is not the first time that Radio 3fach has been plagued by financial worries. Two years ago, the local radio stations in Central Switzerland cut their contributions to the station, which in return had waived advertising and sponsorship (see
). To raise money, the station currently runs a members' club. It has almost 500 members, all of whom pay at least 33 francs per year. It also works with station sponsorship, which, unlike advertising spots, is permitted. At the moment, 30 percent of the programs are sponsored by a company.
