Bakom: no license violation at Energy Basel
The private radio station Radio Energy Basel is not in violation of its license. This is the conclusion reached by the Federal Office of Communications (Bakom). It has therefore closed a supervisory proceeding that had been initiated by the Basel-based local station Radio X.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, OFCOM stated that the editorial team at Energy Basel has limited personnel resources. However, the number of staff is sufficient to fulfill the program mandate. This is laid down in the license granted to the local station in October 2008.
The former Radio Basel adopted the program concept of the Energy Group last January and has since been known as Energy Basel. In the course of these changes, there were also job cuts. In its proceedings opened in May, OFCOM clarified whether the station can fulfill its performance mandate with a changed workforce.
The proceedings were triggered by Radio X, another local Basel station. According to the president of its foundation board, Bakom should have re-approved the license and held a hearing because the change from Radio Basel to Energy Basel had radically changed the program.
With the new name, Energy Basel also gained new co-owners. The then sole owner Karlheinz Kögel retained 85% and brought Ringier and the NRJ Group Paris on board for the relaunch of the station. The ownership structure was not the subject of the proceedings, which have now been discontinued, Bakom also stated. (SDA)
