Energy Zurich expected to remain on air
Energy Zürich is expected to be saved. The private radio station is purchasing the second FM license from Giuseppe Scaglione's Music First Network for the greater Zurich area.
According to SDA, Radio Energy Managing Director Dani Büchi said this to the media in Zurich on Friday. Specifically, this concerns the FM license of Radio Monte Carlo (RMC). According to Büchi, there will be no redundancies at the end of 2009. The buyer and seller are in agreement. It is a win-win situation for both, said Scaglione. He had always dreamed of an FM license. Suddenly he had two, one for the youth radio station 105 and one for Radio Monte Carlo Züri (RMC Züri). He is now relinquishing the latter.
However, the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) still has to approve the transfer of the concession, as Büchi went on to explain. The license is valid for the greater Zurich area. The Uvek must make a decision within three months, as announced on Friday. Before making its decision, it will hold a hearing with the government of the canton of Zurich, the Zurich City Council, the licensed FM radio stations in the greater Zurich area and media industry interest groups.
The Uvek is examining whether the licensing requirements are also fulfilled after the transfer. Radio Energy Zurich must credibly demonstrate that it will fulfill the services promised by Radio RMC Züri, it added. Dani Büchi announced "moderate adjustments in the area of information". Energy Zurich's FM license for the large Zurich/Glarus broadcasting area expires on December 31, 2009. If the procedure has not been completed by then, the station "may continue to broadcast on the basis of Radio RMC's license until the outcome of the approval procedure", writes DETEC.
"Courageous, forward-looking decision"
Energy owner Ringier was confident on Friday. Marc Walder, Managing Director of Ringier Switzerland, considers an appeal against a positive decision to be "not very sensible". He referred to the license transfer of the Geneva radio station Buzz fm to One fm and that of Radio Basel 1 to Radio Basel. Walder thanked Scaglione for his "courageous, forward-looking decision" in the interests of Energy listeners and the Swiss radio landscape.
Radio Energy Zurich is 51 percent owned by the Ringier Group and 49 percent by the French NRJ Group, Europe's largest radio group. The radio has been on air with its current concept since August 2003 and employs around 60 people.
However, the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) still has to approve the transfer of the concession, as Büchi went on to explain. The license is valid for the greater Zurich area. The Uvek must make a decision within three months, as announced on Friday. Before making its decision, it will hold a hearing with the government of the canton of Zurich, the Zurich City Council, the licensed FM radio stations in the greater Zurich area and media industry interest groups.
The Uvek is examining whether the licensing requirements are also fulfilled after the transfer. Radio Energy Zurich must credibly demonstrate that it will fulfill the services promised by Radio RMC Züri, it added. Dani Büchi announced "moderate adjustments in the area of information". Energy Zurich's FM license for the large Zurich/Glarus broadcasting area expires on December 31, 2009. If the procedure has not been completed by then, the station "may continue to broadcast on the basis of Radio RMC's license until the outcome of the approval procedure", writes DETEC.
"Courageous, forward-looking decision"
Energy owner Ringier was confident on Friday. Marc Walder, Managing Director of Ringier Switzerland, considers an appeal against a positive decision to be "not very sensible". He referred to the license transfer of the Geneva radio station Buzz fm to One fm and that of Radio Basel 1 to Radio Basel. Walder thanked Scaglione for his "courageous, forward-looking decision" in the interests of Energy listeners and the Swiss radio landscape.
Radio Energy Zurich is 51 percent owned by the Ringier Group and 49 percent by the French NRJ Group, Europe's largest radio group. The radio has been on air with its current concept since August 2003 and employs around 60 people.
