Goldbach-Bern return

 
Media policy A Goldbach employee is campaigning for more FM frequencies in Bern. Out of self-interest? What the Federal Council rejected about two years ago for cost reasons, it should now examine again: a reallocation of FM frequencies. This is the demand of an interpellation recently submitted by the young SVP National Councillor Nathalie Rickli. However, Rickli would also like to see measures that could be implemented more quickly: For example, the first SRG radio stations (DRS1, RSR1, RSI1) should no longer be broadcast outside their language region on FM, but only via DAB or DAB+. This would free up FM frequencies, which could be used to eliminate bottlenecks in FM coverage.so far, so proactive. The only thing that seems strange is that Rickli, manager at Goldbach subsidiary Adlink Media Switzerland, of all people, has taken this initiative - and right now. After all, her employer Goldbach Media has strong vested interests in the radio sector. It is the exclusive marketer of Ringier radio station Energy Zurich - a central pillar in the radio market for the Küsnacht-based company. However, this mainstay is shaky, as the canton and city of Zurich as well as various municipalities prefer other projects to the Ringier station in their comments on the radio license applications.
Rickli is also aware that Energy Zurich could lose its FM frequency, as she confirmed on request. But could it also be that she submitted the interpellation on behalf of or in consultation with Goldbach CEO Klaus Kappeler? Rickli denies this. "I am an independent politician, I am not employed by a media company and have no such vested interests," she says. Nor does she have time to discuss such matters with Kappeler. The interpellation has been planned for a long time and aims to increase media diversity. "If someone wants to do radio, they should be able to do so," she says.
Markus Knöpfli