No radio for Schawinski: concession remains with Südostschweiz Radio AG
The Federal Administrative Court has ruled that the radio license for the «Southeast Switzerland – Glarus» region will remain with Südostschweiz Radio until 2034. According to the court, Roger Schawinski and Stefan Bühler, who had applied with the newly founded Radio Alpin Grischa, do not meet the requirements.
Originally, the license for the coverage area was awarded to Schawinski's Radio Alpin AG (in formation) in spring 2024. Südostschweiz Radio then lodged an appeal against this - with success. According to the Federal Administrative Court (FAC), Schawinski's station did not meet the prescribed minimum ratio of trained to trainee programmers - a criterion that serves as a benchmark for journalistic quality.
Consequently, the Uvek's licensing decision was revised, Radio Alpin Grischa AG was excluded from the licensing procedure and the license was awarded to the previous owner Südostschweiz Radio. The decision is final and cannot be appealed.
Schawinski's plans for a new station in Graubünden have thus failed for the time being. The initiators are "surprised and disappointed" by the court ruling, according to a report from SRF. For Stefan Bühler, the FAC focused too much on an "absolutely marginal point", as he told Radio SRF. Aspects such as the higher number of points awarded or the diversity of opinions and offerings, on the other hand, were neglected.
