Concession decisions: the losers file an appeal
Tele Züri, Radio Energy, and many of the other rejected license applicants have announced that they will file appeals against OFCOM's decisions. They may do so within 30 days with the Federal Administrative Court.
Tele Züri, Radio Energy and many of the other rejected license applicants have announced that they will appeal against OFCOM's decisions. They have 30 days to do so before the Federal Administrative Court. As Bakom announced on Friday, the court will then decide as the sole appeal authority.
The licences now granted are valid until 2019 and will enter into force at the earliest after expiry of the appeal period and at the latest after expiry of the old licences. The old licences run until the end of 2008 for television stations and until the end of March 2009 for radios. According to Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger, appeals have a suspensive effect. Until the proceedings are concluded and the Federal Administrative Court issues a negative decision on the appeal, the station in question can therefore continue to broadcast within the existing framework.
It is unclear what this will mean for the two radio licenses in the Zurich area in the course of next year. Roger Schawinski and his station Radio 1 have beaten rival Radio Energy in the battle for the large license for the Zurich-Glarus region. The small license for the greater Zurich area, on which Radio 1 previously broadcast, will now be awarded to Guiseppe Scaglione's channel RMC Züri. However, as Ringier, the media group behind Energy, immediately lodged an appeal, this could lead to problems. The resulting suspensive effect could force Schawinski to temporarily cease broadcasting. A delicate situation, also for Bakom, according to Werbewoche media expert Markus Knöpfli. In his opinion, however, Bakom will not allow Radio 1 to be switched off temporarily.
Knöpfli also describes the situation in the advertising sector as extremely exciting: "The two new players in the Zurich radio landscape are bringing movement into play." Guiseppe Scaglione, who is now in a very comfortable position with his two new licenses (youth radio and RMC Züri) and his cable offering, has not yet decided on a marketer.
The licences now granted are valid until 2019 and will enter into force at the earliest after expiry of the appeal period and at the latest after expiry of the old licences. The old licences run until the end of 2008 for television stations and until the end of March 2009 for radios. According to Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger, appeals have a suspensive effect. Until the proceedings are concluded and the Federal Administrative Court issues a negative decision on the appeal, the station in question can therefore continue to broadcast within the existing framework.
It is unclear what this will mean for the two radio licenses in the Zurich area in the course of next year. Roger Schawinski and his station Radio 1 have beaten rival Radio Energy in the battle for the large license for the Zurich-Glarus region. The small license for the greater Zurich area, on which Radio 1 previously broadcast, will now be awarded to Guiseppe Scaglione's channel RMC Züri. However, as Ringier, the media group behind Energy, immediately lodged an appeal, this could lead to problems. The resulting suspensive effect could force Schawinski to temporarily cease broadcasting. A delicate situation, also for Bakom, according to Werbewoche media expert Markus Knöpfli. In his opinion, however, Bakom will not allow Radio 1 to be switched off temporarily.
Knöpfli also describes the situation in the advertising sector as extremely exciting: "The two new players in the Zurich radio landscape are bringing movement into play." Guiseppe Scaglione, who is now in a very comfortable position with his two new licenses (youth radio and RMC Züri) and his cable offering, has not yet decided on a marketer.
