Radio Basel: Uvek approves complete takeover by Kögel
German entrepreneur Karlheinz Kögel has been granted permission to take full ownership of Radio Basel. The Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (UVEK) has approved the sale of Christian Heeb's shares to co-owner Kögel.
With its decision, the Uvek has simultaneously approved two changes in ownership of the licensed Radio Basel that require authorization, according to a press release issued on Thursday. On the one hand, "Medien für Erwachsene AG" (MFE) has increased its stake in Radio Basel from 67 to 100 percent. Radio Nostalgie (Paris) and numerous small shareholders have left the Radio Basel shareholder base. On the other hand, Heeb has sold his 50 percent share in Media Clearing Center - which MFE owns 100 percent - to Kögel. As a result of these changes, Kögel now owns 100 percent of Radio Basel.
Karlheinz Kögel does not own any other radio or television stations. According to the Uvek, Radio Basel assures that it will continue to meet all licensing requirements, in particular the programming mandate focused on the Basel region.
Radio Basel received its license - at that time under the name Radio Basel 1 - from the Uvek in October 2008 as the second commercial local radio station in Basel alongside Radio Basilisk. In June 2009, MFE acquired a majority stake in Radio Basel from Basler Zeitung Medien and introduced a strongly journalistic program concept.
