Radio Emme becomes a mainstream station
The local station Radio Emme is rebranding: It will become a rock-and-pop station for 15- to 49-year-olds. In addition, the station’s producers plan to launch a second channel featuring folk music, which will be broadcast via cable TV, satellite, and the Internet. The change is unlikely to be met with enthusiasm everywhere.
The local station Radio Emme is realigning itself: It is becoming a rock and pop station for 15 to 49-year-olds. In addition, the station's creators want to launch a second program with popular content that will be broadcast via cable TV, satellite and the Internet. According to the press release, the reason for the change of course taken by the station's Board of Directors and management is the past ten years of "moderate success, dwindling listener numbers and a poor financial basis". With the repositioned FM program, which according to the press release is "clearly structured and easy to listen to", Radio Emme intends to apply for the "Emmental" concession put out to tender by the Federal Office of Communications. The central element will continue to be regional reporting.
The changeover will probably not be met with enthusiasm everywhere: Radio Emme co-founder Niklaus Blaser already spoke out in a press release in September, announcing his resignation from the board of directors and accusing the station operators of planning a program "that thousands of stations are already producing" with the repositioning. At the time, Blaser complained that instead of folk music, "generally English, often annoying and melancholy catcalls and whining" would be broadcast around the clock in future (see
). Outsourcing of folk music With the changes announced on Wednesday, Radio Emme apparently does not want to get rid of folk music completely: However, it will now be outsourced to a second channel - similar to what Radio DRS was planning. However, the public broadcaster postponed its plans for the time being after strong protests (see
). Although the broadcasters at Radio Emme do not directly address Blaser's accusations in their communiqué, they seem to be aware that accusations are being made. Daniel Ruch, commercial director and member of the management, is quoted as saying: "It's not that we don't understand the needs of the population and that we no longer pay attention to our region! On the contrary, with a second station chain, we will be able to offer the popular listeners - who, incidentally, are in the minority in terms of the overall listenership - a much wider range of their favorite music."
According to Jüre Lehmann, Chairman of the Management Board, the original concept, in particular the diversity of sectors, was not commercially successful. This is now to be changed by the repositioning. It is underlined by a complete rebranding and a planned internet communication platform.
The changeover will probably not be met with enthusiasm everywhere: Radio Emme co-founder Niklaus Blaser already spoke out in a press release in September, announcing his resignation from the board of directors and accusing the station operators of planning a program "that thousands of stations are already producing" with the repositioning. At the time, Blaser complained that instead of folk music, "generally English, often annoying and melancholy catcalls and whining" would be broadcast around the clock in future (see
). Outsourcing of folk music With the changes announced on Wednesday, Radio Emme apparently does not want to get rid of folk music completely: However, it will now be outsourced to a second channel - similar to what Radio DRS was planning. However, the public broadcaster postponed its plans for the time being after strong protests (see
). Although the broadcasters at Radio Emme do not directly address Blaser's accusations in their communiqué, they seem to be aware that accusations are being made. Daniel Ruch, commercial director and member of the management, is quoted as saying: "It's not that we don't understand the needs of the population and that we no longer pay attention to our region! On the contrary, with a second station chain, we will be able to offer the popular listeners - who, incidentally, are in the minority in terms of the overall listenership - a much wider range of their favorite music."
According to Jüre Lehmann, Chairman of the Management Board, the original concept, in particular the diversity of sectors, was not commercially successful. This is now to be changed by the repositioning. It is underlined by a complete rebranding and a planned internet communication platform.
