Transmitter NW1 is alders
Local TV NW1 founder Beat Alder, who was sent packing in 2004, wants to save the struggling station.
the filthy rich Christian Heeb, co-founder of Radio Basilisk, as
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Baselbieter Regional-TV NW1. Now he has
the struggling broadcaster, which is losing CHF 100,000 a month,
and sold all its shares to its co-shareholder Elektra Birseck
Münchenstein (EBM). This company now holds 90 percent and grants the
staff and any potential buyers until June.
Then the station will be shut down. One thing is certain: Neither the foundation
cable network, the carrier of TeleBasel, nor the Basler Zeitung Medien
are evident in any kind of takeover of NW1
interested.
But one person is interested: Beat Alder, currently publisher of the Basler
free newspaper Stadt-Zytig, wants to continue with NW1. "With my lawyer
I am preparing an offer for NW1, which we will submit to EBM by the end of the week.
submit," he says. Thanks to investors, two to three million
francs. The offer: "EBM must give me the shares for free.
then I take over the staff, equipment and offices. Not
But she has to pay the debts herself." Within three months
the station should cover its costs.
Alder's demanding attitude is well-founded: In 2002, he transferred the local
Municipal broadcaster NW5 to NW1 and, against the wishes of TeleBasel, received
a concession for the whole of north-western Switzerland (including Basel). In 2004
he was shown the door by the co-shareholder EBM after the latter
Christian Heeb on board. Heeb and EBM would have
station has been run down since then, says Alder. The fact that it is now between
He himself does not believe that he and EBM will shake hands again.
But Alder doesn't care. Then he simply approaches the NW1 staff and
will take over the broadcasting facilities after the definitive end, he says. NW1 wants
he will definitely be resurrected.
It remains to be seen how serious he is about this. Alder has already
media projects. Some were discontinued, but some - without
him - even today. Quarrels are the rule, the last
crash less than a month ago (WW 17/06). But NW1 is alders. That is not to
underestimate.
Markus Knöpfli
