TVO receives definitive concession

The competitor Tele Säntis then lodged an appeal and the Federal Administrative Court ruled that the question of a possible threat to the diversity of opinion and offerings must be clarified in depth. The Uvek has now examined this question in detail and has come to the conclusion that the diversity of opinion and offerings in Eastern Switzerland is not at risk, as stated in a TVO press release.

It based its decision on an expert opinion by the Competition Commission COMCO. According to the report, the NZZ Group (NZZ, St. Galler Tagblatt, Radio FM1, Tele Ostschweiz) only has a dominant position in the radio advertising market in Eastern Switzerland. After examining various indications of a possible abuse of this position, the Competition Commission concluded that there was no threat to the diversity of opinion and offerings.

The unsuccessful Tele Säntis can appeal the decision of the DETEC again to the Federal Administrative Court. If it turns out that DETEC has once again not commented in detail on the concept of abuse, Tele Säntis will lodge an appeal, writes Günter Heuberger, Managing Director of Tele Top, in a press release on Thursday afternoon.

Tele Ostschweiz previously held a provisional license. Two further proceedings for FM radio licenses in Aargau and south-eastern Switzerland have not yet been concluded. Here too, the Federal Administrative Court had referred the proceedings back to the Uvek and requested further clarification.

TVO plans expansion
For TVO, the decision primarily brings security with regard to future planning: thanks to the fee shares associated with the concession, investments in programming and technology would be possible. As soon as today's decision is legally binding, TVO intends to start the long-planned expansion of its program. Among other things, news programs are to be introduced at weekends and other new broadcasting formats are planned.