DETEC: Extension of local radio and regional TV licenses

The current licenses of local radio stations and regional television stations with a performance mandate expire at the end of 2019. According to an announcement by the Federal Office of Communications OFCOM, the new broadcaster licenses will come into force on January 1, 2020. As early as November 2018, DETEC informed the licensed broadcasters about the possibility of renewing their licenses and outlined the conditions for submitting applications. 49 local radio stations and regional television stations subsequently submitted their applications on time by the end of April 2019.

By the end of September 2019, the Department had approved all of the requested extensions. The decisive factor in its assessment was compliance with the statutory licensing requirements. The review focused, among other things, on the financial viability of the performance mandate.

Unchanged order - selectively adjusted concession provisions

OFCOM's communication also states that the programming mandate of local radio stations and regional television will remain unchanged for the license renewal phase. As before, they are to provide information on regional political, economic and social contexts and contribute to the development of cultural life in the coverage area. Complementary non-profit radio stations in agglomerations have the mandate to take particular account of the linguistic and cultural minorities in their broadcasting area in their programs.

For these services, the broadcasters receive a right of access. Accordingly, the DAB+ platform and cable network operators must broadcast the programs of these broadcasters in the corresponding coverage areas. 21 local radio stations and 13 regional TV are also entitled to a share from the radio and TV levy.

DETEC has taken the opportunity of the license extensions to adapt individual requirements. The adjustments are partly formal and editorial changes, partly clarifications of obligations which were already incumbent on the licensees. DAB+ is now the main distribution vector in the broadcaster licenses for local radio stations. For all commercial local radio stations and regional TV, DETEC has now introduced a quantitative minimum requirement for regional information. In the case of regional TV, subtitling is now also regulated in the license.

However, the financial support for local radio stations and regional TV remains unchanged. It was increased to six percent of the revenue from the levy for radio and television as of January 1, 2019, and will remain unchanged until the end of 2024.

Six local radio stations have relinquished their licenses

Since mid-2018, six local radio stations from large urban agglomerations have renounced their broadcaster license or have not applied for an extension of their license. Radio 24, Radio Argovia, Radio FM1, Radio Pilatus as well as Radio One FM and Radio Rouge FM have since been registered with OFCOM as radio stations subject to notification and no longer have a performance mandate to fulfill.

Next public tender 2023

The current extension of broadcaster licenses is taking place in a transitional phase marked by the switchover from FM to DAB+ and the debates on the realignment of media subsidies. In this phase, broadcasters will be granted planning security. DETEC will issue a public invitation to tender for the licensing phase from 2024. It is expected to be launched in 2023. (pd)