Two on the same wavelength

 
Private radio Despite the change of ownership at Biel/Bienne radio station Canal 3, the local station continues to cooperate with Espace Media. The latter has earned its trust several times over. 
When Espace Media Groupe took a stake in the then ailing local radio station Canal 3 in Biel in 2004, the local association Canal Bilingue was not at all pleased. The association, made up of representatives from the local economy, politics and authorities, would have preferred to take over the station itself. They founded Radio Bilingue SA in response to the entry of the Bern-based group because they initially feared that Espace Media would discontinue Canal 3's French frequency to save money. At the time, they hoped that Bakom would transfer the cession of Canal 3 to them and not to Espace Media. Today, three years later, the former opponents are not only sitting at the same table, but will soon also be on the same board of directors - that of Canal 3. This is because Espace Media now belongs to Tamedia, but according to the RTVA, Tamedia is not allowed to own any other radios in addition to Radio 24 and Capital FM. It must therefore sell the Biel station. This is a unique opportunity for the people of Biel: thanks to media concentration, they can obtain the long-awaited license. They therefore entered into negotiations with Espace Media at an early stage.
It is astonishing that there is no longer any sign of the earlier resentment. On the contrary: "The fears have been allayed, Espace Media is running Canal 3 professionally," stated Thomas Eichelberger, Chairman of the Board of Radio
Bilingue SA, as early as last spring. When Canal 3's French program also reported a significant increase in reach in the middle of the year and was therefore named "radio of the year" by the radio industry, Espace Media in Biel had definitely regained confidence.
Indispensable new concessionThe trust is so strong that the people of Biel have even decided against a complete Biel solution: At their request, Espace Media will continue to hold a stake of around one third and be represented with one seat on the six-member Board of Directors. This will be definitively determined at an extraordinary Canal 3 AGM on November 30. It is planned that Polo Stäheli, CEO of Espace Media and member of Tamedia's Management Board, will represent the Zurich and Bernese at Canal 3 in future. What's more, Espace Media and Radio Bilingue SA have jointly submitted a bid for the new license in Biel, which was put out to tender by the Federal Office of Communications. This is confirmed by Marcel Geissbühler, delegate of the Board of Directors of Radio Bilingue and designated delegate of the Board of Directors of Canal 3.
This new license is essential for Canal 3 - because of the fee splitting, which at CHF 1.3 million will be around four times higher than today. Marc Friedli, Head of Audiovisual Media at Espace Media, makes it clear: "Canal 3 will only be in the black with the increased fee splitting. I assume that this will be the case in 2009 at the latest."
However, advertising sales are also looking positive. According to Friedli, the channel is slightly over budget. For this reason, Canal 3 will in all likelihood continue to work together with the Bernese in this respect. It is planned that Conradio, the radio and TV marketer of Espace Media, will continue to represent the Biel radio station on the national market and that it will also remain a member of the Swiss Radio Pool.
Marcel Geissbühler says that the only change is in local sales - from Conradio to the company's own management. But nothing has been finalized yet; no contracts will be signed before the extraordinary general meeting.
Markus Knöpfli
Who is behind Radio Bilingue SA 
The for three years
Radio Bilingue SA currently has around ten shareholders. The main shareholders are
the Gassmann publishing house (Bieler Tagblatt, Journal du Jura) and the Cortesi office, which own 40 percent of the share capital.
Another shareholder is
Chairman of the Board of Directors Thomas Eichelberger, owner of a car garage. In addition to Eichelberger, the Board of Directors of Radio Bilingue SA currently consists of Werner Hadorn (Cortesi office), Board delegate Marcel Geissbühler (Gassmann) and lawyer Marc Dörflinger. (mk)