Three Established Swiss Broadcasters Lose Licenses in Federal Decision

Three established regional and local broadcasters are set to lose their licenses, depriving them of federal funding starting in 2025. The affected broadcasters include Radio Südostschweiz in Graubünden, Telebielingue in the Biel area, and Radio Cité in Geneva.

The Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) announced the allocation of 38 licenses for local radio stations and regional television for the period spanning 2025 to 2034. The decision came after a rigorous evaluation process involving 51 applicants competing in eleven regions.

Speaking at a press conference in Bern, Bakom Director Bernard Maissen emphasized the impressive number of applicants, signifying the effectiveness of regional public service. All successful applications met the stringent quality criteria set by OFCOM.

One of the most notable outcomes of the decision is the denial of licenses to three existing broadcasters. In the Graubünden-Glarus-St. Galler Oberland region, Radio Südostschweiz, led by publisher Silvio Lebrument, lost its license. Media entrepreneur Roger Schawinski's group secured approval for Radio Alpin, breaking what Schawinski termed the "de facto media monopoly" of the Südostschweiz Group in the region.

Maissen described the decision as a "close call" in favor of the new applicant, citing Radio Alpin's superior performance in fulfilling the information mandate outlined in the application.

In the Biel area, Canal Alpha, based in Cortaillod NE, emerged victorious, securing the regional TV license under the name Canal B. This license was previously held by Telebielingue of the Groupe Gassmann publishing house. In Geneva, Radio Vostok was granted a new license, while Radio Cité lost its existing one.

Broadcasters losing their licenses can continue to operate but will no longer receive federal funding, posing a threat to their existence in many cases.

Legal battles loom, as Lebrument has already announced plans to contest the decision favoring Schawinski's Radio Alpin. Similar sentiments are expressed in Biel, where disappointment over the withdrawal of Telebielingue's license may lead to legal action.

Despite challenges, some established providers retained their licenses, such as Tele Bärn in the Bern area and Tele Top in the cantons of Zurich, Schaffhausen, and Thurgau.

Starting in 2025, licensed broadcasters must fulfill a regional public service mandate, providing comprehensive regional information in exchange for a share of the revenue from the radio and television license fee.

Commercial television stations, for example, must broadcast a minimum of 150 minutes of "relevant regional information" per week during prime time. Complementary, non-profit radio stations have a mandate to consider linguistic and cultural minorities in their broadcasting areas, receiving a right of access in return.

Legal appeals against OFCOM's decisions can be filed with the Federal Administrative Court within thirty days in cases of competition, with the possibility of transitional licenses if a final decision is not reached by the end of 2024.