Roger Schawinski wants to realize radio station in southeastern Switzerland
A group headed by media entrepreneur Roger Schawinski wants to realize a radio station in southeastern Switzerland under the name "Radio Alpin". The group has now submitted an application to the Federal Office of Communications Bakom for a license in the Graubünden-Glarus-St. Gallen Oberland broadcasting area.
Schawinski's partner is Stefan Bühler, former editor-in-chief of the Grisons Newspaperas Radio Alpin announced on Wednesday. The two radio initiators point to "a de facto media monopoly" of the Südostschweiz Group in the region. Hanspeter Lebrument's media group consists of TV Südostschweiz, Radio Südostschweiz and the newspapers Südostschweiz and Bündner Tagblatt.
"With a renewed award of the radio license, it could further expand its already dominant position," Schawinski and Bühler wrote in the statement. According to the legislation, however, if there are several bids, preference should be given to the one that most enriches the diversity of opinion and offerings.
Schawinski and Bühler are convinced that they will be able to make a "substantial and sustainable contribution to the diversity of information and opinion" in the region of southeastern Switzerland. Radio Alpin's 24-hour program will focus on information.
Schawinski's second attempt
This is not the first time that Roger Schawinski has wanted to realize a radio station in the region. Back in the early 2010s, he fought for a license in the broadcasting area of Radio Südostschweiz, which was then still called Radio Grischa.
Bakom granted Radio Grischa the definitive license in 2013 after years of rope pulling. It concluded that the Südostschweiz Media Group dominated the market, but did not abuse this position.
Schawinski then took the matter to the Federal Administrative Court without success. An appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg also did not result in the desired license.(SDA)
