Frequency interference without end
With Christian Stärkle's move to Belcom AG, the unified association recedes into the distance
With Christian Stärkle's move to Belcom AG, the unified association recedes into the distanceBy Markus knöpfliThe fact that Christian Stärkle has turned his back on his plans as an independent media consultant and is now becoming head of Belcom AG is causing a stir in the industry. Above all, however, his Pool 2000 mandate is no longer valid. And a united radio association seems to have moved into the distant future.
By July 1 at the latest, 46-year-old Christian Stärkle, who was previously responsible for Radio Argovia and Tele M1 at AZ Medien AG, will start his new job at Roger Schawinski's Belcom Group. There he will become head of Belcom AG, the marketing and sales organization of Radio 24, Tele 24, Tele Züri and Radio 24plus. At the same time, the trained lawyer will become a member of the Belcom Group's management and hopes to be able to perform important functions in several industry associations in parallel. For example, a letter of intent has already been signed that virtually secures him the management of the Radio Advertising Pool 2000. Stärkle is also counting on a mandate from the TeleNewsCombi. And contrary to what was announced a few months ago, he now remains president of the Radio Association Privatradio Suisse (PRS) (WW 15/01).
But Stärkle also knows that his surprising move to Belcom has caused some turmoil in the industry. At least some of Stärkle's existing partners in Pool 2000, where Radio 24 competitor Z, BE 1 (previously Förderband), Argovia, Regenbogen, Sunshine, BeO, Edelweiss and Canal 3 are grouped together, are surprised. "My change will still lead to some wrangling there," says Stärkle, who nevertheless expects approval.
Stärkle dreams of an umbrella organization
Most of the pool members (including Radio Z), however, are only speaking on the quiet, pointing out that the new situation has not yet been discussed. Only BeO program director Martin Muerner speaks plainly: The letter of intent with Stärkle contains a competition exclusion clause, which is why the Belcom management is not compatible with the pool management. "Therefore, Christian Stärkle will definitely not remain GL of Pool 2000," says Muerner.
Opinions differ on the question of whether Stärkle's Belcom job is now hindering talks about a united Swiss-German radio association. Günter Heuberger, President of the competitor association Swiss Private Radio (VSP), and VSP member Muerner are of the opinion that Stärkle's Belcom involvement does not change the status quo. Both still assume that an agreement of some kind will be possible by the end of the year. Hansruedi Koelliker of radio marketer Spot Promotion (see "Set-up" on this page) takes a similar view.
PRS member Roger Schawinski does not want to give an assessment of the new situation. In contrast, Felix Kilchsperger, radio manager at PRS member Radiotele, paints the association's future in rather gloomy colors: "Stärkle's independence would have opened up a certain opportunity. But now, at Belcom, he will act even closer to Radio Top, which is why the situation is likely to get worse," he says. The chance of a united association by the end of the year is therefore over for Kilchsperger.
And what does Stärkle himself think? He presents a new proposal: Instead of a kind of merger of PRS and VSP, he suggests an umbrella association of the electronic media, in which VSP, PRS, the French RRR and the private TV association Telesuisse could become members. The intention is clear: this would allow everyone to save face.
But Heuberger just shrugs his shoulders. And Kilchsperger also shakes his head: "That would be almost identical to the interest group for electronic media (IGEM). I can't see the point of a second organization that is so similar."
The new GL of the Belcom Group
By July 1 at the latest, 46-year-old Christian Stärkle, who was previously responsible for Radio Argovia and Tele M1 at AZ Medien AG, will start his new job at Roger Schawinski's Belcom Group. There he will become head of Belcom AG, the marketing and sales organization of Radio 24, Tele 24, Tele Züri and Radio 24plus. At the same time, the trained lawyer will become a member of the Belcom Group's management and hopes to be able to perform important functions in several industry associations in parallel. For example, a letter of intent has already been signed that virtually secures him the management of the Radio Advertising Pool 2000. Stärkle is also counting on a mandate from the TeleNewsCombi. And contrary to what was announced a few months ago, he now remains president of the Radio Association Privatradio Suisse (PRS) (WW 15/01).
But Stärkle also knows that his surprising move to Belcom has caused some turmoil in the industry. At least some of Stärkle's existing partners in Pool 2000, where Radio 24 competitor Z, BE 1 (previously Förderband), Argovia, Regenbogen, Sunshine, BeO, Edelweiss and Canal 3 are grouped together, are surprised. "My change will still lead to some wrangling there," says Stärkle, who nevertheless expects approval.
Stärkle dreams of an umbrella organization
Most of the pool members (including Radio Z), however, are only speaking on the quiet, pointing out that the new situation has not yet been discussed. Only BeO program director Martin Muerner speaks plainly: The letter of intent with Stärkle contains a competition exclusion clause, which is why the Belcom management is not compatible with the pool management. "Therefore, Christian Stärkle will definitely not remain GL of Pool 2000," says Muerner.
Opinions differ on the question of whether Stärkle's Belcom job is now hindering talks about a united Swiss-German radio association. Günter Heuberger, President of the competitor association Swiss Private Radio (VSP), and VSP member Muerner are of the opinion that Stärkle's Belcom involvement does not change the status quo. Both still assume that an agreement of some kind will be possible by the end of the year. Hansruedi Koelliker of radio marketer Spot Promotion (see "Set-up" on this page) takes a similar view.
PRS member Roger Schawinski does not want to give an assessment of the new situation. In contrast, Felix Kilchsperger, radio manager at PRS member Radiotele, paints the association's future in rather gloomy colors: "Stärkle's independence would have opened up a certain opportunity. But now, at Belcom, he will act even closer to Radio Top, which is why the situation is likely to get worse," he says. The chance of a united association by the end of the year is therefore over for Kilchsperger.
And what does Stärkle himself think? He presents a new proposal: Instead of a kind of merger of PRS and VSP, he suggests an umbrella association of the electronic media, in which VSP, PRS, the French RRR and the private TV association Telesuisse could become members. The intention is clear: this would allow everyone to save face.
But Heuberger just shrugs his shoulders. And Kilchsperger also shakes his head: "That would be almost identical to the interest group for electronic media (IGEM). I can't see the point of a second organization that is so similar."
The new GL of the Belcom Group
The Executive Board of the Belcom Group now consists of Roger Schawinski (CEO), Martin Spieler (COO), Markus Gilli (Program Director Tele 24/ Tele Züri), Brigitte Aeschlimann (CFO), Peter Canale (Technical Director), Richi Gasser (Advertising Director), Peter Brun (Program Director Radio 24) and Christian Stärkle (Head of Belcom).
