The Radio Group
The Radio Group GmbH , based in Kaiserslautern (formerly: Lokalradio RLP GmbH ), is a company founded in 2001 that has stakes in a steadily growing number of local radio stations in Germany. The companies under the umbrella of the "Radio Group" hold licenses for the transmission of radio programs in Hesse, in Rhineland-Palatinate (license areas: Front and South Palatinate, Nahe and West Palatinate, Trier and Eifel as well as in Koblenz) and the Saarland (Saarbrücken, Homburg and Neunkirchen, and since 2018 also in Saarlouis and St. Wendel). The stations in which the Radio Group has a majority stake usually appear under a uniform corporate design , and they also cooperate on some overarching program content and on advertising marketing. The individual programs are produced on site in our own studios. The local identities of the programs are stipulated by the respective state media authorities under license law.
The “Radio Group” currently employs around 120 people. The editorial offices of the individual broadcasters work independently on the basis of the editorial status of the "Radio Group" and the press code of the "German Press Council".
In 2016, "Antenne Frankfurt" received the seal for exemplary training of volunteers. In 2018, the Radio Group was granted the license to broadcast the nationwide program "Radio Germany One". The current balance sheets of the “Radio Group” companies show total sales of around EUR 8.5 million.
history
According to a report in the Rhein-Zeitung , it became known at the end of April 2014 that The Radio Group's stations were in financial difficulties. Employees' salaries are paid too late or not at all, there are also outstanding claims from service providers and threats of attachment by the tax office. In an interview with the Allgemeine Zeitung , Schwenk confirmed liquidity problems, but they have now been resolved. There would also be no late salary payments. The State Center for Media and Communication has taken on the reports of the radio stations in the radio group under observation and summoned swing. Meanwhile, Schwenk tried to get new capital from an outside investor in the British Virgin Islands . However, the project failed. At the end of July 2014 it became known that the company had successfully prevented the establishment of a works council at Radio Idar-Oberstein .
In the meantime, the public prosecutor's office has been investigating the managing director of The Radio Group and Antenne Kaiserslautern for delaying bankruptcy. The proceedings were discontinued in 2014 “due to insufficient suspicion”.
owner
The most important shareholder of The Radio Group GmbH is The Radio Group Holding GmbH with 94.8%, which is owned by the Schwenk Medien Holding GmbH (50.1%) and the Antenne Bad Kreuznach GmbH (49.9%), the again 100% owned by Doreen Gesierich. Smaller shareholders are the interest group Regionalradio eV (2.6%) and Radio Korreck eV (2.6%).
Channel list
The Radio Group includes the following radio stations, which are usually largely wholly owned by The Radio Group GmbH or in which the Radio Group GmbH holds significant shares through its affiliate:
| Channel | place | founding | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| 94.5 Radio Cottbus | cottbus | 2002 | - |
| Antenna Koblenz 98.0 | Koblenz | 2004 | - |
| Aerial Bad Kreuznach | Bad Kreuznach | 2008 | - |
| Aerial Kaiserslautern | Kaiserslautern | 2008 | - |
| Landau aerial | Landau | 2008 | - |
| Antenna Palatinate | Neustadt an der Weinstrasse | 2008 | - |
| Antenna Pirmasens | Pirmasens | 2008 | - |
| Radio Saarbrücken | Saarbrücken | 2008 | - |
| Aerial Idar-Oberstein | Idar-Oberstein | 2008 | until December 31, 2014 Radio Idar-Oberstein |
| Radio Merzig | Merzig | 2010 | Broadcasting ceased on July 18, 2016 |
| Radio Neunkirchen | Neunkirchen | 2010 | - |
| City radio Trier | trier | 2010 | - |
| Radio Wittlich | Wittlich | 2010 | Broadcasting ceased on July 31, 2015 |
| Radio Homburg | Homburg | 2011 | - |
| Radio Frankfurt / Oder | Frankfurt (Oder) | 2011 | Broadcasting ceased on December 31, 2015 |
| Zweibrücken antenna | Zweibrücken | 2012 | - |
| Radio Potsdam | Potsdam | 2012 | - |
| Eifelradio Bitburg 87.8 | Bitburg | 2013 | - |
| Aerial Frankfurt 95.1 | Frankfurt am Main | 2013 | Until 2013 Energy Rhein-Main |
Between March 2010 and January 2012, the TV broadcaster CiTi.TV broadcast a regional program for Saarland. The program was also produced by The Radio Group. The program was discontinued in early 2012 due to inefficiency.
criticism
The NDR television reported in the magazine Zapp on several incidents in which the news reports unilaterally in favor of advertising customers and in some cases violated journalistic principles. For example, an alleged burst water pipe in a department store had been reported that never happened. Former employees told Zapp that this was only done to encourage listeners to buy in this store. Stephan Schwenk denied allegations against one-sided reporting in connection with a planned shopping center, but could not submit any broadcast material that could have substantiated the arguments of the other side. Other former journalists also voiced similar allegations of manipulation. Michael Pauken, former editor-in-chief at Cityradio Trier, criticized the preponderance of advertising over the information mandate. He accused the Radio Group of dubious business practices and added: "The shareholders do not want real journalism."
A report by Rheinmaintv , which indirectly accuses the media magazine of improper work, made contrary statements . In it, the then responsible manager of the department store confirmed the water pipe burst and the countermeasures taken by a locksmith company, while Zapp asked the fire brigade, which had not been notified. According to an editor, the radio station's survey prior to construction corresponds to the result of the referendum, which sealed the construction of the K shopping center in Lautern with 66% in 2011 . The radio station's editorial staff explained to Rheinmaintv that the survey values, quotes and the later verifiable congruence of the referendum were not or not fully included in the report.
The responsible supervisory authority, the State Center for Media and Communication in Rhineland-Palatinate (LMK), found no violation of the rules for prohibiting advertising.
Web links
- The Radio Group website
- The Radio Group: Six broadcast starts in six days (radioszene.de, June 5, 2008)
- Stephan Schwenk manipulates reports at Antenne Kaiserslautern. Contribution of the NDR magazine program Zapp to allegations of manipulation at Antenne Kaiserslautern and other stations of the Radio Group (on YouTube)
Individual evidence
- ↑ According to information on the company website , accessed on June 12, 2010
- ↑ Reminders, outstanding claims, seizures: Antenne Radios are in trouble in: Rhein-Zeitung , April 30, 2014
- ↑ Private millions for local radio stations - Stephan Schwenk is looking for an investor in: Allgemeine Zeitung , May 6, 2014
- ↑ Reminders and outstanding demands: The media watchdog is targeting the station - Antenne boss Schwenk is summoned in: Rhein-Zeitung , May 7, 2014
- ↑ Radio Group: A Mr. Lai from the Virgin Islands should send money in: Rhein-Zeitung , July 30, 2014
- ↑ Cessation of the investigation into the delay in bankruptcy against the managing director of the companies "The Radio Group GmbH" and "Antenne Kaiserslautern GmbH" from Kaiserslautern due to a lack of sufficient suspicion. Press release from the public prosecutor in Kaiserslautern, October 9, 2014
- ^ Stephan Munder: Radio Merzig was switched off. Radio Week, July 25, 2016, accessed August 2, 2016 .
- ^ The Radio Group on consolidation course. Radio scene, August 5, 2015, accessed May 19, 2016 .
- ↑ NDR television, Zapp - Das Medienmagazin, April 24, 2013 ( online on YouTube, from 5:56 )
- ↑ Radio Antenne in the criticism by rheinmaintv. In: www.rheinmaintv.de. Retrieved October 28, 2016 .
Coordinates: 49 ° 26 ′ 40 ″ N , 7 ° 46 ′ 8 ″ E