Tamedia's decision to sell its regional radio and television stations must have been a particularly hard blow for Hanspeter Lebrument. It meant that the south-eastern Swiss media kingpin's entire argumentative toolbox was destroyed. He publicly threatened to close down his Bündner Tagblatt if he was denied the license for the only private spain rcs data radio station in his territory. Today, he declared, the only way to survive was as an integrated media company with newspapers, radio and television. Anything else would be suicide.
And that is why - Federal Administrative Court or not - he must be given the radio. And now this! Tamedia's actions prove that the much-vaunted synergy effects between print and electronic media are negligible. This is very different from the situation between traditional business and the online El Dorado, which you absolutely have to be a part of.
This makes it clear that complete control over regional newspapers, radio and television can only serve two purposes: firstly, you can secure excessive advertising prices by eliminating competition. And secondly, you use state splitting fees to finance a constant stream of income via subsidies, which you can also use to support other media from your own company.