Contents
Despite 25 years of experience, Telebielingue loses the license. Broad resistance has now emerged.
Hangover mood in Biel. “Tragic,” “sad,” “incomprehensible.” This is what it sounds like on the streets of the watch city. There is talk in Biel that the regional broadcaster Telebielingue is losing its license. “I don’t understand it, Telebielingue did a good job,” says a man. “The transmitter is being destroyed, that’s a shame,” says another.
Resistance from politics
What happened? Last week, the Federal Office of Communications (Bakom) awarded the licenses for the regional television stations. Telebielingue came away empty-handed and will have to make do without any fee money in the future. Instead, the TV project “Canal B” from Cortaillod (NE) received the concession for the period 2025 to 2034. A media company that is not yet active in the broadcasting region.
“The decision is on everyone’s lips,” said Bern SP National Councilor Andrea Zryd. «A lot of people contacted me. The resistance is great.” That’s why she teamed up with politicians from the region. The goal of the non-partisan group: collect signatures for a petition for the responsible Federal Councilor Albert Rösti. “It cannot be the case that a successful station is cut. A station that knows and understands Biel culture.”
Legend:
Telebilingue should continue to exist even without a license. In what form is not yet clear.
SRF/Anne Moser
By Biel culture, Zryd means bilingualism: “In Biel, German and French go hand in hand.” Telebielingue depicted and promoted this as a bilingual station – i.e. two languages on one channel. «The new station wants two channels. One in German, one in French. That has nothing to do with Biel’s bilingualism.”
Peter Winkler is also bothered by the federal government’s decision. “I can not understand.” Winkler was born and raised in Biel and is known throughout the city as a former event organizer. «We live bilingualism. All streets are written in two languages. That’s why only a bilingual channel makes sense.”
Appeal announced
It has been clear since the beginning of the week: Telebielingue is defending itself against Bakom’s decision. Gassmann Media – they own the television station – have announced that they will appeal. «Canal B only exists on paper. How can it be that everything we have done over the last 25 years has no value?” says Laurent Wyss, production manager at Telebielingue.
The chances of being successful in the appeal are at least 50 percent, says Wyss. But what if the appeal fails – and Telebielingue has to forgo the over three million francs from the federal government? “We can’t say exactly what will happen next. It’s still too early for that,” says Nicoletta Cimmino. She is the journalistic director at Gassmann Media. What is clear is that things will continue. “Telebielingue will continue to exist as a brand.”