Radiosille in Liechtenstein: State financing for radio ends finally

Radiosille in Liechtenstein: State financing for radio ends finally

Liechtenstein, Liechtenstein - Radio Liechtenstein is finally stopped. This decision follows a referendum last year, in which a majority of voters voted for the cancellation of state funds. This ends an era of public service broadcasting in the principality.

As part of this development, the possibilities were examined to continue the transmitter with a different financing model. However, there was no need for this examination to extend the deadline, which further complicated the situation. In addition, there was no concrete takeover offer of a private investor, so that the processing of the operation of Radio Liechtenstein became essential.

consequences of the decision

With the closure of Radio Liechtenstein and the decided loss of the Liechtenstein Broadcasting Act at the end of 2025, the country will no longer have public service media. The small party Democrats Pro Liechtenstein (DPL), which initiated the popular initiative for the deletion of state funds, argued that Radio Liechtenstein had a large part of media funding and often had to be saved by emergency loans. The DPL takes the view that a private radio could work more economically and efficiently.

The elimination of the only radio station in Liechtenstein is seen as a bitter loss for the country's media landscape. In today's digital era, the question of the financial resources and the order of public service broadcasters is increasingly pressing, as well as Liechtenstein Institute emphasized.

challenges of the media landscape

The discussion about the challenges of digitization in the media shows the relevance of radio and television, despite the loss of public service broadcasting in Liechtenstein. The legal design of media funding and the financing of media are the focus of current analyzes in Switzerland, Austria and Germany. In particular, the international and European law requirements with regard to the division of communication to private media are highlighted.

An e-book that deals with the financing of public service broadcasting appears in April 2024 and will examine the legal requirements and media funding in the German-speaking countries. In addition, findings on the topic of the Liechtenstein Institute and in other publications are presented.

The closure of Radio Liechtenstein could represent a turning point for the country's media policy, especially in view of the ongoing debates about the future of broadcasting in an increasingly digitized world.