Still waiting for the license
Just three months before the new license period starts, Studentradion still doesn’t know whether they will get the license or not. The Ministry of Culture and Church Affair’s (KKD) final decision of Radioadressa’s complaint won’t be ready until November.
– The time perspective is highly problematic for both us and NRJ, says Sverre Torp Solberg, editor in chief in Studentradion.
– NRJ has to put up its own editorial office; it takes time to build a radio station.
Studentradion was given license to run a local radio station, but Radioadressa appealed against the decision, since they lost their license. The KKD will not make its final decision until November. The new license period starts on January 1st, 2009.
– We’ll just have to wait and see, but even though we’re quite sure that the decision will stand, there is some uncertainty since they are holding discussion again.
- Impossible to predict
The information unit at KKD tells Under Dusken that it is too soon to tell when the case will be done.
– We just got all the complaints, and many of the complainers are going to meet with the ministry. Because of this, we can’t really say when it will be done. No cases are equal, says Ketil Frøland,
Lars Erik Krogsrud, project manager in Mediatilsynet (The Norwegian media authority) won’t speculate on what KKD’s decision will be.
– It’s impossible to predict. The case will be discussed all over again, but we have already made our decision, he says.
– The ministry is the place for complaints in this matter, and therefore holds an independent discussion.
Reacts on the meeting
Editor Solberg thinks the ministry will make an objective decision. He believes this, even though Rune Olsø, leader of Trondheim Arbeiderparti (AP, the Norwegian labor party) has strongly engaged on Radioadressa’s behalf.
– I think it’s a shame if local politicians with connections have the ability to affect this kind of decisions, Solberg says.
He reacts, among other things, to the fact that Olsø has been meeting with the ministry, but hopes that it won’t affect the case.
– Mediatilsynet has already made their decision; Radioadressa’s application was obviously not good enough. Therefore the ministry must take their application into heaviest consideration, not what happens afterwards.
- Not lobbyism
Olsø says that he would have done the same if Studentradion had gotten their application denied.
– Both Studentradion and Radioadressa will strengthen Trondheim’s media diversity. I’m actively using my right to have an opinion, and it’s also my responsibility as a politician, Olsø says.
Just like Solberg he is convinced that the ministry will treat this case professionally. He also thinks that NRJ is the odd one in the license battle.
– Don’t you think that your comments can be perceived as Trondheim AP’s opinions on behalf of certain companies?
– No, this is on behalf of Trondheim and the citizens, Olsø says.
– So you’re not lobbying when you’re having meetings with the ministry?
– No, lobbyism is to better one’s own situation. I’ve been doing influential work.
Olsø thinks they should review Medietilsynet’s mandate and function when the license case is over and done.
– Medietilsynet has done a bad job, he says.
The license case
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Medietilsynet published their decisions for local radio on June 3rd 2008. The new license period runs from January 1st 2009 till December 31st 2015. 24 licenses were given to 24/7 radio.
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In Trondheim there were three radio stations who got 24/7 licenses: Studentradion, Radio 1 and NRJ. Radioadressa lost their license, and have complained.
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Even though Radioadressa has complained, Mediatilsynet chose to withstand their decision. The complaint has been sent to the Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs for a final decision.
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Leader of AP Trondheim, Rune Olsø, has responded heavily to Mediatilsynet’s decision, and has encouraged a political onslaught on the Government to make sure that Radioadressa will keep their license. Recently he met with the ministry to comment on his view.
Translated by Maria Kråkmo
