Disco Dance6, 1989 Interview: Easy Acces Radio In Rotterdam by Rob Boskamp

ACCESS RADIO in Rotterdam

Local radio in Rotterdam can take the form of “Access Radio,” which essentially means buying airtime. We’ve heard various negative reactions about this, so we decided to talk with Ronald van der Meijden, who previously ran a local radio station, and followed up with the SLOR (Stichting Lokale Omroep Rotterdam) to get their perspective.

Ronald van der Meijden:
“First, I’m surprised that you can only buy airtime for a one-year period, after which a kind of reassessment takes place. This means you’re never really certain about your station’s future.”

SLOR:
“Access Radio allows both parties the opportunity to reflect on whether to continue the arrangement. Additionally, this gives other local broadcasters the chance to make radio when others decide not to.”

Ronald van der Meijden:
“Once you’re allowed in, you’re required to sign two contracts: one for a year of broadcasting, and the other includes a long list of rules from SLOR. A few examples:

1. A light morning program with key newspaper headlines, traffic info, etc.
2. Between 10 and 11 AM, you must cater to the listener, meaning the mic has to be open for Aunt Ria to make an announcement about her lost cat.
3. Every hour, you’re required to announce that the broadcast is part of City Radio Rotterdam, even though, as a broadcaster, you’d want your own identity and programming.”

SLOR:
“As a local broadcaster, you need to make radio for the local audience. Aunt Ria needs to feel involved, and most listeners like to hear the same things at certain times. That’s why we use a type of horizontal programming, though there’s still plenty of room for the broadcaster’s own identity.”

Ronald van der Meijden:
“The SLOR controls everything; you can buy airtime from them, but if local ads (like STER) come in, the money goes to them, and they only rent you 58 minutes of airtime. They also receive a subsidy of 300,000 guilders, yet the local broadcasters are left without revenue, while still facing significant costs (around 25 guilders per hour). This setup doesn’t allow for independent radio.”

SLOR:
“We’re not an umbrella organization but the license holder for a channel on Rotterdam’s radio. As a foundation, we are non-profit, but we do have costs that need to be covered. Local broadcasters help cover these costs, and that’s why we receive a subsidy. As for local ads, we have no comment because it’s not relevant at this point.”

Local radio in Rotterdam is still facing many challenges and is in the early stages of a long process. Hopefully, the situation will improve in the coming years.

By Rob Boskamp