AntwerpAntwerp’s Radio Minerva will still be able to remain on the air. Flemish Minister of Media Benjamin Dalle (CD&V) has again awarded the recognition for FM frequency package 11 (98.0 FM) to the station, after competitor Radio FG had the previous recognition destroyed by the Council of State. “We are incredibly happy that the uncertainty is finally over,” said chairman Frank Boekhoff.
It was a minor fortieth birthday: at the end of January this year, radio Minerva lost its recognition as a result of a legal dispute with Radio FG. This preyed on the frequency package (98.0 FM) of the seniors station and went to the Council of State. Radio FG found that errors had been made in the distribution of frequencies by former media minister Sven Gatz (Open Vld) in 2019 and the Council of State was right. Current Flemish Minister of Media Benjamin Dalle (CD&V) had to grant new recognition within seven months by the Council of State. If that didn’t happen, Radio Minerva had to disappear from the ether.
Quality
A month and a half before that deadline, Dalle now announces good news: the popular seniors channel can stay. “Finally we can remove the legal uncertainty for Radio Minerva. We have gone through a rigorous procedure in which the quality of the files was central. The outcome of this process also objectively confirms the strength and quality of Radio Minerva.”
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After a ‘beauty contest’ in March – in which RADIOWORKS (Radio FG) and Minerva VZW could submit a new file in the fight for frequency package 11 – Radio Minerva, through an assessment procedure coordinated by the culture department, with a score of 98.63, clearly showed the winner: “The outcome of this process also objectively confirms the strength and quality of Radio Minerva”, says Dalle. “I know that the past few weeks and months have been very difficult for all the employees and listeners at Radio Minerva. We have seen in the many solidarity actions how important and what central role Minerva plays in the lives of so many ardent listeners. We can now finally turn this page. It will be a beautiful summer on the left bank and far beyond.”
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Frank Boekhoff, chairman of Radio Minerva, is delighted with the news: “We are especially delighted that the uncertainty is finally over and that ‘Minerva may blaaive’. In the first place, we would like to thank all our listeners, all sympathizers and the whole of Antwerp and the surrounding area for their loyalty, actions and involvement. And of course also the Flemish government and the City Council for this opportunity. Radio Minerva is there for everyone and everyone was there for Minerva. We will therefore be presenting numerous events and actions as a thank you in the coming weeks.”
Radio FG is therefore not recognized in this case. It can, however, challenge this decision again before the Council of State.
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