Voters cut funding, ending public radio's 30-year run in Liechtenstein

Situated in the heart of Europe, Liechtenstein has seen significant developments in its media landscape. In October 2023, a referendum saw 55.4% of voters electing to dismantle legislation that authorized state funding for Radio Liechtenstein, a decision that would effectively terminate public funding by the end of 2025. The opposition party that championed this initiative criticized the radio station as an unjust beneficiary of public resources, claiming it absorbed more than 70% of the media funding allocated by the government. They argued that it provided an inequitable advantage over private media outlets operating within the principality's limited market. Following the decision, the government recognized the challenges in privatizing the station, pointing out that the financial prospects for a private radio establishment in such a small country were precarious. Despite initial hopes, it became evident by early April 2025 that no viable options for privatization existed, and the station announced its intention to cease broadcasting completely on April 3, 2025. The government failed to secure a takeover proposal from potential investors, resulting in a conclusive decision not to extend the public funding deadline in the absence of supportive political consensus. Radio Liechtenstein, once a staple in local media with an average daily listenership of 11,400 in 2021, represented nearly three decades of broadcasting history. As the final airtime approached, the station made a poignant announcement on its website, stating that it would