Shape the Future of WRS

WRS (World Radio Switzerland) is seeking new ownership and leadership to carry forward its mission as Switzerland’s only full-time English-language broadcaster in 2026 and beyond.

Broadcasting from studios in Geneva, WRS is a commercial radio station broadcasting on DAB+ and streaming online, on smartspeaker and through the WRS app. Its flagship shows - The Breakfast Show and The Homerun - anchor a daily schedule of music, talk, and current affairs as well as pop music from across the decades, including local artists from Switzerland and neighbouring France. WRS is the official Swiss partner of the BBC World Service, airing hourly five-minute news bulletins, as well as longer news segments at midday and in the evenings. The radio is funded by advertising revenue with many recurring clients, notably across education, financial, and leisure sectors.

Having co-hosted the cheerful morning Breakfast Show together since 2014, Mark Butcher and Katt Cullen acquired the WRS brand under their jointly owned parent company SwissVille Broadcasting Sàrl in 2021. Since that time, WRS has operated at or near break-even - and even made a small profit. They seek new owners for WRS for 2026 for entirely personal reasons. Assuming new leadership is found, they're motivated to support the new entity on-air, helping to recruit and train new presenters, producing shows and music scheduling. Or, to guide back-office functions including finance, regulatory compliance across OFCOM and SUISA, DAB+ contracts, digital content, social media, and supporting sales operations until the new team are up and running. Motivated to see the brand thrive and grow, they are both available throughout this year and are open to part-time or consultancy roles in 2026.

With some early investment - starting with the immediate recruitment of a small sales team - revenue could realistically grow to support an expanded on-air lineup, increased social media output and marketing. With this growth, additional revenue streams could also be considered, as well as potential re-expansion into the Swiss-German-speaking regions.

The station’s assets include: studio and broadcasting equipment, intellectual property, branding, music and show playlists, advertiser contacts, digital infrastructure, and a loyal, engaged listener base.

An asset acquisition of WRS could take several forms. One option is a one-off asset purchase of CHF 300'000.- approximately equivalent to one year of the station’s revenue in its current small structure. The current owners are also open to a deferred buy-out or equity share model, provided the acquiring party presents a comprehensive and credible business plan, thus minimising upfront costs for the acquiring party and allowing available capital to be directed toward business growth. Any and all offers will be considered.

If no new ownership is in place by the end of 2025, the station will be wound down gracefully.