VADUZ, Liechtenstein (AP) — Tiny Liechtenstein's public radio broadcaster is to disappear from the airwaves on Thursday after voters decided to pull state funding and the government was unable to find a way to privatize it.
Radio Liechtenstein said on its website that it would cease broadcasting at 6 p.m. Thursday. “After nearly 30 years as a radio station in the principality, the voice of Liechtenstein is bowing out of the ether,” it said.
In a referendum in October, 55.4% of those who voted decided to scrap legislation that granted state funding to Radio Liechtenstein at the end of 2025.
The initiative came from a small opposition party, which argued that the station was swallowing more than 70% of state funding for the media, giving it an unjustified advantage against private media, and that it should be privatized. It had been slated to get public funding totaling 3.95 million Swiss francs (nearly $4.5 million) over a four-year period.
The government, which had argued before the referendum that the chances of privatization were questionable because a private radio station in the tiny country would struggle to generate enough advertising income, said on Tuesday it had become clear that it was “not feasible” to privatize the station by the end of the year.
There was no “concrete takeover offer from private investors with all the associated commitments,” it said, and no political agreement to extend the deadline for the end of public funding, so the station would likely have to close in the year's first half.
Radio Liechtenstein had an average 11,400 daily listeners in 2021, the last year for which figures were available.
Liechtenstein is a principality of about 39,000 people that borders Switzerland and Austria.
FILE - The Castle Vaduz, the home of Liechtenstein's royal family, is seen in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, Wednesday, Sept. 7. 2011. (AP Photo/Frank Jordans)
LONDON (AP) — Ivan Juric was fired by Southampton on Monday after the last-placed Premier League club was relegated — marking his second sacking of the season.
Simon Rusk was named Southampton's interim manager and will be assisted by Adam Lallana.
In November Juric was also fired by Roma after being in charge of the Italian side for under two months, then hired by Southampton in December to replace Russell Martin. He had signed an 18-month contract with Southampton.
With just 10 points from 31 games, Southampton’s fate was sealed with a 3-1 loss to Tottenham on Sunday.
“We can confirm that we have today reached an agreement with our men’s first team anager, Ivan Juric, to end his spell at the club,” Southampton said in a statement.
“Ivan came to Southampton at a tough time and was tasked with trying to improve a squad in a difficult situation,” the club added. “Unfortunately, we haven’t seen performances progress the way we had hoped, but we would like to thank Ivan and his staff for their honesty and hard work as they fought against the odds to try and keep us up.”
Southampton won only one of 14 Premier League matches under Juric and only two overall, with the other victory coming in the FA Cup.
It is the fourth-earliest relegation in the Premier League era, according to the league’s statistician Opta.
Juric, a Croatian, was coaching outside of Italy for the first time. He has also managed Mantova, Crotone, Genoa, Hellas Verona and Torino.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, background left and Jan Bednarek foreground react after Tottenham Hotspur's Brennan Johnson, right, scored his side's second goal of the game as he celebrates with teammate James Maddison, during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in London, Sunday April 6, 2025. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)
Southampton manager Ivan Juric looks on at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in London, Sunday April 6, 2025. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)
