Antwerp, Belgium-based Sportpaleis Group, a company that manages multipurpose arenas and venues for concerts, sporting events and festivals, launched its own FM radio station at the beginning of September. The station is broadcasting under a double identity — between 6:00 a.m. and midnight as Sportpaleis FM and from midnight until 6:00 a.m. as Versuz Radio.
The new nonpublic radio station, which broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week and broadcasts from its studio in the Sportpaleis, offers a mostly music format with news and weather information. It does not air ads from third-party companies — it only promotes events that take place at the Sportpaleis group’s venues.
In addition to Antwerp Sportpaleis, these include Lotto Arena, situated next to the Sportpaleis, Forest National in Brussels and the Grenslandhallen site in Hasselt with the Ethias Arena and the Versuz dance club. The Sportpaleis group hosts some 550 events per year, with over two million visitors.
Sportpaleis FM’s daytime program roster features music with hourly news and information on upcoming concerts and events. “We see Sportpaleis FM as a valuable extension to our marketing and communication package,” said Sportpaleis Group Managing Director Jan Van Esbroeck. “We also plan to include interviews and live audio footage of concerts.”
At midnight, Sportpaleis FM becomes Versuz Radio — named after the Versuz dance club and broadcasts from the Grenslandhallen in Hasselt. It airs a nonstop dance radio program featuring both the club’s resident DJs and guest DJs.
Sportpaleis FM and Versuz Radio broadcast on the 107 MHz FM frequency for the greater Antwerp area and on the Internet.
— Marc Maes
