Insolvency shock: Extra-Radio Hof finally stops broadcasting!

Insolvency shock: Extra-Radio Hof finally stops broadcasting!

The radio landscape in Bavaria has suffered a severe setback: Extra-Radio, the well-known local radio station from Hof, has filed for bankruptcy. The Hof District Court opened insolvency proceedings for “Extra Radio Rundfunkprogramm GmbH” on October 15, 2025. This marks the end of an era, as the station has been an integral part of the local media landscape for more than four decades. The station's homepage is currently no longer accessible and the prospects of reviving the program are bleak.

At the beginning of September, Extra-Radio stopped broadcasting via DAB+ and FM. This decision came after the financial situation had noticeably deteriorated. From this point on, the station only broadcast as web radio before bankruptcy destroyed the last hopes of continuing. Insolvency administrator Andreas Schenk made it clear that the liabilities were significantly higher than the assets, which led to the need to file for insolvency. Continuation of broadcasting operations is clearly ruled out, which is painful for many who have followed the station's programs over the years. This is reported by Merkur.

Economic difficulties

Extra-Radio's economic problems are complex. The main reason is the high cost of the assigned FM frequency, which was awarded to the station in 2017. Around 10,000 euros had to be raised every month for this, an amount that has no longer been affordable in recent years. These burdens were further exacerbated by subsequent costs, also known as “remaining costs”. Additional demands from the past have placed additional strain on the station's financial situation. With the insolvency, Extra-Radio's web radio will also be transferred to the insolvency estate; further steps are currently still uncertain, as can be found on Radioszene.

The Bavarian Journalists' Association has already expressed concerns about the loss of media diversity in the region. Harald Stocker, a spokesman for the association, points out that the technical costs in rural areas such as Upper Franconia are extremely high, which poses insoluble challenges for smaller broadcasters such as Extra-Radio. The loss of this voice in the media landscape is seen as serious, as the station not only provided information but also a platform for local artists and events, which enriched the cultural diversity of the region.

A look ahead

While the creditors' meeting is scheduled for January 2026 to discuss how to proceed, current developments show the fragility of smaller radio platforms in times of sharply rising costs. The loss of Extra Radio not only has an impact on listeners, but also on the entire media landscape in Bavaria.

It remains to be hoped that the discussions and considerations that will be initiated in the coming period will find new ways to strengthen media diversity in Germany, because without local voices it will be difficult to meet the information needs of the population. Change is in full swing and it remains to be seen what the future will look like without extra radio. According to IT-Boltwise, this means the station's final demise.