Last February, the Basque Government presented the basis for the contest for the award of 34 radio licences. A third of them will be in Basque. In this sense, the Hala Bedi free radio in Vitoria-Gasteiz aims to obtain two licenses, one for broadcasting in Euskera and the other for radio in Spanish. Those responsible for the project, members of the radio assembly, have explained that the intention is already: “The idea of creating an Euskera broadcast on Hala Bedi radio is not new, about ten years ago the collective also mentioned it. The reasons are obvious: In Álava we have a tremendous vacuum. There is no radio in Basque or its own production, except for the experience of Aiaraldea, that is, the Uhinak radio. We also felt a certain responsibility in Hala Bedi.” This enthusiasm has only increased when the Government has launched the competition for the distribution of new licences.

The project is still in the process of definition, although the road that Hala Bedi has shown so far will be followed: “It will be based on self-management and assembly, and will be strengthened through the participation of the people. We are one of the few who has the opportunity and the resources to undertake such a project in Vitoria-Gasteiz, and that is why we made the decision”.

Hala Bedi in Basque

So far, Hala Bedi had spoken in bilingual, 40% in Basque, and the rest has spoken in Spanish. However, despite this proportion, it is the second issue entirely in Euskera. Under no circumstances shall they start from nothing: “In recent years, Hala Bedi Irratia has made progress in production in Basque. It is one of the few broadcasters in Álava that has its own production in Basque. Here is, for example, the afternoon session ‘Zebrabidea’, a three-hour magazine.” But it's not the only example. “In recent years radio programmes of all kinds have emerged in Basque, and the path that the Basque country has been going inwards has also been evident for a few years. The bilingual issue will follow its course, yes, and it would be natural for more and more Euskera to enter, at least that is what we intend.” However, its objective is only Euskera: “This decision is necessarily a turning point for our radio.”

They have made their intention public and the aid campaign is already underway. It also has a motto: We're going to give ourselves our own and two. “The first goal will be for people to know about the new project. A second step is to make new partners, claiming that from now on they will have two at the price of a radio.” The third objective will be the most important: “Start with the issue ahead of next year. We know that we are going to have to work to get all the partners that we need to get the project going, and that we will have to try to get people involved in strengthening the project, but there is no other option. To the extent that people see the need for a radio in Euskera, we would like to have their support and to do so we will have to make our intentions known to the inhabitants of Álava.” It is a spectacle that the institutions work together. Hala Bedi, for his part, does not want to lose any sign of identity. “For us, self-management is fundamental. In the future, the possibility of receiving subsidies from public institutions is not completely excluded, we are not dogmatic in that, but at the moment we are not going to take that path and we are clear that our economic resources will never be in the hands of public or private subsidies”.

Economic survival is crucial in times of crisis. At a time when many media outlets have become serious, when he has been silent, Hala Bedi wants to make himself higher. “To the extent that our survival is not in the hands of public and private institutions, we are calm. Self-management has taught us that what we have to achieve is what we have to achieve for ourselves, leveraging the resources we have for it.” Where possible, all where not possible: “When you can make strength and when you can’t settle for what you have. Maybe it’s a lot to say, but over the next few years, self-management and the ‘do it yourself’ philosophy will be at stake.” They also have words of criticism about institutional bondage. “Over the past few years too many projects have been put into the hands of the institutions’ will, and that has its risks. We will move forward as long as society supports us. It is repeated frequently and it is something that has lost value, but without our partner Hala Bedi it does not make sense, they are really the soul of this radio.”

As they have once said, they would like to be “fresh, close, provocative and for all tastes and ages.” And they're working to make this happen. First, preparatory work will be carried out on the eve of the summer. “At the beginning of June we will hold workshops for everyone who wants to. The workshops will start with a talk at university and for three days we will be learning what it is to do radio. It will be dynamic and participatory. We hope that from these workshops the people who are going to participate in the project of the future will emerge. The next course will also run other workshops for everyone to concretize the project and fill it with content”.

Hala Bedi has shown that he does a certain type of radio in the trajectory he has performed so far and, obviously, that is what he will continue to do in the Basque broadcast. “It is very important for us that the associations of Vitoria-Gasteiz have their voice on our radio. Those groups and social agents who are not heard or silenced in other media will have their space in the Basque radio. In addition, we would like to complete the programming with music groups that are not heard in other radios, as well as with programs on themes that are not worked in other radios”. The intention, moreover, is in a position to materialise. Not everything will be topical: "Leisure, sex, travel, cooking -- you'll have to talk to people first and then go step by step. As they get underway, new alliances will be created, that is certain.” In these alliances, the Arrosa radio network is the first company, that is, the one that includes several broadcasters from all over the Basque Country. Local and regional, most. “Yes, we attach particular importance to the Arrosa radio network, which it can provide. Among the radios of Euskal Herria that we gather there, we anticipate that we will have to take new steps”.