University Radio Aachen

What University Radio Aachen does

Hochschulradio Aachen (University Radio Aachen) is a student-run nonprofit radio station headquartered at Wüllnerstraße 5, 52062 Aachen, Germany, founded in 2006 and registered as an eingetragener Verein (e.V.) with the Amtsgericht Aachen under Vereinsregisternummer VR 3920. The station broadcasts daily programming from 9:00 to 18:00 on 99.1 MHz FM within the Aachen city area and via a worldwide internet stream, providing an independent, non-commercial alternative to mainstream and regional commercial radio for students of Aachen's higher education institutions and the broader Aachen community. Content spans news, music (Klangwelten, Frisch gepresst, DJ Session, Under Construction), culture and science (Uni.versum, Zeitgeist), sports (Fankultur), film (Kino Clash), gaming (Playground), gender topics (Viva La Vulva), and the true crime podcast HoRa Crime.

The technology footprint is conventional broadcast media: FM transmission at 99.1 MHz under regulatory supervision of the Landesanstalt für Medien Nordrhein-Westfalen (LfM), a complementary internet streaming layer, an on-demand Mediathek archive of radio shows and reports, and podcast distribution via Spotify and SoundCloud. Reach is extended through Twitch livestreaming, TikTok/Instagram/Facebook social channels, and physical festival appearances (e.g., Lothringair, Astaluna). Governance is provided by a three-person Board (Vorstand: Tristan Kress, Frieda Nokel, Falk Sternagel) and editorial leadership from Editors-in-Chief Lars Meißner and Marit Greißinger, with the organization supported by approximately 15 active student volunteers across editorial, music, technology, and public relations functions plus a recognized internship program offering academic credit.

The business model is non-commercial. As an e.V. with no equity, no investors, no funding rounds, and no listed pricing, the station offers services free to listeners. Revenue streams consist of membership contributions from student participants and public/institutional funding allocated through LfM NRW, with ancillary music rights administered under a GEMA license (notably reserving Text and Data Mining rights under § 44b UrhG). Go-to-market is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth across Aachen's university networks, social channels, event presence, and the credit-bearing internship funnel rather than paid acquisition.

Name

University Radio Aachen

Legal name

Hochschulradio Aachen eV.

Website

https://hochschulradio-aachen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hochschulradio Aachen is a student-run nonprofit radio station in Aachen, Germany, broadcasting on 99.1 MHz FM and via internet stream since 2006. It serves Aachen university students and the regional community with alternative music, news, cultural programming, and on-demand podcasts produced by student volunteers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Campus Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

University/Educational Local Stations (College Radio, Campus TV) (MPABACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE), Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms (MPAIADAJ), Network-Affiliated Local Radio Stations (News/Talk/Sports Syndication Affiliates) (MPABACAF)

Keywords

• Student radio broadcasting
• Campus radio station
• Fm radio broadcasting
• Community radio programming
• Student media production

Headquarters

HQ city

Aachen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: As a registered e.V. (verein), the organization likely relies on membership contributions from student participants
2. Public/Institutional Funding: Supervised by Landesanstalt für Medien NRW (LfM), likely receives media grants or public funding for educational broadcasting

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

University Radio Aachen (Hochschulradio Aachen) is a student-run university radio station that has broadcast live on 99.1 MHz FM in the Aachen city area since 2006 and streams worldwide via the internet. The station produces daily editorial programming from 9:00 to 18:00 alongside a diverse portfolio of themed shows covering music, science, gaming, sports, film, and culture, with archived content available on-demand through its Mediathek. It also offers recognized student internships for academic credit in radio production, editorial work, technology, and public relations.

Product overview

Hochschulradio Aachen is a student-run university radio station operating since 2006 that broadcasts on 99.1 MHz in Aachen and streams worldwide. The core offering consists of live radio programming from 9:00-18:00 daily, plus a diverse portfolio of themed shows including news programs, music shows (Klangwelten, Frisch gepresst, DJ Session, Under Construction), cultural programs (Uni.versum, Zeitgeist, Kino Clash, Playground), sports coverage (Fankultur), and specialty programs (Viva La Vulva, HoRa Crime). All broadcasts are archived in the Mediathek for on-demand replay. The station also offers student internship opportunities for gaining practical radio experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hochschulradio Aachen Broadcast (99.1 MHz + Internet Stream)
• Der Tag im Hochschulradio (Daily Programming)
• Uni.versum (Science Show)
• Klangwelten (Music Show)
• Zeitgeist (History, Politics & Current Affairs Show)
• Playground (Gaming & Nerd Culture Show)
• Frisch gepresst (New Music Discovery Show)
• Fankultur (Sports Show)
• Kino Clash (Film & Series Show)
• Viva La Vulva (Feminist Show)
• DJ Session
• Open Turntable - The Renegades
• Under Construction (Electronic Music Show)
• HoRa Crime Podcast
• Mediathek (Media Library)
• Student Internship Program (Praktikum)

Quantifiable outcome

• Continuous broadcasting since 2006 - 20th anniversary milestone reached

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• University Radios in NRWminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Collaboration with other university radio stations in North Rhine-Westphalia for the 20th anniversary celebration week, including alumni visits and cross-station programming exchanges.
• Landesanstalt für Medien Nordrhein-Westfalen (LfM)coreOthersRegulatory supervisory body for university radio broadcasting in NRW. Oversees compliance with broadcasting regulations.
• GEMAminorOthersMusic royalty organization. Station holds license for music usage, with explicit reservation of Text and Data Mining rights for AI training under § 44b UrhG.
• Artist CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal music artist collective that appeared on Klangwelten show for Song Battle Event presentations and Freestyle Cypher live sessions.
• Krach-KollektivminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizers of the Krachparade cultural event. Interview subject for the station's coverage of local cultural politics and events.
• Gemeinschaftsgarten HirschgrünminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity garden space where Hochschulradio performed DJ and live sets during the Lothringair Festival.
• Lichtspielhaus AachenminorOthersLocal cinema whose upcoming film premieres and significant developments are covered in the KinoClash radio show.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• m94.5 (Hochschule München): Munich university radio broadcasting on 94.5 MHz with FM + online stream + podcast distribution. Same campus-radio model, same multi-channel digital strategy, and similar credit-bearing internship structure as Hochschulradio Aachen.
• Eldoradio (TU Dortmund): University radio at TU Dortmund broadcasting via FM and stream under LfM NRW oversight. Direct NRW counterpart with the same supervisor, license model, and student volunteer workforce as Hochschulradio Aachen.
• L'Unico (Universität Leipzig): Student-led university radio at Leipzig University with FM and online distribution. Closely comparable product (themed shows, podcast, music programming) and similar nonprofit student association governance.
• Hertz 87.9 (Hochschulradio Bielefeld): Licensed FM university radio at TH Bielefeld broadcasting on 87.9 MHz under LfM NRW supervision. Closest comparable: same regulatory regime, same student-led nonprofit model, same NRW LfM oversight as Hochschulradio Aachen.
• Koerradio (Universität zu Köln): Campus radio of the University of Cologne operating under LfM NRW with FM and stream distribution. Comparable audience (university students), same regulatory framework, and similar volunteer-driven show portfolio as Hochschulradio Aachen.
• Bremen Vier next (Hochschule Bremen): University-radio format from Bremen integrated with the public broadcaster Radio Bremen network. Comparable student-driven programming concept, though backed by a larger incumbent broadcaster.
• UniRadio 88.0 (TU Berlin): Student-led university radio at TU Berlin broadcasting on 88.0 MHz under the Berlin MABB regulator. Comparable product (FM + stream + themed shows), same nonprofit association structure, and similar reliance on volunteer contributors.
• Radio Q (Universität Münster): Student-run campus radio at the University of Münster operating under LfM NRW. Comparable audience, show format, and regulatory model, and a natural partner for the NRW university radio collaboration Hochschulradio Aachen has joined.

Broad incumbents

• 1LIVE (WDR): WDR's youth-oriented public radio network serving NRW including the Aachen catchment. Large incumbent that overlaps with Hochschulradio Aachen's audience but operates at national scale with a much broader portfolio.
• Fritz (rbb): Public youth radio station from Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg targeting a similar younger, music-and-culture audience. Adjacent incumbent operating at much larger scale across multiple channels (FM, DAB+, online, app).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hochschulradioaachen
• Instagraminstagram.com/hochschulradio_aachen/?hl=de
• TikToktiktok.com/@hochschulradio_aachen?_t=8jTI2OeRz8L&_r=1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hochschulradio-aachen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University Radio Aachen