When Berliners tune into 96.3 FM, they hear more than music—they hear the vibrant hum of migrant voices, diasporic rhythms, and multilingual stories woven into the daily fabric of the city. COSMO isn’t just another station; it’s where global pop meets global people. And this vital cultural lifeline is now at risk of being erased from the Berlin–Brandenburg airwaves entirely.
RBB Proposes Cutting COSMO FM
In an alarming development, Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB), the ARD consortium partner responsible for transmitting COSMO across Berlin and Brandenburg, is reportedly planning to revoke its FM broadcasting slot for COSMO. Though the public backlash in early June forced a reversal of ARD-wide cuts, the threat has re-emerged locally: RBB is now framing COSMO’s terrestrial slot as “non-essential,” with discussions underway to shift exclusively to digital or regional networks.
This is not just about budget cuts. By prioritizing “streamlined, mainstream radio” over multilingual, migrant-rooted programming, RBB plays into the hands of the conservatives and further sidelines marginalised voices. This is about whose voice will be heard and whose shall be silenced. It is always about power.
A swift answer to this threat and a plea for the preservation of COSMO’s radio broadcasting came with an open letter from the Integration Commissioners of Berlin and Brandenburg. In it, Katarina Niewiedzial and Diana Gonzalez Olivo urge the RBB not to further damage their undoubtedly meager offering of diversified media broadcasting. They instead demand COSMO to be expanded because “[it] is a platform for cultural self-determination, self-efficacy, and a bridge builder between living environments.”
Why Berlin–Brandenburg Matters
Berlin–Brandenburg isn’t just another zone. It is an area of friction and contradictions. Berlin is a vibrant nexus of migration, multilingualism, and global cultural exchange. Berlin is also surrounded by Brandenburg, a stronghold of the far-right AfD party, who are known for their racist anti-immigrant politics. In recent elections, they came in second, scoring 29,2% of the vote in Brandenburg. Here especially, COSMO is more than a radio broadcaster; its presence on the airwaves in Berlin-Brandenburg is an act of resistance to the right-wing nationalist sentiment. And an essential anchor for those queer and BiPoC people living in the region, who are confronted daily with the hate this political climate breeds.
COSMO’s 96.3 FM frequency reaches communities that often remain invisible in the mainstream radio landscape. While COSMO streams on the internet and DAB+ elsewhere, FM waves carry crucial accessibility, particularly for elders, commuters, and those outside urban tech hubs. Removing that frequency isn’t just technical—it’s symbolic.
The Stakes Are High
On June 24 and 25, the intendants of the ARD/ZDF group will make the final decision on COSMO’s future. And the future of 16 other radio programs. But let’s not forget: this isn’t merely about radio frequencies, it is a test of public media’s democratic mission. Just as Berlin’s diverse cultural landscape fights back against advancing erasure, the struggle to save COSMO’s FM presence is part of a larger resistance to re-nationalizing public discourse, reifying whiteness, sanitizing global perspectives, and depriving migrant voices of communal sound.
No matter what the outcome may be, make your voices heard, stay adamant. This is not the end of our fight!
Join the #saveCOSMOradio petition. Follow COSMO on Instagram and tune in to the COSMO radio waves.