New Radio Channel “Couldn’t Be Better”

Michael Hedges November 10, 2011 - Follow on Twitter

Private sector media operators have long called for reducing public broadcasting’s output. The overwhelming might of legacy, publicly funded radio and television stifles competition, they say. Politicians, sympathetic for various reasons, have been reluctant to make changes, fearing voter backlash. One of the first newly privatized radio channels has signed on to both criticism and praise.

A few seconds after midnight November 1st Denmark’s new national radio channel took to the airwaves. Radio24syv is a news talk channel, taking over the frequencies of public radio DR P2, the cultural channel. The news side of its programming is fairly traditional, presented by a mix of new and old voices from Denmark’s media scene. The talk side is unfamiliar territory.

Back in early 2010, Danish Culture Minister Per Stig Møller proposed privatizing a national radio channel of public broadcaster DR (formerly known as Danmarks Radio).  The Conservative People’s Party member – and former culture editor at Danmarks Radio – battled opposing politicians and, obviously, DR along with much of the country’s media establishment. The new channel, called FM4 or Radio Møller, would be privately operated but publicly funded through the broadcasting license fee.

A government committee was created to discuss, study and debate the details, mainly focused on programming.  Proposals included a news-talk channel, a culture channel and a pop music channel. In the end the committee recommended the new channel would compete with main DR news and information radio channel P1, “inspired” by National Public Radio (NPR) in the United States with significant news coverage, in-depth journalism, cultural programming and debates.

When the tender for the channel’s operator was issued big names in Danish media circled around. All but one dropped out. “After seeing the final tender documents, we must sadly observe that we can not compete for the license for the fourth nationwide radio channel, since the material at some points is inconsistent with our concept of editorial freedom,” said JP/Politikens Hus Executive Vice President Stig Ørskov to Politiken (February 4). JP/Politikens Hus, a major Danish publisher, had pursued the FM4 license in a joint venture with TV2. They found unacceptable the condition that the Radio and Television Board would approve all personnel. “Editorial independence begins and ends with individuals,” added Mr. Ørskov.

A quick stop at the European Commission gave the plan a green light, Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia saying it would “promote competition on the Danish market for public service radios.” Left standing was publisher Berlingske Media Group in a joint venture with communications agency People Group. They have an eight-year concession and DKK 93 million (about €12.5 million) to spend.

Over the last decade private sector broadcasting in Denmark has largely been deserted. News Corporation, Talpa, NRJ Group and Clear Channel have all backed out citing high transmission and license costs as well as withering competition from the well-financed DR. For the week ending November 6, DR’s aggregate market share, according to TNS Gallup, stood at 78.8%. DR P2 has moved to the DAB platform where DR has invested heavily in several channels making Denmark one of the biggest markets for digital radio.

When Denmark’s Social Democrats took power in October elections – and Per Stig Møller found himself out of a job – there were rumblings about ditching Radio24syv. Alas, the new government decided it was too late to change.

Launching any new radio channel, particularly one eagerly awaited, is a management challenge. The first day, week or even month of broadcasting means little to programmers who, like test pilots, know very well that early days are for working out the kinks.

The new radio channel’s every moment has attracted the rapt attention of Denmark’s media watchers. Critics – everybody is a critic – seemed taxed by Radio24syv not conforming to the programming styles of either DR channels or the commercial channels. Some found the new channel very “local” and tipped toward the Copenhagen market.

“I could not have done it better myself,” said Radio 100 owner Jim Receveur to journalisten.dk (November 1). All important weather and traffic information, he said, sounded “thrown together.”

Mainstream daily newspaper Politiken assembled a panel of five listeners to monitor the channel’s first few days. Most were quite complimentary. “It is a new approach to public service (broadcasting),” said one, “and they become better each day.”

See also in ftm Knowledge

Europe’s Radio – Northern Europe

Northern Europe’s radio has a very digital sound. And change is in the air. Economic challenges abound for both public and commercial broadcasters. The ftm Knowledge file reports on Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and the UK. 101 pages PDF includes Resources (February 2011)

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