followthemedia.com - a knowledge base for media professionals
The Numbers

It’s Always Something Else, Right?

Markets can be cruel. Consolidation can be necessary. For the media sector there is no perfect formula. Dynamics, market and otherwise, often point in different directions and change quickly. It’s like riding a shark.

Look Out!Over the course of last year, Denmark’s radio sector went through a series of changes, one linked to another. The board of public broadcaster DR (Danmarks Radio) elevated Maria Rørbye Ronn to Director General in February 2011 several months after the controversial retirement of Director General Joseph Plummer.  By November a new privately-held public service news and talk radio channel - Radio24syv – was born to compete with DR’s main channel P1 and powered by the national FM network FM4, once operated by DR, and a about €100 million from the public broadcasting household license fee over its eight-year concession.

In early 2010 in-coming Culture Minister Per Stig Moller first offered the idea for a new national radio channel. Shortly thereafter the dominant conservative government coalition enshrined what was then called Radio Moller in law. A few relatively minor but very public scandals involving DR had weakened the broadcaster’s standing, politically and publicly. 

DR’s total audience share has changed very little in the last year, roughly a 75% market share according to the TNS Gallup national survey of the last week in September (week 39). News channel P1’s market share (persons 12+) has dropped to 6.2% from 7.6% one year on, the difference conspicuously equally to the market share of Radio24syv (1.4%). The reconstituted P2 Klassisk, primarily found on DAB digital radio, internet and satellite, posted a 2.2% market share, compared to the 2.9% of P2 when it had FM distribution. Programs of P2 Klassisk also appear on P1’s FM network during off-peak hours.

DR’s regional network of pop music and local news stations P4 remains, on aggregate, the country’s biggest audience draw, posting 41.1% market share in the recently released week 39 TNS Gallup survey, up from 40.3% year on year. National pop music channel P3 holds second spot inn the national survey with 21.7% market share, up from 19.9% one year on.

All DR radio channels are multi-platform, the public broadcaster aggressively developed the DAB digital radio platform over several years and once offered more than two dozen channels. Those, too, have been scaled back over the last two years to eliminate music-only “juke-box” channels. DR has offered regular DAB platform service for a decade and per capita DAB usage in Denmark is the highest in the world, according to WorldDAB (January 30, 2012).

SBS Radio, part of ProSiebenSat Media, dominates commercial radio in Denmark. The owner of national pop music channel Nova FM, local network The Voice and Pop FM acquired New Radio Apsin June, adding Radio 100, Radio Soft and Radio Klassisk to the group. Long serving broadcasting executive Jim Receveur, who once owned Radio 100, was named director of the expanded SBS Radio group in Denmark. Aside from the 300 local and community stations, Denmark’s radio sector is effectively consolidated into public radio DR and commercial operator SBS Radio.

And then there’s Radio24syv. The programming requirement set by the Culture Ministry is detailed and specific, which limited private sector interest. The concession was eventually assigned to publisher Berlingske Media and PeopleGroup, which operate Radio24syv as Berlingske People A/S.  But Berlingske Media has been put up for sale by owner Mecom, a long and slow process. A potential buyer, say Danish media watchers, would likely have little interest in Radio24syv as the most obvious candidates are already invested in Danish media, further consolidating the publishing sector.


See also in ftmKnowledge

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. 144 pages PDF includes Resources (November 2012)

Order here

Digital Radio - Possibilities and Probabilities

Digital radio has many platforms. From broadcast platforms to internet radio and rapidly emerging smartphone platforms, listeners and broadcasters have choices galore and decisions to make. Some regulators have made up their minds, others not, some hedging their bets. This ftm Knowledge file details the possibilities for digital broadcasting and the probabilities for success. Includes Resources 149 pages PDF (August 2012)

Order here

ftm resources


related ftm articles

Cards The Problem As Broadcaster Shuffles Deck
As audience shares drop, public broadcasters continue to look for solutions. With flat or contracting revenue streams and politicians wary of details, new ideas look like old ideas. The digital dividend strikes again.

New Radio Channel “Couldn’t Be Better”
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.

Commercial Radio's Last Chance
Commercial radio broadcasting lives and dies on its ability to monetize its brand and program. There is risk and it is not new. With public broadcastings built-in advantages the precarious balance between public and private sector media is ready to tip.


advertisement

ftm Knowledge

Media in Spain - Diverse and Challenged – new

Media in Spain is steeped in tradition. yet challenged by diversity. Publishers hold great influence, broadcasters competing. New media has been slow to rise and business models for all are under stress. Rich in language and culture, Spain's media is reaching into the future and finding more than expected. 123 pages, PDF. January 2018

Order here

The Campaign Is On - Elections and Media

Elections campaigns are big media events. Candidates and issues are presented, analyzed and criticized in broadcast and print. Media is now more of a participant in elections than ever. This ftm Knowledge file reports on news coverage, advertising, endorsements and their effect on democracy at work. 84 pages. PDF (September 2017)

Order here

Fake News, Hate Speech and Propaganda

The institutional threat of fake news, hate speech and propaganda is testing the mettle of those who toil in news media. Those three related evils are not new, by any means, but taken together have put the truth and those reporting it on the back foot. Words matter. This ftm Knowledge file explores that light. 48 pages, PDF (March 2017)

Order here

More ftm Knowledge files here

Become an ftm Individual or Corporate Member to order Knowledge Files at no charge. JOIN HERE!


copyright ©2004-2013 ftm partners, unless otherwise noted Contact UsSponsor ftm