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ftm Radio Page - April 1, 2011

Digital radio platforms keep coming
“a bit of real innovation”

Many UK broadcasters have taken the Web radio plunge and signed on to the BBC designed RadioPlayer, which signed on this week (March 31). Services offered depend on services rendered, all offer live streaming, some offer “catch-up” and quality varies. It’s a 50-50 venture between the BBC and UK commercial broadcasters, the big ones at least.

There’s a search function, a pre-set function and, naturally, integration with social network portals. Unlike other Web radio portals, the RadioPlayer is embedded into each broadcasters website. So far, only BBC radio channels and UK licensed commercial stations are part of the package. Eventually the RadioPlayer will move to set-tops, smartphones, iPads, refrigerators and gorillas in suits. (See more on digital radio here)

“Eighteen months ago, the radio market was frankly lacking a bit in real innovation for the consumer,” said the BBC’s director of audio and music Tim Davie, quoted in the Guardian (March 31).

Eighteen months is nothing compared to the eighteen years, or so, UK broadcasters have been whinging about that other digital radio – DAB. Logically – or ironically – broadcasting heavyweights were called together (March 31) by Culture Minister Jeremy Hunt to agree to agree to something that would bring DAB digital radio services to local markets.

That something, obviously, is money. The cost of bringing local DAB coverage – meaning transmission services – up to 90% of the UK will be equally shared by the government, the BBC and commercial broadcasters, reported Media Week (April 1), about £10 million each.

Web radio listening in the UK is estimated at about 3% of total listening, far lower than other European countries where DAB is less developed. (JMH)

Radio survey cancelled
“lack of agreement”

Italian radio broadcasters still cannot agree about measurement. The troubled service provider Audiradio has given up and won’t release audience figures this year. The squabble, of course, is about methodology.

Earlier this month (March 8) Andrea Laffranchi told Corriere della Sera “the (Audiradio) board has made official, given the lack of agreement on the… system in 2011 there will not be any figures released.” The Audiradio board is comprised of the major national radio broadcasters. They’re very competitive.

On one side is public broadcaster RAI, Gruppo Espresso and Mondadori. They seem to favor a switch to electronic measurement. RTL, RDS, Finelco and Kiss Kiss Radio want the figures collected by the telephone survey released. But even those positions aren’t clear. These are Italians, you know. (See more on media in Italy here)

”Some members of the board who blocked the publication  happen to be those who have received large increases, which all believed to be incorrect and should not be published,” said Finelco president Alberto Hazan to Primaonline (March 25).

Meanwhile, RTL 102.5 released figures (March 28) collected by the unofficial Eurisko Media Monitor showing it has 5.6 million listeners on the average day in 2010. (JMH)

Radio Page - March 25, 2011

Radio Page - March 18, 2011

Radio Page - March 11, 2011

Radio Page - March 4, 2011

Radio Page - February 25, 2011

Radio Page - February 11, 2011

Radio Page - February 4, 2011

Radio Page - January 28, 2011

Radio Page - January 21, 2011

Recently added radio audience figures and resources

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