ftm Radio Page - October 2, 2015

We're Having An Opportunity Here So Please Don't Get In The Way
Everything is now a challenge. Sitting back to enjoy the fruits of good labor is off the agenda. More competitors are coming. Some have money. Some have ideas. Some have a plan. The future howls like a cold north wind for the rest.

Music quota mashup with digital media spooks broadcasters
the hits are the hits

A proposal to harden music quota requirements has not pleased French radio broadcasters, large and small. Expressing that displeasure, they have, literally, gone to the barricades, boycotting the music quota rules altogether, at least one day (September 29). The 40% French content quota for radio broadcasters has been in place since 1994.

Earlier this week, Culture Minister Fleur Pellerin complained that radio broadcasters had been playing fast and loose with the rule’s intent. “In place of having the quotas filled by just 10 tracks, they will be filled with 11 or 12,” she said, quoted by France24 (September 29). Actually, the proposed rule amendment, which must first pass the National Assembly, calls for the 10 most played French-language tunes to comprise only 50% of the music quota requirement. “I don’t believe this will result in the calling into question anyone’s fundamental liberties.” (See more about media in France here)

Participating in the one-day boycott are national channels operated by RTL Group, NRJ Group, Lagardére Active and members of independent radio association Sirti. Their complaint, according to a joint statement, is that French-language music production has “collapsed,” limiting their choices. French artists are singing in English, it seems. Minister Pellerin, they grumble, wants “to divert the radio listeners to pay streaming platforms.”

And it’s competition from streaming platforms - from Spotify to Deezer and more - that concern French private sector broadcasters. They are not under legal requirement to push particular content to users, at least so far. Yes, French teenagers can hear Taylor Swift tunes 24/7 if they wish.

Manager buyout as broadcaster exits another country
effective immediately

Early investor in Eastern European radio broadcasting Communicorp has exited its Latvian assets, reports Irish public broadcaster rte.ie (September 24). Operator of five mainly co-branded on-air and online channels, Radio SWH has been acquired by station manager Janis Sipkevics and sales director Filips Rubenis with financial assistance from Tallinn, Estonia-based movie theater owner Cinamon Holding, principally held by Russian investor DTL Capital.

Dublin-based Communicorp expanded radio holdings in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia from the early 1990’s through mid 2000’s. In recent years the company, principally owned by Denis O’Brien, exited radio holdings in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Ukraine, Sweden, Finland and Estonia. In addition to extensive radio holdings in Ireland and recent acquisitions in the UK the company continues to own radio operations in Bulgaria and Jordan.

Main channel Radio SWH offers pop music and has a 6% market share according to recent TNS audience estimates, ranked 4th overall. SWH Rock is a rock music station. Spin FM and SWH+ are Russian-language stations. Financial details were not disclosed. The ownership transfer is effective immediately.

Radio Page week ending September 25, 2015
radio in Sweden, digital radio, DAB+, Spotify, radio advertising

Radio Page week ending September 18, 2015
radio in the Czech Republic, RRTV, jamesdean.fm, digital radio, radio in Italy, Gruppo Finelco, Mediaset, RCS MediaGroup, radio in France, Médiamétrie, radio audience, summer audience

Radio Page week ending September 11, 2015
digital radio, IBC, DAB+, mobile media, radio in the Netherlands

Radio Page week ending September 4, 2015
radio in the Netherlands, commercial licenses, digital radio, DAB+

Recently added radio audience figures and resources

• Finland - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (September 2015)
  public and private radio channels, management, market share, platforms
• France - National Radio Summer Audience (September 2015)
  national channels, summer period 2010-2015 trend
• Ireland - National Radio Audience (August 2015)
  market share, 07h00-19h00, trend
• Ireland - Dublin Radio Audience (August 2015)
  market share, 07h00-19h00, trend
• UK - National Radio Audience (August 2015)
  market share, trend, sectors
• UK - London Radio Audience (August 2015)
  market share, trend
• UK - National Radio Audience (August 2015)
  BBC/commercial 'gap'
• France - Greater Paris Radio Audience (July 2015)
  national and local channels, market share, trend
• Germany - Radio Audience (July 2015)
  leading stations, audience trend, daily reach
• France - National Radio Audience (July 2015)
  national channels, sectors, market share, reach/TSL
• Spain - National Radio Audience (July 2015)
  national channels, reach share, trend
• Spain - Major Media - Radio (July 2015)
  public and private broadcasting companies, channels, management, platforms, audience estimates
• Greece - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (June 2015))
  public and private broadcasting, owners, executives, market share

More Resources

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