ftm Radio Page - February 5, 2016

Attention Is The Most Important Product
The digital tipping point has certainly arrived. Platforms are convenient and well in hand, literally and figuratively. While choices remain very traditional new offerings get a hearing, so to speak, from those looking for something new. And, as usual, people are paying attention. They always have.

Politician unloads in “media war” with billionaire
“expanded profile”

Observers of Hungarian media politic await each day another round in the slug-fest between billionaire Lajos Simicska and Prime Minister Viktor Orban. There is now a Budapest radio station in the mix, to be called Karc FM with Otto Gajdics as manager. He’d been manager at news-talk station Lanchid Radio, principally owned by Mr. Simicska. Last year he vacated that position along with Gabor Liszkay, editor-in-chief of daily newspaper Magyar Nemzet, also principally owned by Mr. Simicska, and various other executives for “reasons of conscience.”

Mr. Simicska's media holdings had been reliably supportive editorially of PM Orban and the Fidesz political party, to which Mr. Simicska contributed generously. The “bro-mance” ended with the imposition of a tax on advertising revenues, largely directed at television broadcaster RTL Klub, principally owned by RTL Group. Finding lawyers for RTL and Bertelsmann a bit overwhelming the ad tax law was withdrawn and replaced with another directed at all privately-owned media companies and somewhat less draconian. At about the same time PM Orban effectively moved moved the not-insubstantial government ad budgets from privately-owned media outlets to State-owned MTV. This did not please Mr. Simicska, who declared “total media war,” presumably directed at PM Orban. (See more about media in Hungary here)

There was also, not long ago, that tiff about Mr.Simicska’s outdoor advertising company Mahir Cityposter. It had a 25 year deal with the city of Budapest for some 600 installations. Last September the city cancelled the contract with Mahir Cityposter, several years early, and ordered all installations removed. When the city’s wrecking crews arrived in early January Mr. Simicska sent in security guards to provide a little distance. The police were called. All parties moved to court rooms, removal of the installations suspended.

Karc FM will occupy the Budapest frequency of NG 105.9, reported hvg.hu (January 29), once intended to be the radio adjunct of business newspaper Napi Gazdaság, which disappeared in August 2015. The vacated NG 105.9 frequency was transferred to Gabor Liszkay, who, with friends close to Fidesz, acquired the assets of Napi Gazdaság. Regulator NMHH (National Media and Infocommunications Authority) allowed an “expanded profile” for the station. It is expected, with the personnel and name changes, Karc FM will be reliably pro-government.

Radio Page week ending January 29, 2016
radio in Sweden, Sveriges Radios, Ekot, Radio Sweden, international broadcasting, radio in France, Médiamétrie, radio audience, RTL, Radio France, France Inter, France Info, Europe 1, RMC, NRJ, Nostalgie, Fun Radio, Virgin Radio, Skyrock

Radio Page week ending January 22, 2016
radio in Switzerland, Mediapulse, SSR-SRG, SFR, RTS, RSI, public radio, digital radio, Radio Swiss Pop, Euergy Zurich, radio in Greece, Best 92.6, Hellenic 93.2

Radio Page week ending January 15, 2016
radio in Belgium, digital radio, DAB+, MNM, radio in Denmark, DR, P5, radio in the Netherlands, Talpa, Telegraaf Media Groep, Sky Radio, Veronica, Radio 538

Radio Page week ending January 8, 2016
radio in Germany, MABB, immigrant radio station

Recently added radio audience figures and resources

• UK - National Radio Audience (February 2016)
  market share, trend, sectors
• UK - London Radio Audience (February 2016)
  market share, trend
• UK - National Radio Audience (February 2016)
  BBC/commercial 'gap'
• France - Greater Paris Radio Audience (January 2016)
  national and local channels, market share, trend
• France - National Radio Audience (January 2016)
  national channels, sectors, market share, reach/TSL
• Switzerland - Radio listening by region (January 2016)
  public and private sectors, penetration, time spent listening
• Switzerland - French region Radio Audience (January 2016)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Swiss-German region Radio Audience (January 2016)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Italian region Radio Audience (January 2016)
  share, trend
• Poland - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (January 2016)
  public and private radio channels, owners, management, platforms, market share
• Estonia - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (December 2015)
  public and private broadcasting companies, channels, management, platforms, audience estimates
• Spain - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (December 2015)
  public and private broadcasting companies, channels, management, platforms, audience estimates
• Ireland - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (November 2015)
  national public and commercial radio channels, major local/regional stations, management, listening share
• 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
• Germany - Radio Audience (July 2015)
  leading stations, audience trend, daily reach
• Spain - National Radio Audience (July 2015)
  national channels, reach share, trend
• Greece - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (June 2015))
  public and private broadcasting, owners, executives, market share

More Resources

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