ftm Radio Page - March 6, 2015

Private equity deals are just easier sometimes
“very complex situation”

As financially challenged Italian media house RCS Media Group sheds non-core assets, its shareholding in radio broadcaster Gruppo Finelco is next to enter “exclusive negotiations” with private equity fund Clessidra according to a company statement reported by news agency ANSA (March 6). Gruppo Finelco owns national radio channels Radio 105, Virgin Radio and Radio Monte Carlo. RCS Media Group has held a 44% stake since 2007 in the company, founded and principally owned by Alberto Hazan.

When RCS Media Group made clear last year its intention to reduce its debt footprint Gruppo Finelco itself became a takeover target because of put and call option contracts between the primary shareholders. Eduardo Montefusco, owner of Radio Dimensione Suono, took a look as did Spanish broadcasters Blas Herrero (Kiss FM) and Atresmedia (Onda Cero) as well as UK radio broadcaster Global Radio. Clessidra Capital Partners, principally owned by Claudio Sposito, made a bid for for the RCS Media Group stake in Gruppo Finelco 13 months ago but the “very complex situation” ended negotiations. (See more on media in Italy here)

RCS Media Group also announced entering exclusive negotiations with publisher Mondadori for a asset sale of book publisher RCS Libri.

Confidence in public radio “still on top”
“incredibly fun”

Media outlets, generally, pay great attention to issues of public confidence. The onslaught of new media and corresponding shifts in media usage have been shown to affect the trust people have in these institutions. The annual confidence barometer survey of Swedish institutions has once again placed Swedish public radio Sveriges Radio (SR) as the most trusted media outlet.

The survey results show 71% confidence in SR, followed by 67% for Swedish public television (SVT). Both have seen confidence ratings slide in recent years. “They are still at the top,” said TNS Sifo public opinion researcher Toivo Sjörén, “but we also see big changes in the media landscape.” Young people 16 to 29 years trust SVT slightly more than SR while 72% of older folk 60 to 74 years trust SR but only 64% trust SVT. Taken in aggregate confidence in radio and television outlets has risen to 51% from 47% in last year’s survey. Confidence in daily newspapers dropped to 26% from 29% one year on. (See more about media in Sweden here)

“Of course it is incredibly fun that once again we have the highest confidence of Swedish people,” said SR CEO Cilla Benkö in a statement (March 5). “It is important that we also build confidence in groups that might barely know who we are or what we stand for.” SR offers three national radio channels plus the 25 station local radio network P4, specialty FM stations in Stockholm and Malmo as well as several digital and web channels.

The confidence barometer (Förtroendebarometern) survey is prepared by Göteborg University and TNS Sifo and presented annually at the Gothenburg Media Days.

Radio Page week ending February 27, 2015
radio in Italy, Eurisko GfK Radiomonitor, radio audience, radio advertising, RTL 102.5, RDS, Radio 105, Radio 24, RAI, radio in Germany, AG.MA, radio in Switzerland, digital radio, radio reception, radio in Norway, digital transition, NKOM

Radio Page week ending February 20, 2015
radio in the Czech Republic, public radio, CRo Plus, FM distribution, radio in Crimea, radio in Russia, radio in Ukraine, Gazprom Media

Radio Page week ending February 13, 2015
World Radio Day, ITU, AER, Internews, VPRT, radio in the UK, radio audience, digital radio, RAJAR, BBC, Radio 2, Radio 1, 6Music, commercial radio, Heart

Radio Page week ending February 6, 2015
podcasts, Serial, WBEZ, theater of the mind, radio in Switzerland, audience measurement, digital radio, MediaPulse, SSR-SRG, SFR, RTR, Rete, Radio 3i, Radio Swiss Pop, Radio in France, Radio France, Le Mouv', FIP

Radio Page week ending January 30, 2015
radio in Switzerland, FM shut-off, digital radio, DAB, BAKOM, radio in Ukraine, Super Radio, Radio Friday, Retro FM, Gala Radio

Radio Page week ending January 23, 2015
radio in Greece, radio licenses, VFM, Best FM, Flash 96, radio in France, radio in Paris, Médiamétrie, radio audience, Europe 1, RTL, Radio France, FIP

Recently added radio audience figures and resources

• Germany - Radio Audience (March 2015)
  leading stations, audience trend, daily reach
• Italy - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (February 2015)
  public and private broadcasting companies, channels, audience reach/share, management
• UK - National Radio Audience (February 2015)
  market share, trend, sectors
• UK - London Radio Audience (February 2015)
  market share, trend
• UK - National Radio Audience (February 2015)
  BBC/commercial 'gap'
• Switzerland - Radio listening by region (February 2015)
  public and private sectors, penetration, time spent listening
• Switzerland - French region Radio Audience (February 2015)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Swiss-German region Radio Audience (February 2015)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Italian region Radio Audience (February 2015)
  share, trend
• Bosnia/Herzegovina - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (January 2015)
  public and private broadcasters, management, descriptions, regulator, broadcaster association
• Albania - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (January 2015)
  public and private radio channels, national, regional, religious and community stations
• France - Greater Paris Radio Audience (January 2015)
  national and local channels, market share, trend
• France - National Radio Audience (January 2015)
  national channels, sectors, market share, reach/TSL
• Turkey - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (January 2015)
  ownership, management, program formats, platforms, audience estimates

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