followthemedia.com
a knowledge base for media professionals
ftm Radio Page
ftm Home Page

ftm Radio Page - November 6, 2015

New spin on eighties nostalgia
what comes around goes around

Legacy Hungarian broadcaster Juventus Radio changed its name this week. After a quick decision from regulator NNMH (National Media and Infocommuncations Authority) it is now known as Slager FM. The station, operating a Budapest license, offers “especially music of the eighties,” said managing director Zoltan Hauk, quoted by hvg.hu (October 30).

Juventus Radio was, until this week, Hungary’s oldest - more or less - continuously operating commercial radio brand, first on the air in 1989. It went through several owners - including Metromedia International and Communicorp - as well as program and distribution changes. Ayudate Investment Group bought the station in October 2013 then sold it to Tematic Media Group in June this year. (See more about media in Hungary here)

Slager FM is an interesting choice for the station’s name. Slager Radio operated as the top rated national channel until 2009 and a questionable license renewal decision. Danubius Radio, actually the country’s first commercial station, was also caught up in the same licensing problem.

Owners of Slager Radio and Danubius Radio - Emmis International and Advent Capital, respectively - appealed, sued and gave up. Neo FM replaced Slager Radio and it, too, eventually disappeared. Class FM replaced Danubius Radio and survives. Tematic Media Group also operates thematic TV channels, including Slager TV.

Legacy broadcasters up-ended for culture
out with the old and in with something else

The oldest commercial music radio station in Russia, dating from the days of the Soviet Union, has left the FM band. First appearing in 1990 for St. Petersburg fans of foreign rock music, Radio Roks has been replaced on 102.0 FM with Country FM. The station continues online and via satellite.

Country FM, described on its website, is “to acquaint listeners with the culture of major cities and the Russian hinterland, to tell everybody about what a wonderful country we live in and are proud of.” (See more about media in Russia here)

Turmoil in Russian radio broadcasting has brought about many changes in ownership and programming. Radio Chanson owners Vladimir Maslov and Igor Yarkov acquired Radio Roks St. Petersburg and Moscow FM frequencies in July, along with others. They acquired the Keks FM Moscow frequency from European Media Group. Keks FM licensed the Canadian/US pop music format Jack FM. It, too, has been switched to Country FM. The Radio Roks Moscow FM frequency now offers Radio Chanson.

Russian Media Group announced last July intention to transfer broadcast assets to Russian State concert promoter Gosconcert, part of the Culture Ministry. Included is Radio Maximum, the oldest Moscow commercial radio station. Shortly thereafter the entire team of Radio Maximum morning show High Society was fired for being “insufficiently patriotic.”

Young people missed in measurement
"fundamentally correct"

Audience measurement has never been an exact science. Adapting to the great digital dividend providers developed a range of technical solutions to, ostensibly, better pin-point new consumer behavior. New is, of course, fleeting. Measuring that mobile premium is the next challenge.

“It is fundamentally correct that radio consumption through headphones cannot be measured with the MediaWatch,” said Swiss measurement institute MediaPulse spokesperson Christopher Wehrli, quoted by media portal kleinreport.ch (November 2). Headphones, he explained, block the audio signal that the MediaWatch collects and reports. MediaPulse plans “a variety of improvements” in 2017, he added, but solving the headphone dilemma isn’t in the plan for “the foreseeable future.” (See more about audience measurement here)

Who has not noted gaggles of teens permanently, it seems, attached by headphones or earbuds to mobile phones? A 2011/2012 time use study found 7.9% of 15 to 24 year olds in the Swiss German-speaking region listening to radio with headphones. What are they listening to?

We may never know, unless chips are installed in every teenager. “Apparently not all involved have noticed how much radio and audio consumption has changed,” said Swiss broadcaster Giuseppe Scaglione. “You can just shake your head.”


Radio Page week ending October 30, 2015
radio in the UK, radio audience, RAJAR, BBC, commercial radio, digital radio, DAB, Radio 2, Radio 1, Radio 4 Extra, 6Music, Heart, Smooth, Magic, Kiss, Absolute Radio, LBC, Global Radio, Bauer Media

Radio Page week ending October 23, 2015
radio in Norway, The Voice, Bauer Media, radio in Germany, Medientage Munich, VPRT

Radio Page week ending October 16, 2015
radio in Iceland, talk radio, Utvarp Saga, Capacent Gallup, Bylian, Ras 2, radio in Belgium, DAB+, digital radio, BBC World Service, Radio X

Radio Page week ending October 9, 2015
radio in Slovakia, music quotas, Europa 2, RTVS

Radio Page week ending October 2, 2015
radio in Finland, radio audience, RadioMedia, Finnpanel, YLE, Spotify, Bonnier, NRJ Group, Nelonen Media, Bauer, radio in France, music quotas, broadcaster boycott, RTL Group, NRJ Group, Lagardere Active, Sirti, Fleur Pellerin, radio in Latvia, Radio SWH, media ownership, Communicorp

Recently added radio audience figures and resources


Also see ftm Knowledge

Europe's Radio - Southern Europe

Radio broadcasting in southern Europe ranges from highly developed to developing highly. Italian, Spanish and Portuguese radio is unique, creative and very popular. Radio in Croatia, Serbia and Greece has had ups and downs. The ftm Knowledge file includes Resources. 126 pages PDF (June 2015)

Order here

Europe's Radio - Western Europe

Opportunity meets tradition in Western Europe's radio broadcasting. Change has come fast and yet oh, so slowly. This ftm Knowledge file contains material and resources on public and private radio broadcasting in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Netherlands and Switzerland. 244 pages. Resources. PDF (September 2013)

Order here

Europe’s Radio – Eastern Europe

Eastern Europe’s radio writes new rules. In fact, most everything about radio in this region is new... and changes often. The ftm Knowledge file reports on Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia and Ukraine. 159 pages PDF (April 2013)

Order here

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

Become an ftm Individual or Corporate Member and receive Knowledge files at no charge. JOIN HERE!

ftm Knowledge files are available to non-Members at €49 each.

The Six Radio Brands is about the uniquely European development of radio brands. Competition among broadcasters - and certainly between the public and commercial sectors - gives radio in Europe a rich dynamic. As consumers become more media-literate and demand more attachment broadcasters find target markets illusive.
Regulators, advertisers and broadcasters take turns trying to influence radio brands. Culture and technology makes an impact. More and more, the greatest influence comes from consumers.
The Six Radio Brands describes advantages and pit-falls of brand strategies, with illustrations from current radio practice.

100 pages. 2004

Available at no charge to ftm Members, €49 for others. Email for more information

copyright ©2004-2015 ftm partners, unless otherwise noted Contact UsAbout Us