ftm Radio Page - May 8, 2015

Culture Minister puts hold on FM shut-down
“we need listeners”

The Danish government has taken a second look at shuttering the FM radio platform. Rather than imposing a switch-over by the end of 2019 a decision will only be taken once digital listening - DAB and online - reaches 50% of all radio listening. The decision will likely not be trumpeted by DAB supporters like the partial FM switch-off in Norway announced two weeks ago.

“The FM band, which has been used for radio in Denmark since 1950, has unfortunately only room for a limited number of channels,” said Culture Minister Marianne Jelved in a statement, reported by Danish technology business portal avm.dk (May 2). “DAB and Internet radio offers far more options. A switch-off of FM is inevitable, but we need listeners. The question is when this will happen.” (See more on digital radio here)

Denmark was a very early adopter of the DAB digital radio platform, largely through public broadcaster DR. Several digital-only radio channels appeared, some disappearing due to budgetary constraints. The Culture Ministry noted that current digital radio listening is 26% of total listening. (See more on media in Denmark here)

Within the decision, broadcasters already using the DAB platform - most all in Denmark - will be required to upgrade to the DAB+ platform by the end of 2016. Minister Jelved’s office will continue to monitor progress but the question of FM switch-off will not return until after 2018, when the current media agreement expires.

TV broadcaster sheds radio assets
there’s something about publishers and radio

It is the season for media transactions. Discovery Communications has offloaded, as expected, the Scandinavian radio assets operating as SBS Discovery Media to Hamburg, Germany based Bauer Media Group. Financial details were not disclosed and a closing was not set as competition authorities will need to pass judgement.

The transaction involves 19 stations, some national and some local, including Radio Norge, Radio 1 and Radio Rock in Norway, Mix Megapol, the NRJ franchise and Rock Klassiker in Sweden, Pop FM, Radio 100 and Radio Nova in Denmark as well as The Voice and Iskelma in Finland. It is the biggest European radio deal in several years and puts Bauer Media at the top of pan-European radio broadcasters.

Discovery Communications acquired the Scandinavian broadcast assets of ProSiebenSat1.Media two years ago for €1.3 billion, the biggest European media deal in many years, and formed SBS Discovery Media. Discovery Communications is a television company through and through. Bauer Media is a leading radio broadcaster in the UK and Poland, also owning Radio Expres in Slovakia and a 25% stake in German station Radio Hamburg, a joint venture with RTL Group.

Radio Page week ending May 1, 2015
radio in Spain, audience measurement, EGM, RNE

Radio Page week ending April 24, 2015
radio in Slovakia, Europa 2, music quota, radio in Denmark, digital radio, DAB, DR, P4, radio in France, Médiamétrie, radio audience, Radio Latina, FIP, France Info, RTL, Radio France, France Inter, NRJ, Skyrock, RMC, radio in Norway, FM

Radio Page week ending April 17, 2015
radio in France, Médiamétrie, radio audience, Europe 1, RTL, Radio France, France Inter, NRJ, Nostalgie, Skyrock, RFM, radio in Norway, FM switch-off, radio in Sweden, digital radio

Radio Page week ending April 10, 2015
radio in France, public broadcasting, Radio France, radio in Sweden, Sveriges Radio, Metropol, social media, P5 STHLM

Radio Page week ending April 3, 2015
digital radio, DAB, DAB+, radio in the UK, radio in the Netherlands, radio in Austria

Radio Page week ending March 27, 2015
radio in the Netherlands, BNR Nieuwsradio, STER, sales-houses, radio in France, Radio France, public broadcasting

Radio Page week ending March 20, 2015
radio in Russia, Like FM, social media, Gazprom Media, radio in Poland, Eurozet, Radio Zet, RadioDays Europe

Radio Page week ending March 13, 2015
radio in Germany, MA Radio 2015/I, Antenne Bayern, Radio NRW, WDR, BR, Energy Munich, SWR, Radio Regenbogen, EinsLive, Radio PSR, radio in Bulgaria, audience measurement, Nielsen Admosphere

Radio Page week ending March 6, 2015
radio in Sweden, public radio, SR, radio in Italy, RCS Media Group, Radio 105, Radio Monte Carlo, Virgin Radio

Radio Page week ending February 27, 2015
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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

Recently added radio audience figures and resources

• Spain - National Radio Audience (May 2015)
  national channels, reach share, trend
• Spain - Major Media - Radio (May 2015)
  public and private broadcasting companies, channels, management, platforms, audience estimates
• France - Greater Paris Radio Audience (April 2015)
  national and local channels, market share, trend
• Portugal - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (April 2015)
  public and private broadcasting companies, channels, management, platforms, audience estimates
• France - National Radio Audience (April 2015)
  national channels, sectors, market share, reach/TSL
• FYR Macedonia - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (April 2015)
  public and private stations, management
• Malta - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (March 2015)
  public, private, educational and religious stations, ownership, management, platforms, audience reach
• 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
• Turkey - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (January 2015)
  ownership, management, program formats, platforms, audience estimates

More Resources

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