ftm Radio Page - May 9, 2014

New radio channel offers endless possibilities
French savoir-faire

Public broadcaster Radio France has a new radio channel, so far just online, and named not so creatively RF8, for the eighth radio service. What’s on the air, however, is ambitious, experimental and quite interesting. It’s a music channel, brain-child of digital media director Joel Ronez.

Each week about 30 “playlists” will be created by Radio France producers then augmented with archive and new material. These programs, of sorts, will be sequenced on RF8 and available on YouTube, Deezer, Spotify and iTunes. Online listeners can customize any of it and, eventually, submit their own list. The idea is “the perfect synthesis between the endless possibilities offered by new digital methods and the historical savoir-faire of Radio France,” said M. Ronez in a statement.

Broadcasters trade legal barbs over digital transition
platform makes a difference

The ongoing disagreement between German private and public broadcasters over digital radio utility brought both sides to trading verbal punches. This week’s round included legal opinions. This feud – part of an ever-present war – has private sector broadcasters complaining about a Bavarian Radio (BR) plan to move arts and culture channel BR-Klassik to the DAB+ platform with youth channel BR Plus migrating to the FM frequencies.

“Both a frequency and program change infringes the Interstate Broadcasting Agreement and is unconstitutional,” said private broadcasters association VPRT in a statement citing a legal opinion from Uni Leipzig constitutional law professor Christoph Degenhart. Into the legal nitty-gritty, Professor Dr. Degenhart argues BR’s mandate to offer cultural programming to the widest possible audience is protected by Federal law and takes precedence over Bavarian law, the Bavarian Broadcasting Act.  In other words, moving BR Klassik to DAB+ is “inadmissible.” (See VPRT statement here – in German)

BR’s legal director Joachim Wieland came back with the opinion that BR’s mandate to serve “the entire population” is inscribed in the Bavarian Broadcasting Act, which takes precedence, quoted by W&V (May 6). The shifting platform plan is meant to “reach a younger audience and counteract generational shift.” Four of the five BR radio channels, he explained, “appeal to a public that is older than 50 years.” (See more on media in Germany here)

VPRT Radio chairman Klaus Schunk added that BR is “not entitled to unrestricted market leadership in all age groups.” The association notes 94% of radio listening in Germany is attributed to the FM platform with 4.8% attributed to the DAB+ platform.

With FM shut-off closing in, the disgruntled speak up
“enormous forces”

As decided months ago, Norway will become the first country to effectively replace FM radio broadcasting with the DAB digital platform in 2017. Digital multiplexes have been constructed to accommodate channels from public broadcaster NRK and national commercial stations. As the deadline approaches, some stakeholders in digital transition are getting nervous.

The Norwegian Automobile Importers Association (BIL), in a statement to Kampanje (May 6), believes DAB “will mean a significant improvement” for radio. “But we think we have to wait until 2019 to shut-off FM since there are so many cars that do not have DAB.” (See more on DAB digital radio here)

“We think there will be some disgruntled car owners if Norway goes off FM in 2017,” said BIL spokesperson Tore Lillemork, who shared concerns with the Ministry of Industry. “In 2019 the number of cars without DAB radios will be fewer and DAB will be more mature. I think this will make less discomfort.”

Local broadcasters in Norway are likewise disgruntled with advertising promoting DAB radio. Radio Rjukan editor Ole Jon Tveito complained to the Norwegian Consumer Ombudsman (Forbrukerombudet), reported lokalradio.no (May 5), that “the offensive propaganda of (digital radio support group) Digitalradio Norge” is misleading. FM distribution for local radio stations in Norway continues after 2017.

“We face enormous forces that want to oust all small local radio stations,” he complained.

Radio Page week ending May 2, 2014
radio in Germany, Antenne Bayern, WDR, Radio/Tele FFH, planet radio, LfM, Radio NRW, BFBS

Radio Page week ending April 25, 2014
radio in Spain, EGM, AIMC, Cadena SER, Grupo Prisa, Los 40 Principales, Onda Cero, M80, Cadena COPE, RNE, Kiss FM, radio in France, Mediametrie, IDF audience, RTL, Europe 1, NRJ, Skyrock, Radio Latina, radio in South Africa, AM/MW, ICASA

Radio Page week ending April 18, 2014
radio in Norway, digital radio, digital migration, NRK, radio in France, Médiamétrie, radio audience, Europe 1, RTL, France Inter, NRJ, Radio France

Radio Page week ending April 11, 2014
radio in Germany, Bayerischer Rundfunk, BR Klassik, digital radio, radio in Russia, international broadcasting, Voice of America, Voice of Russia

Radio Page week ending April 4, 2014
radio in France, radio promotion, Virgin Radio, Fun Radio, radio in Greece, licensing, EETT

Radio Page week ending March 28, 2014
radio in Croatia, Radio 101, RadioDays Europe, radio in Italy, R101, Mondadori

Radio Page week ending March 21, 2014
radio in Greece, NERIT, ex-ERT

Radio Page week ending March 14, 2014
radio in Germany, ag.ma, MA 2014 Radio I, Antenne Bayern, Radio NRW, WDR, radio in Ukraine, TRK Breeze, ERA FM

Radio Page week ending March 7, 2014
radio in Italy, GfK Eurisko, RadioMonitor, RTL 102.5, RAI, Radio 24

Radio Page week ending February 28, 2014
radio in France, digital radio, web radio, NRJ Group, radio in Austria, VOP, KommAustria, ORF, O3, public radio

Radio Page week ending February 21, 2014
digital radio, European Broadcasting Union, media in Poland, RMF Group, radio in Russia, Ekho Moskovy, Gazprom Media, radio in Hungary, Klub Radio

Radio Page week ending February 14, 2014
radio in Austria, digital radio, DAB+, radio in Sweden, audience measurement, PPM, World Radio Day, UNESCO, radio in Germany

Radio Page week ending February 7, 2014
radio drama, radio in Spain, RNE, BBC Radio 4, radio in the UK, radio audience, RAJAR, 6Music, Planet Rock, Communicorp

Radio Page week ending January 31, 2014
radio in Germany, digital radio, BR Klassik, BR Puls

Radio Page week ending January 24, 2014
radio in Italy, radio advertising, RadioCompass, radio in Switzerland, Mediapulse, SSR-SRG, private local radio, Radio 3i, Radio Swiss Pop, radio in France, Médiamétrie, Paris audience, Europe 1, Radio Latina

Radio Page week ending January 17, 2014
radio in France, Médiamétrie, radio audience, Europe 1, RTL, France Inter, NRJ, Skyrock, Nostalgie, France Bleu, radio in Germany, MDR 1 Sachsen, radio in the Czech Republic, CRo Sever, public radio, radio in Switzerland, Radio 105, BAKOM, Radio 1

Radio Page week ending January 10, 2014
radio in France, public radio, Le Mouv', radio in Poland, Radio Trojka

Recently added radio audience figures and resources

• Spain - National Radio Audience (April 2014)
  national channels, reach share, trend
• France - Greater Paris Radio Audience (April 2014)
  national and local channels, market share, trend
• France - National Radio Audience (April 2014)
  national channels, sectors, market share, reach/TSL
• Germany - Radio Audience (March 2014)
  leading stations, audience trend, daily reach
• Italy - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (March 2014)
  public and private broadcasting companies, channels, audience reach/share, management
• UK - National Radio Audience (February 2014)
  market share, trend, sectors
• UK - London Radio Audience (February 2014)
  market share, trend
• UK - National Radio Audience (February 2014)
  BBC/commercial 'gap'
• France - Greater Paris Radio Audience (January 2014)
  national and local channels, market share, trend
• Switzerland - Radio listening by region (January 2014)
  public and private sectors, penetration, time spent listening
• Switzerland - French region Radio Audience (January 2014)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Swiss-German region Radio Audience (January 2014)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Italian region Radio Audience (January 2014)
  share, trend
• Bulgaria - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (12/12/2013)
  public and private radio channels, management, platforms, market share
• France - National Radio Summer Audience (03/10/2013)
  national channels, summer period 2008-2013 trend
• Austria - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (09/09/2013)
  public and private broadcasters, owners, management, audience trend
• Belgium - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (French region) (28/08/2013)
  Wallonia region, radio broadcasters, public, private, owners, platforms, audience trend
• Belgium - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (Flemish region) (28/08/2013)
  Flemish region, radio broadcasters, public, private, owners, platforms, audience trend
• Turkey - Major Media - Radio broadcasting (15/08/2013)
  ownership, management, program formats, platforms

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