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ftm Radio Page - February 10, 2012

Hungary media threats “part of wider picture”
Serious as a heart attack

Tension between the European Commission (EC) and the Hungarian government continues unabated. Hungary’s media policies may seem like small potatoes when the biggest issues are constitutional law and fundamental rights but they serve the EC and international observers as warning signs of rot in the garden. At the European Parliament (February 9), EC Vice President Neelie Kroes blasted “the threat of the current media law to freedom of the press.” She specifically mentioned the plight of Budapest news-talk radio station Klubradio.

“Private investors and international institutions need to know they have full access to independent media analysis,” she said. “The Hungarian authorities should be careful not to give them any other impression. Instead, we need positive signals.”

Before speaking at the European Parliament, Commissioner Kroes met with Hungarian Justice Minister Tibor Navracsics and received assurances EC concerns would be addressed. She asked, strongly, that Hungary adopt Council of Europe (CoE) reference on its media laws. Next week the European Parliament votes on a resolution condemning Hungary’s legislative process. (See more on media in Hungary here)

“Threats to press freedom need to be seen as part of a wider picture,” added Commissioner Kroes.

“Not a great tragedy,” said Minister Navracsics about a potential wounding vote, quoted by Nepszava (February 10). He did, he said, indicate to Commissioner Kroes that his government would consider CoE recommendations but only so long as they are consistent with Hungarian law. Nobody will “have a heart attack,” he added.

Stepping up the Hungarian challenge to the EC, media regulator NMHH chairman Annamária Szalai, speaking to a Friday morning (February 10) on State TV, questioned the European Parliament’s “competence” because “they do not know the Hungarian media law.” Earlier this week (February 7) the NMHH extended the Klubradio broadcasting licenses for two months.

“We have no time to waste,” concluded Commissioner Kroes.

Meanwhile, at the less widely known venue of the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), part of the World Bank, arbitration applications were accepted (January 18) from radio broadcaster Emmis International and venture fund Accession Mezzanine Capital in a 2009 dispute with the Hungarian government over losses incurred by less than transparent national radio license renewals. (JMH)

“Radio is more competitive than television”
RTL radio chief doesn’t like digital platforms, either

When Christopher Baldelli took over as chairman of RTL Group’s French national radio channels in 2009 there were more than a few groans. He was a TV guy and, well, TV people tend to see everything through that screen prism, right? With challengers all around, main general interest channel RTL continues to hold top ratings. He gave his views on the channel, competitors and radio in general to Les Echos (February 6).

On coming to radio from TV land, he admitted “a preconceived idea” that radio is “a less modern medium.” But now “I think the opposite.”

On record-breaking 2010 audience figures: “This is an indicator of the health of radio. It’s rare that a (market) leader can continue to progress. Radio is more competitive than television.”

The French nation music channels suffering in the Médiamétrie audience surveys is neither “inevitable,” Baldelli observed, nor “due to the consumption of music on the internet.” Nor would he blame French music quotas, the “most proactive” for national artists in Europe. The music channels “must somehow go through ups and downs, believe in (their) formats and not change every time a difficulty arises.” RTL Group also owns and operates two national music channels – pop-rock RTL2 and dance-oriented Fun Radio. (See more on media in France here)

RTL aspires to be “popular but not populist,” he explained, noting the “indisputable” gains of competitor RMC. “We will not imitate a (channel) that is not our direct challenger.”

Along with the other big French radio operators, he remains less than thrilled with the idea of a new digital platform. “I believe in digital radio but not in terrestrial digital radio (DAB, et.al.) in which, obviously, an economic model has not been found. Two reports commissioned by the government reached this conclusion. In Europe, there is not one big country where (digital radio) has been able to grow effectively. In France, it is not viable because the radio ‘park’ is enormous.”

French radio broadcasters are gathering in Paris this week for the annual Le Radio expo, conference and celebration. (JMH)

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