ftm Radio Page - April 11, 2014

Tit-for-tat in the information war
Bullies on the schoolyard?

In a clear sign that the battle over news coverage in Russia is reaching some sort of pinnacle, the Russian Federation’s chief propagandist Dmitry Kiselev informed the US Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) that the contract to carry Voice of America (VOA) in Moscow has been cancelled. “We are not going to cooperate,” said Mr. Kiselev, in a one-sentence letter to the BBG dated March 21st. In a separate comment, Mr. Kiselev referred to VOA as “spam on our airwaves.”

“We urge Mr. Kiselev and other Russian authorities to open Russian airwaves to more of our programs and those of other international broadcasters,” said BBG chairman Jeff Shell in a statement on the BBG website (April 4). “We’re asking for an even playing field,” he added, noting that Radio Voice of Russia, under Mr. Kiselev’s control, in broadcasting in New York City and Washington DC.

Mr. Kiselev is best known in Russia as a well-known fire-breathing TV talk show host, vamping on various anti-Western conspiracy theories. In December Russian Federal president Vladimir Putin elevated him to head of Russia Today, which now includes the international TV channel of the same name, news agency RAI Novosti and international radio broadcaster Radio Voice of Russia. (See more on media in Russia here)

The European Union added Mr. Kiselev to its list of Russian figures sanctioned (March 20) after the take-over of Crimea. Mr. Kiselev had planned to attend a media conference in Norway at the end of the month but the Norwegian government declined to issue a visa, reported thelocal.no (April 7). Mr. Kiselev referred to the visa rejection as restricting his freedom of speech, to Izvestia (April 4), plus it ruins his vacation. The Barents Press organization, representing journalists from Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia, called the Norwegian Foreign Ministry decision “a shame.”

Culture supporters call digital switch for arts channel absurd
Others say far-fetched

Digital transition for radio broadcasters has been fraught with disagreement, foot stomping, pouting and the occasional lawsuit.

Bavarian public broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR) announced plans several weeks ago to change the platform of arts and culture channel BR Klassik from FM to DAB+ by 2016. On those FM frequencies would then appear young people’s channel BR Puls, launched last year on various digital platforms. German private sector broadcasters howled about unfair competition for the youth market but BR management held firm. (See more on digital radio here)

The latest round of complaints is coming from supporters of BR Klassik. “Who protects the public broadcasters from themselves?” asked German Culture Council (Deutsche Kulturrat) managing director Olaf Zimmermann, quoted by Abendzeitung München (April 3). “Fulfillment of the cultural and educational mission is the precondition for its existence. It is therefore almost absurd that Bayerische Rundfunk wants to turn off the main distribution channel for BR-Klassik and thus causing a massive loss of listeners.” (See more on media in Germany here)

“Bayerischer Rundfunk wants to strengthen its classical programming, point to the future and win an even younger audience for classical music,” rebutted BR radio director Martin Wagner, in a statement. He noted that one-third of all DAB receivers in Germany have been acquired in Bavaria. Both platform moves – BR Puls to FM and BR Klassik to DAB+ - are designed to attract young people to the respective channels, he argued.

German private broadcasters were touched by the candor, in a manner of speaking. Private broadcaster association VPRT radio director Klaus Schunk called the plan “far-fetched,” in a statement. (See VPRT statement here – in German)

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-ERA

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

Radio Page week ending January 3, 2014
radio in Italy, RCS MediaGroup, Finelco, radio in Spain, Radio Marca

Radio Page week ending December 20, 2013
radio in the UK, radio in Switzerland, digital radio, DAB, DAB+, BAKOM, Frontier Silicon, Euro-chip, EBU

Radio Page week ending December 13, 2013
radio in Spain, news radio, RNE, Radio 5

Radio Page week ending December 6, 2013
radio in Poland, Eska Rock, VOX FM, Time Radio Group, disco, radio in the UK, BBC Radio 1, Official Chart Show, Karrang, OFCOM

Recently added radio audience figures and resources

• 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

More Resources

Also see ftm Knowledge

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

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. 74 pages PDF (May 2012)

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 charge to Individual Site Members is €15 each.