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ftm Radio Page - week ending February 12, 2021

The Medium Really Has What It Needs

The commonplace often becomes the dismissed, the abandoned. Visiting parks, mysterious gardens, is so last century, or the century before that. Parks are everywhere and in real life. People can explore them virtually, and do. Many don’t bother. People don’t appreciate what they don’t know. That’s not a reason. It’s an excuse.

Happy World Radio DayLess and less is written each year about World Radio Day, UNESCO’s celebration of the medium adopted in 2012. The UN agency notes that globally “radio remains the most widely consumed medium.” Where trendsetters gather, it is commonly reported, social media and mobile phone usage are expanding exponentially. Editors - and their bosses - want to be noticed by trendsetters.

In its annual World Radio Day statement UNESCO calls attention to “celebrating humanity,” “diversity,” and “democratic discourse.” In certain quarters those are fighting words. Right-wing xenophobic Hungarian authorities this past week pulled from the airwaves one of the few remaining critical voices - a radio station. So much for democratic discourse.

Another noted advantage for radio is availability. It’s free, for the price of a typically inexpensive receiver. No paywalls. Newspaper publishers can’t get over competing with it so there is little reporting about World Radio Day. At least watching television, most places, requires a satellite or cable subscription.

Radio has not lacked for innovation. Podcasts were created to offer audio programs on digital devices. US public radio broadcasters created the podcast-only true-crime drama series “Serial” in 2014, podcasting took off and broadcasters took a closer look at spoken-word content. The CBS Radio network offered nightly the Mystery Theater drama series until 1982. One era ended and a new one took over. This American Life, producer of “Serial” and originally associated with Chicago public radio broadcaster WBEZ, was acquired by the New York Times Company last summer.

On the technical side, after years of attempts at a digital solution for radio distribution broadcasters, more or less, settled on the Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) platform. Much like early development last century, the DAB technology was financially supported by receiver manufacturers. Supporters always touted a need to replace costly analogue distribution (AM/MW and FM). But the great promise of DAB distribution as been promoting diversity; DAB multiplexes are licensed, not individual channels which can adapt at will.

Further technical innovation dropped DAB (now DAB+) distribution costs allowing broadcasters to experiment with a wide variety of program outputs. Some could hardly control themselves and pop-up radio stations arrived, filling an unforeseen demand. The European Commission in late 2018 ruled that all new automobiles come equipped with DAB+ reception capacity. Treading the other direction, the aforementioned Hungarian authorities closed DAB and DAB+ transmission last September. So much for diversity.

World Radio Day receives more notice today in the Southern Hemisphere and South Asia. Part of the attraction is practical and part nostalgia. “Through the airwaves at the speed of light, it’s intimate and enjoys the power of immediacy,” noted South African public broadcaster SABC (February 13). “Many South Africans have relied on radio to stay informed on the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic.” Three-quarters of South Africans use radio each day.

"No matter what you do, you can listen to the radio," said Radio Kledu (Mali) journalist Mahamadou Kane to Deutsche Welle (February 13). “That is what makes radio so charming and this is why we love radio. And that's why we fight every day to inform our listeners all over the world."

Long time Malaysian radio host Patrick Teoh had a few tough words for radio broadcasters. “If I want to listen to music, why am I listening to you?” he said to Free Malaysia Today (February 13). “I’ll just make a Spotify playlist. I listen to the radio for the company because I can relate to the presenter.” He offered that radio would certainly mature and “get back to what it should be.”

Competition decision on radio transaction appealed
"serious concerns"

The path to ownership clarity for Poland’s Eurozet radio broadcasting holdings took a step this week. As expected publisher Agora SA took its appeal of a competition authority UOKiK decision to the Warsaw District Court (February 8). Last month the UOKiK rejected media house Agora’s attempt to acquire complete control over Eurozet, which operates five radio channels in Poland. The court appeal was expected.

In its court filing, Agora asks for “amendments” to the UOKiK decision due to “serious concerns as to its factual correctness,” reported media news portal wirtualnemedia.pl (February 9). The UOKiK based its decision, officially, on the possibility that the Agora/Eurozet transaction might lead to a “duopoly” condition if broadcaster RMF FM “coordinated” with the expanded Agora/Eurozet. Agora already holds a 40% stake in Eurozet, the remainder held by SFS Ventures, a Czech-based investor formed to support independent news operations. (See more about media in Poland here)

That, in itself, caused concerns within political appointees at UOKiK all the way to the right-wing nationalist Law and Justice Party (PiS) leadership. Its intention to “repolanize” the country’s media sector is no secret. Recently, the state-owned oil company acquired a group of regional newspapers from a German publisher. The raging coronavirus pandemic and nationwide demonstrations against unpopular legislative decisions have heightened PiS leaders’ insecurities with parliamentary elections due in 2023.

Another radio market carved up by coronavirus
blame the measurement anyway

All Austrian radio listening (persons 10 years and older, Monday-Sunday) dropped to 75.7% from 77.3% year on year, according to the 2020 Q4 Radiotest provided by market researcher GfK. Both public broadcaster ORF and private domestic stations felt the pandemic loss, some channels more than other. (See Austria - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting here in Resources)

As seen elsewhere, radio channels focused on news and information performed better as well as some local stations. ORF main general interest channel Radio Österreich 1 (Ö1) rose to 10.5% daily reach, best in four years, from 9.3% year on year. Aggregate daily reach for regional network Ö2 was slightly lower, 29.3% from 29.6%. Hitradio Ö3 dropped to 31.1% radio reach, lowest in four years, from 33.7%. Alternative channel FM4 was up slightly to 3.5% daily reach from 3.2%.

“The 2020 coronavirus crisis presented us all with great challenges,” said ORF radio director Monika Eigensperger in a statement. “ORF channels, however, have met the increased information, service and entertainment needs of our listeners to a particularly high degree. I am pleased that so much trust has been placed in the ORF channels.”

Privately-owned national channel Kronehit dropped to 8.8% daily reach, worst in four years, from 10.9% one year on. “2020 was a very difficult year for radio use,” said general director Ernst Swoboda in a statement. “Due to the severe restrictions on office work, far less radio was heard than in a normal year. And Kronehit missed out on the many events, festivals, concerts and such through which we are particularly strongly connected to our listeners.”

As is customary, Herr Swoboda took a shot at the audience measurement for “the problem of no longer being able to reach (measure) an ever larger group, especially younger people, with relatively high audio usage in its previous form, which is why the results shown in the Radiotest test are only part of the overall picture of radio usage in Austria.”

A second national radio channel - Radio Austria - took to the airwaves on October 2019. With an unusual transmission distribution system comprised of several local stations, it has yet to score measurable daily reach. The channel’s owner/operator, Wolfgang Fellner, also publishes the right-wing tabloid Österreich. (See more about media in Austria here)

Among other broadly distributed radio channels only Radio Arabella increased its national reach share, 2.6% from 2.1% year on year. In the Vienna survey sample ORF regional channel Radio Wien rose to 12.1% reach share from 11.3%. Radio Österreich 1 (Ö1) showed a blistering 13.3% daily reach share, best in four years, from 11.9%. Kronehit crashed in Vienna to 7.8% reach share from 10.2%.

Radio Page week ending February 5, 2021
radio in Canada, The Raven, indigenous media, radio in Germany, rs2, coronavirus, MABB

Radio Page week ending January 29, 2021
radio in Hungary, Klubradio, Media Council, elections and media

Radio Page week ending January 22, 2021
radio in France, radio in Paris, France Inter, RTL, Radio Classique, Evasion, Chant France, international broadcasting, Voice of America, RFE/RL

Radio Page week ending January 15, 2021
radio in the US, talk radio, hate speech, radio in France, Radio France, public broadcasting, Round House, radio in Poland, mergers and acquisitions, Agora SA, Eurozet, TOK FM, Radio Zet, UOKiK

Radio Page week ending January 8, 2021
Media And The Virus, coronavirus, radio broadcasting, radio audience, local radio, digital radio, FM

Radio Page week ending December 11, 2020
radio in Hungary, radio license, Spirit FM, Klubradio, NMHH, radio in Afghanistan, Merman Radio, Reporters sans Frontieres, 2020 Press Freedom Awards, audio news, mobile media, advertising

Radio Page week ending December 4, 2020
radio in the Czech Republic, Radio Hana, fairytales, radio in Belgium, radio audience, coronavirus, digital radio, FM radio

Radio Page week ending November 27, 2020
radio in France, radio audience, radio in Paris, France Inter, RTL, France Info, Skyrock, France Culture, radio in Germany, media support, Neustart Kultur, radio in Hamburg, coronavirus, radio technology, radio and automobiles, Radioplayer

Radio Page week ending November 20, 2020
radio in France, Médiamétrie, radio audience, France Inter, RTL, NRJ, France Info, RMC, Radio France, radio advertising, environment

Radio Page week ending November 13, 2020
radio in Switzerland, DAB, digital radio, media support, digital transition, coronavirus, radio in Greece, radio license, pirate radio, sports radio, ESR

Radio Page week ending November 6, 2020
radio in Portugal, radio audience, Bareme Radio Marktest, coronavirus, RTP, Radio Comercial, RFM, radio in Hungary, Klubradio, radio license, online radio, NMHH

Radio Page week ending October 30, 2020
radio audience, streaming audio, Spotify, radio in Bulgaria, Bulgarian National Radio, Council of Electronic Media, public radio

Radio Page week ending October 23, 2020
radio in Poland, Polskie Radio, Radio Trojka

Radio Page week ending October 16, 2020
radio in France, Radio France, podcasts, Deezer, radio in Brazil, online radio, social media, Kantar

Radio Page week ending October 9, 2020
radio in Poland, online radio, start-up, business model, crowdfunding, Radio Nowy Swait, Radio 357, radio in Denmark, Radio Loud, Berlingske Media

Radio Page week ending October 2, 2020
radio in Denmark, DR, P6 Beat, P8 Jazz, Ministry of Culture, radio in Norway, Christmas Radio, Juleradioen

Radio Page week ending September 25, 2020
radio in Ukraine, Crimea, jamming, radio in Hungary, Civil Radio, Inforadio, NMHH, radio licenses

Radio Page week ending September 18, 2020
radio in Switzerland, Swiss Music Day, SSR-SRG, coronavirus, radio in Germany, cultural media, public broadcasting, Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenberg, rbbKulturradio

Radio Page week ending September 11, 2020
radio in Italy, sports and media, Radio Kiss Kiss Italia, radio in Hungary, digital radio, NMHH

Radio Page week ending September 4, 2020
automobiles and radio, digital radio, automobile dashboard, radio in Germany, online radio, digital radio, podcasts, podcasting, coronavirus, radio in Hungary, radio in Budapest, radio frequency, Music FM, NMHH

Radio Page week ending August 28, 2020
radio in Poland, Polskie Radio, Trojka, radio in France, radio audience, radio advertising, coronavirus

Radio Page week ending August 7, 2020
radio in the UK, radio audience, RAJAR, coronavirus

Radio Page week ending July 31, 2020
radio in the UK, radio audience, RAJAR, radio in France, digital radio

Radio Page week ending July 24, 2020
radio in Hungary, Best Radio, Radio 1, KESMA

Radio Page week ending July 17, 2020
radio in Switzerland, Mediapulse, public broadcasting, SSR-SRG, LFM, Radio Ticino, radio in Poland, radio audience, Radio Track, RMF FM, Radio Zet, Polskie Radio, TOK FM

Radio Page week ending July 10, 2020
radio in the UK, Ofcom, licensing extensions, DAB multiplex, analogue radio, radio in Germany, radio in Bavaria, BLM, local radio, radio audience

Radio Page week ending July 3, 2020
radio in Sweden, public broadcasting, Sveriges Radio, P1, radio audience, radio in Norway, Bauer Media, media support, radio in the UK, Times Radio, News UK, brand extensions

Recently added radio audience figures and resources

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