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Regulator, politicians rethink digital transition
"no-brainer"

Norway’s Media Authority (Medietilsynet) is processing responses to its consultation request about the possibility of extending FM licensing to local radio broadcasters. As is well-known within radio broadcasting circles, Norway became the first country to transition to the digital DAB platform two years ago. National broadcasters and those in major cities completed that transition at the end of 2017. There is, however, an exception allowing local radio stations outside major cities to delay digital transition until 2021.

National commercial network Radio Norge operator NENT (formerly Modern Times Group - MTG) and Radio 1, also a national network, owner Bauer Media remain adamantly opposed to any extension. “The investigation into a further extension of the local radio's presence on the FM band is a further erosion of the assumptions underlying our digital initiative,” said the Bauer Media response, quoted by . “It creates increased uncertainty about the authorities' ability and willingness to implement the digitization adopted by parliament.” (See more about digital radio here)

The consultation response from public broadcaster NRK was a bit more nuanced. “A possible solution uniting these considerations can be to allow local radio outside the four largest cities to have a somewhat extended license, but that a prerequisite for extended license shall be a binding commitment to digitize their distribution during the licensing period,” said its response.

It is possible, likelihood undetermined, that those 40 local radio stations will see their FM authorizations extended. The Norwegian Local Radio Association (Norsk Lokalradioforbund) gathered several prominent politicians last week to discuss the subject. “You can be quite confident,” said Labour Party representative Trond Giske, quoted by radionytt.no (April 5), “that 2021 will not be the shutoff date for local radio.” Mr. Giske is a former Culture Minister and currently sits on the Family and Culture Committee. He also noted that local radio in Norway receives a “microscopic” portion from the Culture Ministry’s media support budget because most as been spent on digital radio transition. (See more about media in Norway here)

“This is a no-brainer,” said Center Party (Senterpartiet) member Aslaug Sem-Jacobsen, also on the Family and Culture Committee. She has proposed extending FM authorization to local radio stations until 2031. At the same conference, market researcher Kantar Media presented data showing nearly three-quarters (73%) of local radio listening is on FM.

Local Radio Interacts Quite Naturally
interaction Media development groups and international organizations have long known that the medium of choice in Africa is radio. Of course, there are newspapers, television and, most recently, digital platforms. The spoken word on a continent of local languages by the thousands is the preferred means of communication and connection. Diversity on the African continent - linguistic, cultural and religious - is astounding.

Radio Page week ending April 5, 2019
radio in Russia, radio audience, audience measurement, Novy Radio

Radio Page week ending March 29, 2019
radio in Spain, Radio Marca, Cadena Cope, sports and media, radio in the Netherlands, radio audience, audience measurement, NLO, radio advertising

Radio Page week ending March 22, 2019
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Radio Page week ending March 15, 2019
podcasts and podcasting, Spotify, Gimlet Media, Luminary, radio in Africa, radio in Nigeria, Jay FM, elections and media, radio in Russia, Ekho Moskvy, Gazprom Media

Radio Page week ending March 8, 2019
radio in France, CSA, DAB+, Air Zen, radio in Germany, consumer electronics, FM shut off, digital radio, radio in Switzerland, digital transition, music radio, Michael Jackson, NRK P1, BBC Radio 2, Spotify

Radio Page week ending March 1, 2019
radio in the UK, Global Radio, national radio brands, local media, Capital, Heart, Smooth, BBC Radio, media brands, DJs

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