ftm Radio Page - March 15, 2013

Falling In Between
It is normal to scour survey data for patterns, trends and other means of simplification. We are, of course, looking for a picture drawn by numbers. When the passing snapshot jumps off the page we call it insight. Maybe there’s more.

Regulator surveys digital radio interest
needs and options

Swiss media and telecom regulator Ofcom/Bakom wants to clarify interest in DAB+ multiplexes. The country has several, mostly organized in linguistic regions. The “survey of interest” is aimed at potential multiplex operators to “reveal the needs of development and operation of the new DAB+ digital format,” said the statement (March 11).

Whether to authorize regional or local DAB+ multiplexes is a primary question as, according the the Ofcom/Bakom statement, big commercial operators want regional coverage and local and non-commercial broadcasters want a lower cost option. (See more on digital radio here)

In February Ofcom/Bakom authorized construction of a second regional DAB+ multiplex in the French-speaking part of Switzerland operated by Romandie Médias, a joint venture of French regional public radio broadcaster RSR and telecom Swisscom. Public broadcaster SSR-SRG offers channels on the DAB+ platform via proprietary multiplexes in the three linguistic zones. There is a second DAB+ multiplex in the Swiss-German speaking region as well as a local Zürich multiplex.

Commercial, private sector broadcasters haven’t exactly flocked to digital radio, even with government incentives. Public broadcasters in the UK, Scandinavia and Switzerland were early adopters of DAB, then DAB+, and have a financial interest in its success. (JMH)

Some things have changed, other things not
Censorship does not work

Yuri Kostin is president of Prof Media Broadcasting (VKPM), one of the biggest private owners of radio channels in Russia, appointed in December 2012. Like most top media executives in Russia his career started as an intern at State news agency TASS then State broadcaster Gostelradio in the time of the Soviet Union. Events over the last 25 years have shaped his attitude radio in unexpected ways, he explained in an interview with media portal onair.ru (March 9).

“The radio thing seemed totally useless,” he said. “After all, I was an international journalist and diplomat. I interviewed, scribbled press reviews and earned a crazy sum in those days. Then radio?”

Any discussion of the past and, often, the present in Russian media brings up censorship. Kostin was clear. “Everyone who worked in the radio and television of the USSR, they knew this censorship. Good sense prevails at VKPM in presenting informational programs. We tell the truth…which supports our work. Fourteen and a half million people listen to us daily.” (See more on media in Russia here)

“Censorship, as we knew it 30 years ago, does not work,” he continued. “More than half of Russians go online and there is so much ‘truth’ that the truth is never known. With the amount of information received, the value of misinformation really sinks. Moreover, it is unclear who still stands for the truth so the ability to evaluate is weakened.”

Prof Media owns national radio channel Autoradio, comedy channel Humor FM, Hot A/C radio Romantika and the Radio Energy joint venture with NRJ Group. “To engage in business is interesting,” said Kotsin, “and more so the media. I originally came to radio not to engage in business. The intention was to say the truth. Believe me, nothing has changed.” (JMH)

Radio Page week ending March 8, 2013
radio in Northern Ireland, promos, U105, RAJAR, social media, AER

Radio Page week ending March 1, 2013
radio in Zimbabwe, elections and media, radio in the UK, BBC Radio 2, social media

Radio Page week ending February 22, 2013
radio in Slovakia, Radio Expres, Bauer Media, music quotas, radio in Ukraine, radio advertising, Hit FM, radio in Ireland, license fee

Radio Page week ending February 15, 2013
radio in Portugal, radio licensing, APR, World Radio Day, UNESCO, AER, EBU, ITU, radio in Czech Republic, Radio Impuls, Radio Projekt, Londa, Eurocast, Frekvence 1, Evropa 2, Lagardère, BBC

Radio Page week ending February 8, 2013
car radios, radio in the UK, Bauer Media, Planet Rock

Radio Page week ending February 1, 2013
radio in the UK, RAJAR, Radio 2, local radio, digital radio, 6Music, Absolute Radio, radio In Ireland

Radio Page week ending January 25, 2013
radio in Switzerland, PublicaData, SSR-SRG, public radio, private local radio, radio in Paris, Médiamétrie, NRJ, Skyrock, Gènèrations, Radio Latina

Recently added radio audience figures and resources

• Germany - Radio Audience (06/03/2013)
  leading stations, audience trend, daily reach
• Lithuania Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (25/02/2013)
  public and private radio channels, management, platforms, audience reach
• Czech Republic Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (18/02/2013)
  public and private radio channels, management, audience reach
• UK - National Radio Audience (30/01/2013)
  market share, trend, sectors
• UK - London Radio Audience (30/01/2013)
  market share, trend
• UK - National Radio Audience (30/01/2013)
  BBC/commercial 'gap'
• France - Greater Paris Radio Audience (21/01/2013)
  national and local channels, market share, trend
• Switzerland - Radio listening by region (20/01/2013)
  public and private sectors, penetration, time spent listening
• Switzerland - French region Radio Audience (20/01/2013)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Swiss-German region Radio Audience (20/01/2013)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Italian region Radio Audience (20/01/2013)
  share, trend
• France - National Radio Audience (15/01/2013)
  national channels, sectors, market share, reach/TSL

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