followthemedia.com
a knowledge base for media professionals 		ftm Radio Page
ftm Home Page

ftm Radio Page - week ending January 17, 2020

News and traffic reports, no longer together
navigation apps are speechless

German national public radio channel Deutschlandfunk - all of those adjectives being significant to this story - will end traffic reports that have tailed newscasts for more than 40 years. The two-minute notices of accidents, construction and cows crossing the road amount to about 30 minutes of airtime each day. Naturally, there was an audience survey, reported Neue Westfälische (January 14), which revealed two-thirds of its listeners found traffic reports either not important or less important. There it is.

Germany is rather large with lots of roads, highways, speed bumps and crossing signs. Coverage is tough duty for a national radio channel, leading to speed reading announcers. Public radio channels, German and others, are under constant pressure to mind the costs and benefits, not to forget employees psychological well-being. (See more about media in Germany here)

Factors contributing to the decision include widely available real-time on-board navigation devices as well as mobile phone apps distributing every bit of information anybody would want. Deutschlandfunk will use the newly-available minutes for more news and no jobs will be lost. Gone, though, will be the advertisers, likely absorbed by local broadcasters that thrive on traffic reports.

Savvy radio programmers learned years ago that traffic reports aren’t about traffic reports. They are an opportunity to give a boost to local identity; share a few words about familiar places. Anyway, nobody can understand somebody speaking 200 words a minute, even in German.

Radio channels bitten by protests and strikes seek better mood music
"does not surprise me"

The final French radio listening estimates were released this week by measurement institute Médiamétrie. It covers the November-December period, in France normally a time of festivities and shopping. Not necessarily this year; there were resurgent Gilets Jaune (Yellow Vest) protests accompanied by industrial actions; also known as strikes. In south-eastern France the weather was terrible.

All of this contributed to a challenging period for national general interest and news channels. Top rated general interest channel RTL remains top rated. Its audience share, however, dropped to 12.6% from 13.4% year on year. RTL made a few program adjustments after the summer break, not really major. And, too, news coverage of the Gilets Jaune protest reached a peak during the November-December 2018 period.

Public general interest channel France Inter, still number two, held its very loyal audience, 12.3% audience share, up from 12.1% one year on. This is despite a general strike affecting Radio France employees. The France Bleu network also did not suffer, moving into third place in the national listening estimates, 6.5% audience share, up from 6.2%. The France Bleu network generally performs well during this period; lots of people driving to see grandma in need of local traffic reports.

All-talk RMC was pushed into 4th place, taking a slight hit in audience share, 6.3% from 6.4%. Legacy hit music channel NRJ, placing 5th, rose to 6.2% audience share from 5.7% year on year. Long suffering - and ever changing - Europe 1 was off slightly, 4.5% audience share from 4.7%. Across the last three measurement periods there is an appearance the channel’s audience is stabilizing. Oldies channel Nostalgie (NRJ Group) placed 7th, 4.3% audience share up from 3.9%. (See France national radio audience share trend chart here)

All-news public channel France Info was stung, 3.7% audience share from 4.4% one year on. Perhaps it was affected by the strike as much of the news content was replaced by music. Rap hip hop Skyrock was unchanged at 3.3% audience share. Rounding out the top 10 was Fun Radio with 2.9% audience share, down from 3.4% year on year, its worst showing in years.

“It does not surprise me,” said M6 (RTL Group) general director for audio Régis Ravanas, quoted by Le Point (January 12), “because music channels that target young people, like Fun Radio, which is centered on electronic music are handicapped by French music quotas.” Several French radio broadcasters are supporting an adjustment to music quota rules, which mandate up to 40% French content. Audio streaming services like Spotify and Deezer, not yet covered by the rules, keep gaining.

Radio Page week ending January 10, 2020
radio in Australia, bushfires, ABC, Grant Broadcasters, BAI Australia, Southern Cross Austereo

Radio Page week ending December 20, 2019
radio in Ukraine, public radio, UA:PBS

Radio Page week ending December 13, 2019
radio in Sweden, radio measurement, RateOnAir, Kantar Sifo, Mediameterie

Radio Page week ending December 6, 2019
radio in Austria, radio in Sweden, digital radio, digital transition, European Electronic Communications Code, radio in Germany, Joke FM, comedy radio, Rire and Chansons

Radio Page week ending November 29, 2019
radio in France, Mediametrie, Greater Paris audience, France Inter, RTL, FIP, France Culture, podcasting, podcasts, measurement, Mediametrie, radio in the UK, BBC, BBC Radio 4, Greta Thunberg, climate coverage

Radio Page week ending November 22, 2019
radio in France, Médiamétrie, radio audience, national reach, RTL, Radio France, France Inter, France Info, RMC, Lagardere Active, Europe 1, NRJ, Nostalgie, FIP

Radio Page week ending November 15, 2019
radio in Ireland, RTE, DAB, Radio Nova, BAI, music radio, Christmas music, Spotify, radio in Africa, radio in DR Congo, community radio, Lwemba Community Radio

Radio Page week ending November 8, 2019
radio in Romania, SRR, Radio Romania Actualitati, radio in Germany, radio license, radio in Hamburg, Medienanstalt Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein, Radio Hamburg, Rock Antenne Hamburg, 917XFM, Energy Hamburg, Hamburg 2

Radio Page week ending November 1, 2019
radio in Denmark, Radio24syv, Radio Loud, Radio MTV, Viacom

Radio Page week ending October 25, 2019
radio in Australia, radio advertising, Commercial Radio Australia, radio measurement

Radio Page week ending October 18, 2019
radio in Ireland, RTE, Radio 1, 252 LW, longwave

Radio Page week ending October 11, 2019
streaming media, podcasts, Spotify, radio in Bulgaria, public broadcasting, Bulgarian National Radio, BNR, news radio, Horizont, journalism, radio in the Netherlands, streaming audio, podcasts, radio in Germany, smart speakers, digital radio

Radio Page week ending October 4, 2019
digital radio, radio in Switzerland, local radio, FM switch-off, DAB

Radio Page week ending September 27, 2019
radio in Norway, pop-up radio, Christmas Radio, Bauer Media, NRK, podcasts, podcasting, BBC StoryWorks, German Radio Prize, NPR

Radio Page week ending September 20, 2019
radio in France, Mediametrie, radio audience, summer radio listening, RTL, France Inter, France Bleu

Radio Page week ending September 13, 2019
radio in Poland, Radio Track Kantar, radio audience, RMF FM, Radio Zet, Polskie Radio, radio in Germany, digital radio, digital transition, Vaunet

Radio Page week ending September 6, 2019
radio in the UK, RAJAR, BBC Radio, public broadcasting, commercial radio, Radio 2, Radio 4, Radio 1, Five Live, Magic, LBC, Heart, Classic FM, Kisstory, Smooth, digital transition, smart speakers, radio in Italy, radio audience, RadioTER, RTL 102.5, Radio Italia Solo Musica Italiana, RAI, Radiofreccia, Virgin Radio

Radio Page week ending August 2, 2019
radio in the UK, RAJAR, BBC Radio, public broadcasting, commercial radio, Radio 2, Radio 4, Radio 1, Five Live, Magic, LBC, Heart, Classic FM, Kisstory, Smooth, digital transition, smart speakers, radio in Italy, radio audience, RadioTER, RTL 102.5, Radio Italia Solo Musica Italiana, RAI, Radiofreccia, Virgin Radio

Radio Page week ending July 26, 2019
radio in France, Paris radio audience, FIP, Mediametrie, radio audience, RTL, Radio France, France Inter, NRJ, Nostalgie, RMC, Europe 1, Lagardere

Radio Page week ending July 19, 2019
radio in the Czech Republic, RRTV, Active Radio, Radio Zet, seznam.cz, Radio Expres, Radio CAS, radio in Germany, radio audience, Media-Analyse, Radio NRW, Bayern 1, WDR 2, Antenne Bayern, SWR 3, Spotify

Radio Page week ending July 12, 2019
radio in Switzerland, Mediapulse, radio audience, public radio, SRF, RTS, RSI

Radio Page week ending July 5, 2019
radio in Spain, radio audience, EGM, Cadena SER, Cadena Cope, Los 40 Principales, Los 40 Classic, RNE

Radio Page week ending June 28, 2019
radio advertising, Cannes Lions, GenZ, radio in Germany, digital transitions, DAB+, 5G

Radio Page week ending June 21, 2019
radio in Poland, Eurozet, Agora Group, mergers and acquisitions, radio in the Czech Republic, Radio Zet, Czech Media Invest, Lagardere Active Radio, Media Bohemia

Recently added radio audience figures and resources

Also see ftm Knowledge

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. 126 pages PDF (June 2015)

Order here

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

Become an ftm Individual or Corporate Member and receive Knowledge files at no charge. JOIN HERE!

ftm Knowledge files are available to Members at no additional charge.

The Six Radio Brands is about the uniquely European development of radio brands. Competition among broadcasters - and certainly between the public and commercial sectors - gives radio in Europe a rich dynamic. As consumers become more media-literate and demand more attachment broadcasters find target markets illusive.
Regulators, advertisers and broadcasters take turns trying to influence radio brands. Culture and technology makes an impact. More and more, the greatest influence comes from consumers.
The Six Radio Brands describes advantages and pit-falls of brand strategies, with illustrations from current radio practice.

100 pages. 2004

Available at no charge to ftm Members, €49 for others. Email for more information

copyright ©2004-2020 ftm partners, unless otherwise noted Contact Us • About Us