ftm Radio Page - June 17, 2016
Manipulating the ratings is just part of the fun
Everybody does it… until they get caught
Big French broadcasters threw a major hissy-fit this week about the Médiamétrie audience estimates. NRJ Group, NextRadioTV, Skyrock, Lagardére Active and the independent radio association accused RTL Group, owner of Fun Radio, of “unfair and deceptive practices.” Followers of French national radio audience trends have noted recently rather robust reach and share increases for Fun Radio. (See French national radio audience share trend chart here)
It seems “on at least four occasions,” reported Le Monde (June 16), between last November and this January the Fun Radio morning show host Bruno Guillon and/or other members of the show team “encouraged” listeners to participate in the Médiamétrie surveys. The complaint was submitted to the ratings audit bureau CESP. RTL Group countered with threats of a libel lawsuit. Business news portal Les Echos (June 16) is calling it “Fungate.”
The Médiamétrie radio audience surveys are telephone surveys, fixed and mobile, subject to all the quite obvious statistical variations, weighting applied to demographics and geography. Médiamétrie is owned by the major radio and TV broadcasters and ad agencies. Apparently, Médiamétrie does not have explicit rules about broadcasters mentioning the surveys. (See more about audience measurement here)
Everybody does it, was the initial response from Fun Radio director Tristan Jurgensen. In a general sense all radio programming and promotion is designed to affect audience surveys. Years ago and far away, US radio measurement provider Arbitron, now part of Nielsen, came up against something very similar. A certain broadcasting company, also long gone, instructed DJs to tell listeners to “write it down,” an oblique reference to the survey diaries. Offending stations were “de-listed,” removed from published survey results.
That particular practice stopped. Arbitron saw this as an opportunity to completely change radio audience measurement, dropping the diary in favor of electronic measurement. Radio broadcasting became far less “fun.”
To stream or not to stream, hardly a question
The advertising people know this
Two things were clear after the release last week (June 8) of the German ma IP Audio streaming audience estimates. First, big regional radio channels targeting (more or less) young people are the most streamed. At the top of the list is 1Live, WDR’s pop music channel targeting 14 to 39 year olds, with 8.6 million “sessions” per average month. Second is SWR3, also a similarly targeted public radio channel, with 6.9 million average monthly “sessions.” Young people are, obviously, streaming.
Second and clearly bigger is the rise of Spotify in Germany. According to the ma IP Audio estimates the ubiquitous streaming service attracts 103 million average monthly sessions, up 4% on the previous quarter. The total of average monthly “sessions” for the 149 radio channels surveyed is 93 million. Young people have, arguably, jumped the platform. (See more about streaming audio here)
The advertising people hear this. Millennial-anything, digital-anything is their ultimate desire. Turkish Airlines has a major marketing campaign coinciding with the UEFA Euro 2016 football championships. Turkish Airlines is the Official Airline Sponsor. They have an A330-300 decorated for the event.
Taking the David Guetta Euro 2016 anthem “This One’s For You” as a starter, Turkish Airlines is sponsoring a “Europe’s Best” playlist on Spotify for each of the 24 competing countries. “Music has always been a big part of football,” said chief marketing officer Ahmet Olmustur in a press release. The London office of Crispin Porter & Bogusky is Turkish Airways ad agency. Last year their video ad for Turkish Airlines won the Webby/You Tube award for ad of the decade.
The first broadcasts of M21 Directo have begun in Madrid on 88.6 FM. It’s a rather limited beginning, 2 one-hour programs each day. The music is diverse. There is, of course, a regular food feature. There’s a Facebook page. The first show was May 23rd.
M21 Directo is licensed to the Madrid City Council among several FM stations operated by Madrid area municipalities, already a very crowded radio market. Last December the Madrid Municipal Council proposed relaunching Canal Empleo Madrid, which broadcast for several years through the Madrid Employment Office to "train professionals and provide public service information." Council president Manuela Carmena called the dark FM frequency “a forgotten, precious instrument,” reported El Mundo (May 24). (See more about media in Spain here)
Public law in Spain, passed in 1991, allows municipalities to operate community radio stations on the FM band. Some do and some don’t. Some municipal councils have simply leased the frequencies to private broadcasters. The Madrid City Council also has a digital TV license, which it has tried and failed to sell.
Radio Page week ending June 10, 2016
radio in Poland, Polskie Radio, digital radio, Radio Czworka, Radio 24, Radio TOK FM, radio in Hungary, Klubradio, radio licensing
Radio Page week ending June 3, 2016
radio in Switzerland, digital radio, OFCOM/BAKOM, digital transition, radio in Russia, international broadcasting, RFE/RL, China Radio International, Radio Sibir
Radio Page week ending May 27, 2016
radio in Spain, Catalunya Radio, media laws, radio in Africa, business models, radio in Norway, digital radio, DAB+, FM shut-off
Radio Page week ending May 20, 2016
radio in France, digital devices, mobile devices, Mediametrie, radio in the UK, radio audience, RAJAR, BBC Radio, commercial radio, radio brands, Radio 2, Radio 1, Radio 4, Radio 3, Heart, Capital, Magic, digital radio, DAB
Radio Page week ending May 13, 2016
radio in the Czech Republic, radio audience, Radioprojekt, Radio Impuls, Radio Blanik, Radio Beat, news-talk, CRo Plus, radio in Switzerland, consolidation, One FM, Rouge FM, radio advertising
Recently added radio audience figures and resources
- UK - National Radio Audience (May 2016)
market share, trend, sectors
- UK - London Radio Audience (May 2016)
market share, trend
- UK - National Radio Audience (May 2016)
BBC/commercial 'gap'
- Czech Republic - Radio Audience (May 2016)
Top stations, national survey, reach trend
- France - Greater Paris Radio Audience (April 2016)
national and local channels, market share, trend
- France - National Radio Audience (April 2016)
national channels, sectors, market share, reach/TSL
- Spain - National Radio Audience (April 2016)
national channels, reach share, trend
- Germany - Radio Audience (March 2016)
leading stations, audience trend, daily reach
- Sweden - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (February 2016)
public and private radio channels, owners, management, national market share trend
- Switzerland - Radio listening by region (January 2016)
public and private sectors, penetration, time spent listening
- Switzerland - French region Radio Audience (January 2016)
share, trend
- Switzerland - Swiss-German region Radio Audience (January 2016)
share, trend
- Switzerland - Italian region Radio Audience (January 2016)
share, trend
- Poland - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (January 2016)
public and private radio channels, owners, management, platforms, market share
- Estonia - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (December 2015)
public and private broadcasting companies, channels, management, platforms, audience estimates
- Spain - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (December 2015)
public and private broadcasting companies, channels, management, platforms, audience estimates
- Ireland - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (November 2015)
national public and commercial radio channels, major local/regional stations, management, listening share
- Finland - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (September 2015)
public and private radio channels, management, market share, platforms
- France - National Radio Summer Audience (September 2015)
national channels, summer period 2010-2015 trend
- Ireland - National Radio Audience (August 2015)
market share, 07h00-19h00, trend
- Ireland - Dublin Radio Audience (August 2015)
market share, 07h00-19h00, trend
- Greece - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (June 2015))
public and private broadcasting, owners, executives, market share
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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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
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