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ftm Radio Page - May 18, 2012

Survey Proves Audience Knows What They Like, Pays Attention
bandwagon Industry strategies often have unpredictable effects. Designs for improved market share or profits are easily tangled by competitive complications or the demands of pesky consumers. The dynamics can yield unintended consequences.

Media Survival Not Just In The Numbers
stand at attention Broadcasters regularly complain about audience surveys, unless the numbers are really good. Economic stress has all managers on edge. Survival is success, say some. And now the “blades” are out, too.

 

 

 

 

Big station sale approved
The hills are alive with the sound of transfers

Swiss publisher Tamedia’s exit from broadcasting is progressing as the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) approved the transfer of Zürich radio station Radio 24 to Radio Medien AG, part of BT Holding. Tamedia began exiting broadcasting last year when it acquired assets of publisher Edipresse, selling two local television stations in April to BT Holding owner Peter Wanner, followed by deals to sell Radio 24 and, separately, Berne station Capital FM.

“The transfer of the license has no effect on the staff nor the editorial line of the station,” said the DETEC statement (May 18). “The proven program of Radio 24 is maintained. The new owner agrees to respect the safeguards concerning the scope, content, type and program funding in the Radio 24 license application.” Radio 24 is considered Switzerland’s biggest private local radio station.

Mr. Wanner sold newspaper Langenthaler Tagblatt to Tamedia, which “increased the willingness of Tamedia to sell Radio 24 radio to us,” he said to Kleinreport (December 13 2011). “The pricing was easier.” Mr. Wanner is considered something of a media mogul in Switzerland, where newspaper publishers have been shuffling assets for the last two years.

The Swiss Law on Radio and Television (LRTV) strictly limits private ownership to two local radio stations and two local TV stations, avoiding any possibility of competition for market dominant public broadcaster SSR-SRG. BT Holding, owned by publisher Peter Wanner, will keep Radio 32 and shed Radio Argovia, pending further approvals from DETEC. (JMH)

Billionaires shuffle radio assets
Something to do with oil?

Another billionaire has arrived on the Russian media scene. Oil producer RussNeft owner Mikhail Gutseriev has acquired radio stations owned by fellow billionaire Alexander Lebedev Mr. Gutseriev has, best anybody can tell, only tangential media interests. He’s written a few songs that occasionally appear on the airwaves. He also owns other energy companies.

In recent months private ownership of radio channels in Russia has shifted and more is expected. Siberian Business Union, also an energy company, picked up the radio assets of Lagardère and seems to have an appetite for more. Rumors abound of ProfMedia exiting its radio operations. (See more on media in Russia here)

Mr. Lebedev bought Moscow radio stations Pioneer FM and Good Songs in 2008. According to unnamed sources reported by Kommersant (May 16), he’s been looking to exit the radio stations because of “the crisis.” Mr. Lebedev continues to share ownership of newspaper Novaya Gazeta with Mikhail Gorbachev as well as the Evening Standard and the Independent in the UK. (JMH)

No harmony on radio advertising
Always take the weather with your radio ads

Private and public broadcasters in Germany are always in one sort or row or another. It’s usually about money. Private broadcaster association VPRT took its swing last week over advertising on public radio channels. Private sector radio broadcasters want a rules change to limit ads on public channels.

The agency that determines license fee support – the KEF – should “again deal with the issue,” said a statement from VPRT vice president for radio Klaus Schunk (May 11). So, too, should the politicians “so that the already existing economic gap between (public radio) and private radio stations not open even further.” (See VPRT statement here – in German)

The VPRT favors “harmonization of (public radio) advertising,” limited to 60 minutes per weekday. The association also wants and end to sponsorship revenue as well as local and regional ad windows. (See more on media in Germany here)

From the public broadcasting sales-house AS&S came a different message. ”Radio is more than just a powerful sales medium with transparent performance data,” said Managing Director Adrian Oliver in a statement (May 14). “Radio advertising works extremely quickly and accurately.”

AS&S is pitching its system of using German weather service data to adjust spot advertising regionally according to the weather conditions. (JMH)

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