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ftm Radio Page - February 19, 2016

Beware of unscrupulous individuals selling market studies, Minister
“scam artists”

As the Greek government prepares for licensing privately owned radio stations in the greater Athens region a warning has gone out to potential applicants. A coverage map of available FM frequencies is soon to be released. After that the application process will begin.

Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Christos Spirtzis “alerted owners of local radio stations not to fall victim of misinformation and exploitation by predators,” quoted by radiofono.gr (February 16). It has come to the Ministry’s attention that potential applicants, which would be anybody interested in a license, have been approached by persons or groups unnamed claiming to have inside information relevant to the process which might be shared, allegedly, for some sort of compensation as part of a required “market study.” Minister Spirtzis said “unequivocally in every direction” that the “scam artists” are selling false information. (See more about media in Greece here)

In fact, the Greek government has not finalized radio license application criteria. That will be coordinated with local and regional broadcaster’s associations “in the coming days,” said the Minister’s warning letter. To emphasize the evolving nature of the process, the Greek parliament may extend the licensing requirement to online broadcasters.

Familiar names remain potent brand symbols
“let's dance”

The KISS radio brand returned to Finland this past weekend, coinciding with St.Valentine’s Day. The “rhythmic” music station is available on FM and online. It replaces The Voice brand acquired by Bauer Media last year with the SBS Discovery Scandinavian radio operations.

Also last week Bauer Media added Kisstory to Kiss on Norway’s national DAB+ multiplex. KISS in Norway is a pop-dance music channel. The Kisstory format is, of course, music-driven - classic hip-hop - and targets Millennials nostalgic for the days when Jay-Z was cool. Sometime this year the Kiss Fresh brand will be introduced in Norway. Kisstory and Kiss Fresh, which focuses on absolutely new danceable tunes, have been successful for Bauer Media in the UK as digital-only radio channels. (See more about digital radio here)

Bauer Media also ditched The Voice DAB+ and online channel in Norway last year. SBS Discovery eliminated The Voice from FM in 2012, frequencies taken by Radio Rock and Radio 1. In Finland SBS Radio, as it was previously known, operated the KISS radio franchise from 1995 until 2007, when the brand name was dropped.

As a radio brand KISS has a wide and varied legacy. The brand name first appeared in San Antonio, Texas in 1946 as a show-tunes station traversing through several formats before becoming a mainstream rock station. But in the late 1970’s New York, Boston and Los Angeles stations embedded the brand name with dance music and the famous “Kiss lips” logo, though the stations have since gone through numerous changes. Berlin station Kiss FM fired up in 1993 with a dance-oriented music format, which continues.

Among commercial radio broadcasters Bauer Media has been more willing than most to venture into new (or borrowed) territory. Others are following. On the recently announced second DAB multiplex Bauer Media in a joint venture with UTV is bringing back the Virgin Radio brand to the UK. Virgin Radio was last heard in the UK between 1993 and 2008, disappearing in favor of Absolute Radio, currently owned, with several digital brand extensions, by Bauer Media.

Radio Page week ending February 12, 2016
World Radio Day, UNESCO, ITU, new media, Jungala Radio, MiCT, radio in Greece, licensing

Radio Page week ending February 5, 2016
radio in the UK, radio audience, RAJAR, BBC, commercial radio, digital radio, DAB, Radio 2, Radio 1, Radio 4 Extra, 6Music, Heart, Smooth, Magic, Kiss, Absolute Radio, LBC, Global Radio, Bauer Media, podcasts, radio in Hungary, Karc FM, Lanchid Radio

Radio Page week ending January 29, 2016
radio in Sweden, Sveriges Radios, Ekot, Radio Sweden, international broadcasting, radio in France, Médiamétrie, radio audience, RTL, Radio France, France Inter, France Info, Europe 1, RMC, NRJ, Nostalgie, Fun Radio, Virgin Radio, Skyrock

Radio Page week ending January 22, 2016
radio in Switzerland, Mediapulse, SSR-SRG, SFR, RTS, RSI, public radio, digital radio, Radio Swiss Pop, Euergy Zurich, radio in Greece, Best 92.6, Hellenic 93.2

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