ftm Radio Page - January 20, 2012

Holidays No Gift To Music Channels
Reviewing another slice of the recently ended holiday season shows how audiences remain undeterred by fun and frivolity. Economies are tanking and listeners just can’t get enough news, albeit in slices. And, too, there’s a lot of button pushing going on. It’s a trend.

Editor “not offended” by Putin criticism
“I’m not kidding”

At a high-profile meeting with notable journalists and editors (January 18), Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin admitted he rarely reads newspapers, listens to radio or watches television. But there was this day when on a ski trip to Sochi with President Dmitri Medvedev a few weeks ago when he stumbled upon Russia’s Ekho Moscvy (Echo of Moscow) radio channel.

“I did not even know that this was your radio station,” he told the legendary editor-in-chief Alexei Venediktov. “Gibberish,” PM Putin called a discussion he heard on Ehko Moscvy about missile defense. “This is not information. Actually, it’s indecent,” reported by Kommersant (January 18). All of this was broadcast on State television. And there was more. (See more on media in Russia here)

“You seem offended,” said PM Putin to Mr.Venediktov.

“Yes, I am offended,” returned the editor.

"I am not offended when you pour diarrhoea over me all day long on your radio,” said the testy Mr. Putin.

“I was only joking,” replied Mr.Venediktov. “I was not offended.”

“And I’m not kidding,” said the Prime Minister ending the public part of the meeting.

On Ehko Moscvy Thursday morning (January 19), Mr.Venediktov said PM Putin’s criticism was “completely unexpected.” But “if I criticize him, why can’t he criticize me?”

Gazprom Media principally owns Ehko Moscvy, Mr. Venediktov and employees holding 33%. The channel is heard throughout Russia. In Moscow it’s audience regularly exceeds all State radio channels. (JMH)

Meters into the measurement void
“should not scare the market”

Audience measurement has long been a contentious point among Italy’s radio broadcasters. So contentious that ratings provider AudiRadio stopped reporting in 2010 and was officially “dissolved without litigation,” reported ItaliaOggi (January 13).

Into that measurement void – but not without broadcaster disagreement – are two large measurement suppliers, each touting electronic measurement solutions. Ipsos MediaCT will present its MediaCell mobile phone system to broadcasters (January 25). It’s a software solution – “the only meter without a meter” – Ipsos MediaCT has been developing and testing for several years that uses the microphone and retrieval capacity of mobile phones. Every Italian, it seems, has one or more mobile phones and the application is simply downloaded. (See more on audience measurement here)

Not counted out in the race for electronic measurement is GfK Eurisko, the Italian subsidiary of the market research giant that developed a measurement system several years ago. GfK also bought out the Swiss developed RadioControl audio-matching measurement system. Until recently, GfK Eurisko produced limited, interview-based radio audience measurement for several broadcasters. By summer the company will offer electronic measurement for radio “physiologically more traditional, but should not scare the market.,” said a spokesperson. (See more on media in Italy here)

Italy’s major radio broadcasters principally owned AudiRadio. Its last year-end gross reach results released – finally and partially – upon the company’s dissolution. Media house Mondadori and Gruppo 24 Ore declined to release 2010 figures for their stations, R101 and Radio 24, respectively. (JMH)

Radio Page week ending January 13, 2012
radio in Switzerland, Energy Basel, radio in Greece, Flash 96

Radio Page week ending December 23, 2011
radio in Sweden, SBS Radio, NRJ Group, Mix Megapol, Association of European Radio, radio in Hungary, Klubradio, NMHH

Radio Page week ending December 16, 2011
radio conferences, Selon Le Radio, RadioDays Europe, Brave New Radio, TEDx

Radio Page week ending December 9, 2011
radio in France, digital radio, DAB, CSA

Radio Page week ending December 2, 2011
world records, BFBS, Kiss FM, RTE Radio 1, Romanian National Radio

Recently added radio audience figures and resources

• France - National Radio Audience (17/01/2012)
  national channels, sectors, market share, reach/TSL
• Russian Federation - Major Media - Private Radio (13/01/2012)
  Private sector radio broadcasters, owners, management, audience trend
• Russian Federation - Major Media - State/Government Radio (13/01/2012)
  State and government radio broadcasters, owners, management, audience trend
• Russian Federation - Moscow Radio Audience (30/12/2011)
  average quarter hour share, trend
• Austria - Major Media - Radio (29/11/2011)
  public and private broadcasters, owners, management, audience trend
• France - Greater Paris Radio Audience (25/11/2011)
  national and local channels, market share, trend
• France - National Radio Audience (18/11/2011)
  national channels, sectors, market share, reach/TSL
• Belgium - Major Media (18/11/2011)
  Wallonia region, radio broadcasters, public, private, owners, platforms, audience trend
• Belgium - Major Media (14/11/2011)
  Flemish region, radio broadcasters, public, private, owners, platforms, audience trend
• Netherlands - Radio Audience (04/11/2011)
  national survey, market share, trend

More Resources

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