ftm Radio Page - February 20, 2015

Local broadcasters squeezed out in hazy license tender
spoils of war

Almost a year after the Russian Federation annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine the task of appropriating local media services is moving toward completion. Russian Federation media and telecom regulator Roskomnadzor put all Crimean privately owned radio broadcasting frequencies up for tender last December, closing applications at the end of January. Local radio broadcasters have protested, as much as they can, an "unfair" contest that benefits Russian companies.

"Crimean radio stations... consider unfair and wrong to hold a competition, which, in fact, will deprive us and our families of livelihoods," said five local Crimean radio broadcasters in a letter to Russian Federation president Vladimir Putin, quoted by Russian media portal lenizdat.ru (February 18). Under terms of the tender applicants must be registered to do business in the Russian Federation. The Roskomnadzor tender information referred to the frequencies as "vacant." (See more about media in Ukraine here)

Several Russian broadcasting companies, including European Media Group, express intention to operate or continue operation in the Crimea, incentive apparently beyond commercial consideration. "For us, it's not even an image project, but simply a patriotic duty," said Multimedia Holding (MMX) president Alexander Shkolnik. Ukrainian state radio and television channels were quickly appropriated by Russian state channels, including armed forces broadcasting service Star. (See more about media in Russia here)

The biggest privately owned Russian broadcasting company is, however, sitting this one out. "Development of regional broadcasting stations is conducted in accordance with business interests," said Gazprom-Media spokesperson Inna Moskaleva in a brief statement, quoted by RBC (February 18). Companies and individuals conducting business or having financial interests in the Crimea are subject to international sanctions.

Politicians move forward on new public radio channel
FM, no static at all... or ads

Czech public radio is a step closer to a fourth national FM channel, CRo Plus. A Ministry of Culture proposal was approved last week by the Chamber of Deputies, lower house of Parliament, with a few amendments, reported Czech legal portal ipravnik.cz (February 16), changing the Czech Radio Act and Law on Radio and Television Broadcasting. The bill now travels to the Czech Senate and, if passed, to the desk of President Milos Zeman.

CRo Plus is currently available on digital platforms with morning transmissions on CRo Regina. Czech MPs stipulated the channel's FM nationwide distribution be accomplished by "optimizing" frequencies. CRo Plus will, if all this goes forward, be limited to news, public affairs and cultural programming, and carry no advertising unless "such commercial communication is a necessary condition to obtain rights to radio broadcasts of cultural or sporting events." CRo Plus could also be allowed spot announcements to promote other public radio programs and channels as well as "goods and services derived from those programs" so long as they are free of charge and in the public service or benefit of charities. (See more about media in the Czech Republic here)

Private sector broadcasters, seeing this coming for several months, insisted CRo Plus be ad-free and continue to lobby for specific language preventing a future format change. The Deputies also would like clear definitions of public service from the Culture Ministry. President Zeman and Czech public radio had something of a falling out over colorful language in live interviews, which now are only prepared as pre-recorded.

Radio Page week ending February 13, 2015
World Radio Day, ITU, AER, Internews, VPRT, radio in the UK, radio audience, digital radio, RAJAR, BBC, Radio 2, Radio 1, 6Music, commercial radio, Heart

Radio Page week ending February 6, 2015
podcasts, Serial, WBEZ, theater of the mind, radio in Switzerland, audience measurement, digital radio, MediaPulse, SSR-SRG, SFR, RTR, Rete, Radio 3i, Radio Swiss Pop, Radio in France, Radio France, Le Mouv', FIP

Radio Page week ending January 30, 2015
radio in Switzerland, FM shut-off, digital radio, DAB, BAKOM, radio in Ukraine, Super Radio, Radio Friday, Retro FM, Gala Radio

Radio Page week ending January 23, 2015
radio in Greece, radio licenses, VFM, Best FM, Flash 96, radio in France, radio in Paris, Médiamétrie, radio audience, Europe 1, RTL, Radio France, FIP

Radio Page week ending January 16, 2015
radio in France, Médiamétrie, radio audience, Europe 1, RTL, Radio France, France Inter, France Culture, NRJ, Nostalgie, Skyrock, Alouette, radio in Denmark, DR

Radio Page week ending January 9, 2015
radio in Russia, Ekho Moskvy, Gazprom Media, Mikhail Lesin, radio in the Netherlands, Radio Veronica, concession fees

Radio Page week ending January 2, 2015
radio in Turkey, radio audience, URYAD, Kral FM, TRT FM, Power Turk, RTUK

Radio Page week ending December 12, 2014
radio in Austria, ORF, O3, FM4, FM21, DAB+, radio in Ukraine, medium wave, NRCU

Radio Page week ending December 5, 2014
radio in France, digital radio, Libé Radio, Radio Nova, radio in Sweden, radio in Switzerland, radio in Germany, DAB, digital transition

Recently added radio audience figures and resources

• Italy - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (February 2015)
  public and private broadcasting companies, channels, audience reach/share, management
• UK - National Radio Audience (February 2015)
  market share, trend, sectors
• UK - London Radio Audience (February 2015)
  market share, trend
• UK - National Radio Audience (February 2015)
  BBC/commercial 'gap'
• Switzerland - Radio listening by region (February 2015)
  public and private sectors, penetration, time spent listening
• Switzerland - French region Radio Audience (February 2015)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Swiss-German region Radio Audience (February 2015)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Italian region Radio Audience (February 2015)
  share, trend
• Bosnia/Herzegovina - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (January 2015)
  public and private broadcasters, management, descriptions, regulator, broadcaster association
• Albania - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (January 2015)
  public and private radio channels, national, regional, religious and community stations
• France - Greater Paris Radio Audience (January 2015)
  national and local channels, market share, trend
• France - National Radio Audience (January 2015)
  national channels, sectors, market share, reach/TSL
• Turkey - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (January 2015)
  ownership, management, program formats, platforms, audience estimates
• Serbia - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (November 2014)
  public and private, national and regional, management
• Croatia - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (November 2014)
  public, private and religious broadcasters, national and regional, management, audience estimates
• Portugal - National Radio Audience (October 2014)
  leading stations, audience share, trend

More Resources

Also see ftm Knowledge

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

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. 74 pages PDF (May 2012)

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

ftm Knowledge files are available to non-Members at €19 each.