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ftm Radio Page - October 22, 2016

Radio ads rebound, cars and retail lead
“many music festivals”

Summer brought more love to Dutch radio broadcasters, at least from the advertising side. The Dutch RAB (Radio Advise Bureau) reported a 7.4% year on year boost in Q3 ad revenues, quoting Nielsen data. Radio broadcasters have been revenue-challenged since a fall-off in financial services advertising since 2014.

“We think the increase is related to Netherlands not participating in the World Cup, which was a disappointment,” said RAB director Liedewij Hentenaar, reported nos.nl (October 17). “But there was a lot of advertising around the Olympics and the many music festivals.” The biggest advertisers were Renault (cars), Kruidvat (pharmacy, health and beauty retailer) and Lidl (supermarket). (See more about media in the Netherlands here)

Spot advertising revenues for Q3 were €42.4 million and non-traditional revenues (NTR) - mostly branded content - raised €2.8 million. Radio ad revenues this year were off 2.4% in Q1 and 2.3% in Q2. For the year so far radio advertising in up just 0.4% over like period 2015.

National radio audience estimates for August-September, also released this week, show Radio 538, Qmusic and Sky Radio holding the top three positions, respectively. Public news and sports channel NPO Radio 1 posted the biggest year on year gain, 7.9% share (5th) up from 7.0% (6th), trading places with public contemporary music channel NPO 3FM, which dropped to 6.3% share from 8.0%.

New owner sees opportunity in diversity
“rescue operation”

The dull, grey cast of money has its favorites in the media sphere. Stand-alone eclectic radio stations are not among them. Local Helsinki, Finland radio station Radio Helsinki has yet another owner.

The Finnish Musicians Union, through commercial division Livelaboratorio (Live Lab), will be taking over the station, preliminary regulator approvals already secured. “Radio Helsinki is an important place for diverse music and urban culture… it is desirable to further strengthen this,” said Musicians Union chairman Ahti Vänttinen, quoted by YLE.fi (October 13). “It is very fitting that musicians… participated in the rescue operation.”

“This is a very natural solution,” said principal owner Tomi Ruotimo. Last month he announced his exit and, if a buyer was not found, the end of Radio Helsinki. The Musicians Union formed Live Lab this past summer to operate and manage a music venue and, perhaps, a radio station. (See more about media in Finland here)

Radio Helsinki took to the FM airwaves in 2000 and made its name as a free-form and experimental music station and went through several owners. In 2005 it was principally acquired by big newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, owned by big media house Sanoma. Tough financial times for Sanoma in 2013 led to major changes, loss-making Radio Helsinki was shed.

New owners, led by Mr. Ruotimo, persevered but rarely cut the losses. Last year a crowd-funding initiative raised the prospects slightly. The station reported a €330,000 loss last year.

Radio Page week ending October 15, 2016
radio in Norway, digital transition, digital radio, WorldDAB, EBU, Bauer Media

Radio Page week ending September 23, 2016
radio in Belgium, music quotas, CSA, Radio Italia

Radio Page week ending September 16, 2016
radio in France, Mediametrie, radio audience, radio in Poland, Polskie Radio, Radio Czworka, radio in the Czech Republic, CRo Radio Wave, radio in Hungary, radio in Germany, online radio, streaming audio, digital advertising

Radio Page week ending September 9, 2016
radio in France, Mediametrie, RTL Group, Fun Radio, radio in Germany, IFA, VPRT, digital radio, digital transition, DAB+, online radio

Radio Page week ending September 2, 2016
radio in Africa, radio licenses, station closures, radio in Poland, Polskie Radio, Radio 4, Radio 24, TOK FM, DAB+

Radio Page week ending August 26, 2016
radio in Switzerland, digital radio, DAB+, radio online, radio audience

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