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ftm Radio Page - September 24, 2010

Licenses renewed, frequencies changed
Some remain in limbo

Getting and keeping broadcast licenses can be a challenge. In the Czech Republic the process can only be described as fluid. Once again the regulators decisions have been challenged in the courts.

Radio Samson, serving the Plzen region in western Czech Republic, received a new license (September 23) from the Radio and Television Broadcasting Council (RRTV). Last June competing applicants for the stations old license won a court decision vacating that license based on “unclear ownership structure.” Radio Samson has new FM frequencies.

The RRTV also granted an additional frequency to Prague-based Kiss 98. Radio Beat, also owned by Communicorp, will be shifting around a few transmitters. (See recent ranking of radio stations in the Czech Republic here)

Still in limbo is Brno station 105.1 FM. When its license was up for renewal in December 2008 the RRTV awarded it to somebody else, Rádio Jih. Rejecting the 105.1 FM renewal, apparently, was based on the stations change in music programming. Off to court they went. The Czech Supreme Administrative Court ruled (September 22) the licensing procedure invalid. The RRTV will now repeat the licensing exercise. (JMH)

Still testing electronic measurement
Location, location, location

Electronic measurement gripped the radio sector in the early part of this decade. Systems were developed, tested, some accepted, mostly rejected. With new – and mobile – media attracting attention from advertisers, measurement is moving up on the agenda.

Last April Ipsos MediaCT started trials of a mobile phone application for measuring radio listening, and presumably anything else. (See that story here) The idea is using a 3G application on smartphones rather than relying on a separate device. “It’s a completely passive approach,” said Ipsos MediaCT’s Jim Ford to Research-Live (September 22).

Ipsos has the contract to provide radio listening measurement in the UK through the joint industry committee RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research). Five years ago UK broadcasters rejected electronic measurement after extensive trials and tribulations. Several UK commercial broadcasters are participating in the current MediaCell trials.

“You can keep track of the methods by which people are listening,” said Ford, “either by choice, in the background, over the internet or through podcasts as well as the whole area of time-shifted listening. You could say it puts it on a par with TV measurement by giving minute-by-minute ratings.” And, too, this device can actually locate survey respondents, another ‘oh, wow’ thing for media buyers.

Other measurement suppliers are – when not suing each other over intellectual property rights – looking at similar application-based systems. Arbitron is said to be readying its version for release by the end of this year. Médiamétrie also has something in development. (JMH)

International station moves to FM
Coincidence?

Greek public broadcaster ERT has begun broadcasting its international station Filia on FM, reports radiofono.gr (September 22). The station continues to use 665 AM, where it has been broadcasting for several years. The station re-broadcasts foreign language programs from a variety of international broadcasters.

The fate of Athens Radio International (AIR) remains unclear. Mostly English language station has been off the FM spectrum since last week, ordered by shut down by authorities saying its license had expired. Staff has continued to broadcast via the internet.

Several other radio stations with licenses of questionable validity were ordered off the air by Greek authorities over the last several weeks.(JMH)

Milk and money spark DJs tantrum
“Animals?”

Big-time morning DJs thrive on attention. Just as much, they love using their microphones. So it was this week (September 22) with BBC Radio 1 morning mouth Chris Moyles letting loose with a publicity-magnet tirade in the “I don’t get no respect” vein.

Moyles, the longest serving morning show host on Radio 1, complained at not getting paid for two months. “A huge lack of respect,” he ranted. Other BBC performers would never be forced to endure such indignity, he continued. “Would you even think that would ever happen? It just wouldn't, would it?”

If it wasn’t money on his mind, it was milk. "There's no milk. I'm leaving Radio 1. They can stick their job, I'm leaving. What do they think we are? Animals?”

"That's it. I'm on strike. I'm not playing any more records. I'm just going to talk and be funny until 10 o'clock."

UK tabloids had a field-day. Hummmmm…..

The BBC, later on the day of the tirade, said there had been a computer error causing a delay in making the salary payment.

The following morning (September 23), Moyles was undeterred. “Everything I said yesterday I stand by.”

"I'm very, very moody first thing in the morning," he explained. "I'm not a morning person.” That, of course, brings up a question or two.

All this reminds me of the wisdom of talent coach Valerie Geller: “You might think that’s a mature adult sitting in front of that microphone but, in truth, it’s just a large six-year old.” (JMH)

Pirate Radio Returns?
Not digital?

Pirate Radio could be coming back to the Baltics, reports mediamonitori.fi. Rock musician Mike Spenser is apparently asking for a medium wave license. In 2004 and 2005 Spenser operated Pirate Radio 603 from Aland, first on a boat than a cottage. Somebody else took over the frequency for a couple of years until it ran dry.

Pre-digital radio people will note that a radio station at 603 MW would carry quite well, in theory. Aland Islands are an autonomous region between Sweden and Finland.

Here in the time of DAB and Web radio, this isn’t the first I’ve heard of interest in the MW band for broadcasting. It’s certainly wide-open and many car radios still receive MW stations. (JMH)

  • Björn Mohr (Sweden) commented on the LinkedIn Network:

    "The issue with AM/MW stations is that the band has been considered dead in Scandinavia since the 60s. It is simply not in the mindset of the general public. But I am sure a few DX enthusiasts will be exited by the news :)"

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