ftm Radio Page - October 25, 2013

There’s So Much More To Like
Broadcasting has survived it all; from consolidation and brand experiments to the digital dividend. The audience has taken it all in, tuned in and stayed loyal. Rough changes in ratings, sometimes scary, only prove how people respond. There’s value in that.

Five-year license dispute ends
No “danger”

A radio license dispute between two Swiss media operators finally came to a close as the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Telecommunications (DETEC) officially renewed the Radio Argovia FM concession in the Canton of Aargau, eastern Switzerland. Five years ago – October 2008 – the station’s license was renewed and the competitive applicant went to the Federal Administrative Court (FCA), which sent the application back to DETEC for further study. Obviously, more has changed than the simple passage of time.

Radio Argovia’s ownership changed, acquired by BT Gruppe, principally controlled by Peter Wanner. At the time Mr. Wanner owned Radio 32, a local TV channel and several newspapers. The competing applicant was Radio 1 (Zürich) owner Roger Schawinski, a long-time figure in Swiss and German media. Mr. Schawinski’s appeal to the FCA resulted in nothing more than Swiss time running out, to paraphrase an old song. He called the DETEC decision a “farce,” reported Swiss-German public TV SFR (October 22).

DETEC found no “danger to expression and diversity” in its investigation. The Radio Argovia FM concession is now officially extended until 2019. It is possible, however, that Mr. Schawinski will appeal again. (JMH)

No policy, no progress, say broadcasters
“That should change”

The vexation of German private radio broadcasters was shared during last week’s Medientage München convention and expo. Grousing about public broadcasting, as usual, took center stage at private broadcasters association VPRT’s presentation: “Who determines the radio agenda?” And, too, the broadcasters are deeply concerned about streaming audio websites Spotify and Napster.

Radio broadcasting is being ignored, said several, chiefly with regard to regulation. A challenge for radio broadcasters is the “perception of radio issues missing from policy,” said former Bavarian Regulatory Authority for Commercial Broadcasting (BLM) president Wolf-Dieter Ring. “I am convinced that radio broadcasting needs intense work. The States have, so far, not been up to the task.”

Berlin Senate Chancellery leader Björn Böhning seconded the view. “Radio regulation is the stepchild of State regulation,” he said. “That should change.” Herr Böhning offered up the usual agenda points: the overlap between private and public radio programming, advertising on public radio channels and competition with online streaming audio services.

“The eyes-shut policy toward the activities of public broadcasters, whose expansive radio activities are highly problematic for private broadcasters, is a scandal,” said VPRT deputy director Klaus Schunk. “The dual system has become lopsided.” (See VPRT presser here – in German)

The VPRT also announced further support for the RadioDNS standard for multi-platform reception. Test marketing the “smart radio” system has begun in Bavaria. RadioDNS combines terrestrial broadcast reception with web-based services. (JMH)

Radio Page week ending October 18, 2013
radio in Finland, radio advertising, RadioMedia, radio in France, Médiamétrie, digital devices, mobile phones

Radio Page week ending October 11, 2013
radio in Switzerland, music quotas, radio in Sweden, Retro FM, radio news

Radio Page week ending October 4, 2013
radio in Greece, ERT, public radio, First Program, radio in France, Médiamétrie, radio audience, radio in Poland, Polskie Radio, digital radio

Radio Page week ending September 27, 2013
radio in Hungary, music quotas, radio in the UK, digital radio, OFCOM

Radio Page week ending September 20, 2013
radio in Germany, measurement, RMS, AudiMark, online radio, radio in Norway, P4, MTG, Viamo

Radio Page week ending September 13, 2013
radio in Austria, Antenne Wien, oe24, ORF, radio in France, Radio France, Le Mouv', Oui FM, radio in Africa, radio in Mali, Studio Tamani, Fondation Hirondelle

Radio Page week ending September 6, 2013
radio in Liechtenstein, Radio L, radio in the Czech Republic, Londa, medium wave, Radio Impuls

Radio Page week ending August 30, 2013
radio in Belgium, radio audience, CIM, RTBF, VRT, Bel RTL, Nostalgie, NRJ, Studio Brussel, La Première, radio in France, Radio France, France Info

Radio Page week ending August 23, 2013
radio in Switzerland, private local radio, OFCOM, program content, RadioDay, WRS, Radio 105

Radio Page week ending August 9, 2013
radio in the Netherlands, NLO, Radio 538, Sky Radio, 3FM, Q-music

Radio Page week ending August 2, 2013
radio in the UK, RAJAR, BBC Radio 2, Absolute Radio, Bauer Media, digital radio, radio in Poland, Polskie Radio, DAB+, radio in Ireland, JNLR, RTE, Today FM, 98FM

Radio Page week ending July 26, 2013
radio in France, Mediametrie, Europe 1, NRJ, Nostalgie, radio in Switzerland, MediaPulse, SSR-SRG, SRF1, Musikwelle, Radio Swiss Pop, digital radio

Radio Page week ending July 19, 2013
radio in Germany, ag.ma, radio audience, Radio Energy, Antenne Bayern, radio in the UK, digital radio, analogue radio

Radio Page week ending July 12, 2013
radio in Germany, ag.ma, radio audience, digital radio

Radio Page week ending July 5, 2013
radio in Denmark, digital radio, FM switch-off, radio in France, broadcast IP, Band III

Radio Page week ending June 28, 2013
Cannes radio Lions, radio advertising, radio in Switzerland, digital radio, Ofcom, radio in Africa, international broadcasting, Deutsche Welle, BBC Afrique

Radio Page week ending June 21, 2013
radio in Poland, Polskie Radio, digital radio, radio in France, Sud Radio, CSA

Radio Page week ending June 14, 2013
radio in Latvia, radio audience, TNS, Latvijas Radio, Radio Skonto, Radio SWH, music streaming, Ampya, iTunes Radio, radio in the Czech Republic, CRo, Radio Wave, image campaign

Radio Page week ending June 7, 2013
radio in Spain, XFin, Grupo S4 Media

Recently added radio audience figures and resources

• UK - National Radio Audience (24/10/2013)
  market share, trend, sectors
• UK - London Radio Audience (24/10/2013)
  market share, trend
• UK - National Radio Audience (24/10/2013)
  BBC/commercial 'gap'
• France - National Radio Summer Audience (03/10/2013)
  national channels, summer period 2008-2013 trend
• Austria - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (09/09/2013)
  public and private broadcasters, owners, management, audience trend
• Belgium - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (French region) (28/08/2013)
  Wallonia region, radio broadcasters, public, private, owners, platforms, audience trend
• Belgium - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (Flemish region) (28/08/2013)
  Flemish region, radio broadcasters, public, private, owners, platforms, audience trend
• Turkey - Major Media - Radio broadcasting (15/08/2013)
  ownership, management, program formats, platforms
• Netherlands - Radio Audience (08/08/2013)
  national survey, market share, trend
• Ireland - National Radio Audience (30/07/2013)
  market share, 07h00-19h00, trend
• Ireland - Dublin Radio Audience (30/07/2013)
  market share, 07h00-19h00, trend
• France - Greater Paris Radio Audience (23/07/2013)
  national and local channels, market share, trend
• Switzerland - Radio listening by region (19/07/2013)
  public and private sectors, penetration, time spent listening
• Switzerland - French region Radio Audience (19/07/2013)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Swiss-German region Radio Audience (19/07/2013)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Italian region Radio Audience (19/07/2013)
  share, trend
• Germany - Radio Audience (16/07/2013)
  leading stations, audience trend, daily reach
• France - National Radio Audience (16/07/2013)
  national channels, sectors, market share, reach/TSL
• Germany - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (16/07/2013)
  public and private broadcasters, ownership, management, platforms, audience trend
• Latvia - National Radio Audience (12/06/2013)
  national channels, audience share, trend
• Spain - National Radio Audience (24/04/2013)
  national channels, reach share, trend
• Poland Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (28/03/2013)
  public and private radio channels, management, platforms, market share
• Lithuania Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (25/02/2013)
  public and private radio channels, management, platforms, audience reach
• Czech Republic Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (18/02/2013)
  public and private radio channels, management, audience reach

More Resources

Also see ftm Knowledge

Europe's Radio - Western Europe

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Europe’s Radio – Eastern Europe

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Order here

Europe’s Radio – Northern Europe

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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)

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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)

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