followthemedia.com
a knowledge base for media professionals 		ftm Radio Page
ftm Home Page

ftm Radio Page - week ending February 26, 2021

Broadcaster swallowed up by bigger media fish
"radio is very popular"

There are cycles for everything. Consumers traverse several cycles in their lifetimes. Media operators work overtime to intersect with them. Investors, even in the media sphere, have their own cycles. There’s a time to go.

Ireland’s dominant commercial radio broadcaster Communicorp will at some point in the next few months cease to exist. An agreement was reached, reported public broadcaster RTE (February 25), for Bauer Media Audio to acquire the Irish radio assets. The number is suspected to exceed €100 million. Irish regulatory scrutiny is forthcoming, expected to be brief. (See more about media in Ireland here)

Communicorp operates national channels Newstalk and Today FM plus regional stations Spin 1038, Spin Southwest and 98FM as well as digital sports channel Off The Ball. It has been “an exciting and dynamic journey,” said chairperson Lucy Gaffney in a statement, “which has enhanced and transformed radio in Ireland.”

Communicorp is principally owned by Denis O’Brien, who began that journey
with Dublin station 98FM in 1989. Thereafter came more Irish radio assets and a slew of stations in Eastern Europe and the Baltics. Always the consummate salesman, Mr. O’Brien moved on to newspaper investments in Ireland and mobile telecoms. There were the usual controversies that accompany great wealth. He relocated to Portugal or maybe Malta. In the mid-1990’s the non-Irish radio assets were put on the exit ramp and, a few years later, his stake in Irish publisher Independent News and Media was sold to Dutch publisher Mediahuis.

Bauer Media Audio operates radio channels and other related businesses in seven countries; Denmark, Finland, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden and the UK. Bauer Media Group, Bauer Verlagsgruppe, is a legacy German media house with broad international multimedia holdings. “Radio is popular in Ireland,” said Bauer Media Audio president Paul Keenan, quoted by news portal thejournal.ie (February 25), “with more than 80% of the population tuning in every week.”

Alternative radio outlet wins support for support
"heal the injury"

Through the coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic disruption media support programs have grown in several countries. These have mostly benefitted newspaper publishers, for all the obvious reasons. Media outlets not so well-connected have remained on pins and needles.

The Italian government in 2019 implemented robust programs to support many economic sectors, media included. Unsurprisingly, the bills came due and the Italian parliament moved to scale back the financial contributions. Caught up in this was Rome-based alternative news and talk radio station Radio Radicale, once associated with a political party of the same name. (See more about media support here)

At the last minute, seemingly, two parliamentary committees passed amendments to postpone the reduction in financial support for Radio Radicale and a few related publications. The broadcaster is getting a two-year reprieve. Political opposition to retaining support for Radio Radicale came, largely, from the Five Star Movement. It was brief, conspiracy theories aside. (See more about media in Italy here)

“The approval of the two amendments to protect information pluralism is a strong signal to the entire sector,” said National Federation of the Italian Press (FNSI) general secretary Raffaele Lorusso, in a statement. "Having secured the contributions for Radio Radicale and the cooperative newspapers allows us to heal the injury that had been created with the progressive cut in funding, approved budget law 2019.”

Radio Page week ending February 19, 2021
radio in the Russian Federation, Russian Media Group, radio in Germany, Radio Berlin Brandenburg, RadioEins, Fritz, mobile apps

Radio Page week ending February 12, 2021
World Radio Day 2021, UNESCO, podcaasts, DAB, radio in Poland, Agora SA, Eurozet, RMF FM, radio in Austria, Radiotest, ORF, Kronehit, Radio Arabella, coronavirus

Radio Page week ending February 5, 2021
radio in Canada, The Raven, indigenous media, radio in Germany, rs2, coronavirus, MABB

Radio Page week ending January 29, 2021
radio in Hungary, Klubradio, Media Council, elections and media

Radio Page week ending January 22, 2021
radio in France, radio in Paris, France Inter, RTL, Radio Classique, Evasion, Chant France, international broadcasting, Voice of America, RFE/RL

Radio Page week ending January 15, 2021
radio in the US, talk radio, hate speech, radio in France, Radio France, public broadcasting, Round House, radio in Poland, mergers and acquisitions, Agora SA, Eurozet, TOK FM, Radio Zet, UOKiK

Radio Page week ending January 8, 2021
Media And The Virus, coronavirus, radio broadcasting, radio audience, local radio, digital radio, FM

Radio Page week ending December 11, 2020
radio in Hungary, radio license, Spirit FM, Klubradio, NMHH, radio in Afghanistan, Merman Radio, Reporters sans Frontieres, 2020 Press Freedom Awards, audio news, mobile media, advertising

Radio Page week ending December 4, 2020
radio in the Czech Republic, Radio Hana, fairytales, radio in Belgium, radio audience, coronavirus, digital radio, FM radio

Radio Page week ending November 27, 2020
radio in France, radio audience, radio in Paris, France Inter, RTL, France Info, Skyrock, France Culture, radio in Germany, media support, Neustart Kultur, radio in Hamburg, coronavirus, radio technology, radio and automobiles, Radioplayer

Radio Page week ending November 20, 2020
radio in France, Médiamétrie, radio audience, France Inter, RTL, NRJ, France Info, RMC, Radio France, radio advertising, environment

Radio Page week ending November 13, 2020
radio in Switzerland, DAB, digital radio, media support, digital transition, coronavirus, radio in Greece, radio license, pirate radio, sports radio, ESR

Radio Page week ending November 6, 2020
radio in Portugal, radio audience, Bareme Radio Marktest, coronavirus, RTP, Radio Comercial, RFM, radio in Hungary, Klubradio, radio license, online radio, NMHH

Radio Page week ending October 30, 2020
radio audience, streaming audio, Spotify, radio in Bulgaria, Bulgarian National Radio, Council of Electronic Media, public radio

Radio Page week ending October 23, 2020
radio in Poland, Polskie Radio, Radio Trojka

Radio Page week ending October 16, 2020
radio in France, Radio France, podcasts, Deezer, radio in Brazil, online radio, social media, Kantar

Radio Page week ending October 9, 2020
radio in Poland, online radio, start-up, business model, crowdfunding, Radio Nowy Swait, Radio 357, radio in Denmark, Radio Loud, Berlingske Media

Radio Page week ending October 2, 2020
radio in Denmark, DR, P6 Beat, P8 Jazz, Ministry of Culture, radio in Norway, Christmas Radio, Juleradioen

Radio Page week ending September 25, 2020
radio in Ukraine, Crimea, jamming, radio in Hungary, Civil Radio, Inforadio, NMHH, radio licenses

Radio Page week ending September 18, 2020
radio in Switzerland, Swiss Music Day, SSR-SRG, coronavirus, radio in Germany, cultural media, public broadcasting, Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenberg, rbbKulturradio

Radio Page week ending September 11, 2020
radio in Italy, sports and media, Radio Kiss Kiss Italia, radio in Hungary, digital radio, NMHH

Radio Page week ending September 4, 2020
automobiles and radio, digital radio, automobile dashboard, radio in Germany, online radio, digital radio, podcasts, podcasting, coronavirus, radio in Hungary, radio in Budapest, radio frequency, Music FM, NMHH

Radio Page week ending August 28, 2020
radio in Poland, Polskie Radio, Trojka, radio in France, radio audience, radio advertising, coronavirus

Radio Page week ending August 7, 2020
radio in the UK, radio audience, RAJAR, coronavirus

Radio Page week ending July 31, 2020
radio in the UK, radio audience, RAJAR, radio in France, digital radio

Radio Page week ending July 24, 2020
radio in Hungary, Best Radio, Radio 1, KESMA

Radio Page week ending July 17, 2020
radio in Switzerland, Mediapulse, public broadcasting, SSR-SRG, LFM, Radio Ticino, radio in Poland, radio audience, Radio Track, RMF FM, Radio Zet, Polskie Radio, TOK FM

Radio Page week ending July 10, 2020
radio in the UK, Ofcom, licensing extensions, DAB multiplex, analogue radio, radio in Germany, radio in Bavaria, BLM, local radio, radio audience

Radio Page week ending July 3, 2020
radio in Sweden, public broadcasting, Sveriges Radio, P1, radio audience, radio in Norway, Bauer Media, media support, radio in the UK, Times Radio, News UK, brand extensions

Recently added radio audience figures and resources

Also see ftm Knowledge

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. 126 pages PDF (June 2015)

Order here

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

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

ftm Knowledge files are available to Members at no additional charge.

The Six Radio Brands is about the uniquely European development of radio brands. Competition among broadcasters - and certainly between the public and commercial sectors - gives radio in Europe a rich dynamic. As consumers become more media-literate and demand more attachment broadcasters find target markets illusive.
Regulators, advertisers and broadcasters take turns trying to influence radio brands. Culture and technology makes an impact. More and more, the greatest influence comes from consumers.
The Six Radio Brands describes advantages and pit-falls of brand strategies, with illustrations from current radio practice.

100 pages. 2004

Available at no charge to ftm Members, €49 for others. Email for more information

copyright ©2004-2021 ftm partners, unless otherwise noted Contact Us • About Us