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

ftm Radio Page - May 27, 2011

Digital radio: opting in and out
“difficult start”

When the UK digital radio support group Digital Radio UK unleashed a second round of promotion, one of the country’s biggest broadcasters opted out. Global Radio, owner of national channel Classic FM and quasi-national Capital, decided that until a local DAB funding deal is struck it wouldn’t be sharing in the promotion task. Most other major UK radio owners are happily participating.

Commercial broadcasters, the BBC and the UK government are scheduled to meet in June to hammer out details of who will pay for local DAB multiplexes. DAB listening in the UK continues to grow, albeit more slowly, according to the most recent RAJAR radio audience report. (See recent RAJAR results here) The UK government has proposed shutting down most analogue (FM) broadcasting sometime after 2015 if both digital coverage and audience penetration thresholds are met.

In Switzerland, Zürich local commercial station Radio 24 will join the regional DAB+ multiplex system at the first of August. Basel-based independent digital broadcaster Open Broadcast dropped off the DAB+ multiplex serving the Swiss-German speak region last month for financial reasons. Swiss media regulator OFCOM changed rules last October to allow simulcasts of existing FM stations rather than wholly original programming, which attracted little broadcaster attention.

“Digital radio in Europe had a difficult start,” said Radio 24 program director Karin Müller, quoted by Klein Report (May 26). “After the initial euphoria of the late 1990s, development stalled. It’s always exciting to be with technological advances.” (JMH)

Radio gains in Gulf region
“Under-utilized” and “disorganized”

Ad spending on commercial radio stations in Dubai “nearly doubled” in the first quarter, reports Gulf News (May 25). Broadcasters, though, seem only modestly encouraged. Increased revenues have come at the expense of ad rates as advertisers in the region move to lower cost media.

“Since 2008 almost all stations have been forced to leave their rate cards unchanged,” said GN Broadcasting radio director Vikram Dhar, quoted by Khaleej Times (May 23). “Due to heavy discounting actual realization means a further attrition in rates.” GN Broadcasting owns Radio 1 and Radio 2 and sells advertising for other stations.

“Due to the fact that the industry is disorganized…discounting and value bonuses to clients are on the increase,” continued Vikram Dhar. “There are a host of discounts, commissions, (and) bonus value additions… that make the effective rate a small percentage of the published price.”

“As advertising spending took a nosedive during 2009 and started to recover cautiously only this year, low-cost vehicles were clearly in focus,” added Pan Arab Research Centre (Parc) spokesperson Shaharyar Umar. “As per Target Group Index surveys, 47 per cent agreed that they always listen to radio when in a car and 24 per cent do so on mobile phones.”

First quarter radio ad spending in the UAE rose to 6.0% of all ad spending from 4.6% in the same period in 2008, according to IPSOS MediaCT MENA. Outdoor advertising now accounts for 26.6% of UAE ad spending. Print advertising has plummeted to 44.6% from 66.6% of the advertising pie in three years.

“Radio is very under-utilized in our region, said Inca Tanvir Advertising managing director Tanvir Kanji, “and I feel it will show a strong growth pattern if the media owners rationalize their tariffs. TV audiences are too fragmented and widespread, with over 500 Arabic channels and over 1000 non-Arabic channels, and very sketchy viewership information.” (JMH)

Radio Page week ending May 20, 2011
internet radio, web radio, Spotify, Radiodays Europe, radio in Greece, radio advertising, radio in Ukraine, National Radio Company

Radio Page week ending May 13, 2011
radio in the UK, RAJAR, audience survey, BBC, Capital FM, Radio 4, mobile radio, radio in Germany, internet radio, Pandora, radio in France, digital radio, CSA

Radio Page week ending May 6, 2011
radio in Portugal, international broadcasting, RDP, ANACOM, radio in Poland, radio advertising, RMF FM, Radio Zet

Radio Page week ending April 29, 2011
radio in France, Skyrock, Axa Private Equity, Skyblog, Pierre Bellanger, radio in Africa, Africa No.1, Eutelsat

Radio Page week ending April 22, 2011
radio in Hungary, NeoFM, Est Media Group, radio in France, radio audience, Médiamétrie, RMC, Europe 1, France Inter

Radio Page week ending April 15, 2011
radio in Germany, morning radio, BLM, Antenne Bayern, radio in France, Skyrock, private equity

Radio Page week ending April 8, 2011
radio in Finland, SBS Radio, The Voice, Iskelmä, new media applications, digital radio, radio in the UK, FM shut-off

Radio Page week ending March 25, 2011
digital radio, DAB, Enspert, radio in Hong Kong, radio in the UK, Jazz FM, BBC Asia, music quotas, radio in Poland, ChiliZet

Radio Page week ending March 18, 2011
radio in France, CSA, music quotas, radio in Sweden, MTG, Star FM, radio in the US, public radio, National Public Radio

Radio Page week ending March 11, 2011
radio in Italy, podcasts, RAI, Radio Due, radio in Germany, VPRT, FM shut-off, ag.ma, Radio NRW, Antenne Bayern, Radio Bob

Radio Page week ending March 4, 2011
digital radio, Association of European Radio, Neelie Kroes, EBU, Rouge FM, radio in Germany, ag.ma

Radio Page week ending February 25, 2011
radio in Denmark, web radio, DAB, digital radio, radio in Germany, Londa, Lagardere, radio in Czech Republic, music quota, radio in Ukraine, radio news, Hungarian public radio, Danubius Radio, Slager Radio, radio in Hungary

Radio Page week ending February 11, 2011
radio in Denmark, DR, P4, Voice of Russia, medium wave, radio promotion, Rock FM

Radio Page week ending February 4, 2011
radio in the UK, RAJAR, BBC Radio, Five Live, digital radio, radio in Norway, NRK, FM shutoff, radio in Belarus, Radio Svaboda, Avtoradio

Radio Page week ending January 28, 2011
radio advertising, radio in the Netherlands, Communicorp, radio in Ukraine, Nashe Radio, Mediametrie, radio in Paris, Oui FM, FIP

Radio Page week ending January 21, 2011
radio in France, Mediametrie, RTL, NRJ, Virgin Radio, Lagardere, radio in Switzerland, digital radio, SSR-SRG

Recently added radio audience figures and resources

Also see ftm Knowledge

Europe’s Radio – Northern Europe – new

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. 101 pages PDF includes Resources (February 2011)

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. 48 pages PDF (November 2010)

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 110 pages PDF (August 2010)

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, Netherlands and Switzerland. 107 pages. PDF (June 2010)

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, Ukraine, Romania, Russia and Slovakia. 65 pages PDF (February 2010)

Order here

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 €49 each. The charge to Individual Site Members is €15 each.

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 ©2004-2011 ftm partners, unless otherwise noted Contact Us • About Us