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ftm Radio Page - May 27, 2016

With digital transition there are leaders, followers and politicians
progress isn't relative

Next winter seems a long time off, even in Norway where the cold and snow starts early and lasts. In the midst of next winter Norwegian national radio channels will shed the FM band and plunge into the new world of digital audio broadcasting. On January 11, 2017 DAB+ will become the dominant platform for radio broadcasting, Norway becoming the first in the world to, mostly, make the switch-over.

The radio platform switch-over plan, known since 2011, has held up reasonably well against questions, complaints and distractions. Big radio broadcasters – public broadcaster NRK and commercial operators Modern Times Group and Bauer Media – signed on. It will be a big change and that doesn’t always go down well. (See more about digital radio here)

Progress Party culture spokesperson Ib Thomsen wants, at this late date, to put the switch-over on hold. In an official letter to Culture Minister Linda Hofstad Helleland this past week, he asked that the big change be coordinated with neighboring Sweden and Denmark, reported lokalradio.no (May 19). He cited “the large bill consumers will get when millions of FM radios must be replaced.” The Progress Party opposed digital transition in 2011. (See more about media in Norway here)

Minister Helleland responded, essentially, with “Oh, please,” reported kampanje.no (May 24). “The main reason that Norway is the first is that Norwegian topography has deep fjords, high mountains and a scattered population, which makes it expensive to operate the FM network.” She also offered that Denmark and Sweden will certainly follow the Norwegian example.

Broadcaster mills reliable revenue stream
rice is nice

Many radio broadcasters across the world are occupied with managing staff, negotiating with media buyers and maintaining a competitive edge. Digital and mobile audiences demand special attention, too. In the great scheme of things, that’s the easy stuff.

Radio Television Communautaire 117 operates from Kimbombo, in the far south of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). With no electric utility access the community radio station relies on gas generators. “There is no advertising market in Kimbombo and the radio station struggles to make ends meet,” noted media development agency Internews DRC director Karim Benard-Dende in the agency’s newsletter (May 18). “The only reliable source of income in the region is agriculture.” (See more about media in Africa here)

Necessity being the mother of invention, station manager Bernard Djunga Mashka acquired a rice mill with an Internews/USAID grant, enlisted the local radio listeners club and began processing rice. The station now produces programs about rice farming and nutrition. “A part of the processed rice is also given to journalists and staff, who prefer to get a part of their salaries in food rather than money.”

Radio broadcasting is the main source of news and information in the DRC. People living in major cities have access to many stations as well as TV channels and newspapers. Rural areas are served by an array of community stations, many funded by NGOs and religious organizations, operating only a few hours a day. Twenty years ago there were roughly 20 radio stations in the DRC, now over 300.

Radio reporter asks question, gets fined
“state of helplessness”

Catalunya Ràdio legal reporter Mercè Alcocer has been fined €601 for crossing a press barricade and approaching a Catalan politician heading to a court appearance in Madrid, reported El Norte de Castilla (May 20). He said he stopped when so ordered and didn’t notice the fence. He was charged with disobeying a police order under the Public Security Law, referred to as Ley Mordaza or Gag Law, established last June.

Sr Alcocer was covering a court appearance in February by former Catalan president Jordi Pujol related to money laundering and tax evasion charges. The story has captivated Catalonia as the region has been seen as relatively free of corruption unlike the rest of Spain. And, too, Sr.Pujol has been a major figure in the Catalan independence movement. Sr.Alcocer had attempted to question Sr.Pujol’s lawyer. (See more about media in Spain here)

In April Basque photojournalist Axier Lopez was the first to be punished under the gag law for posting photos on Twitter of a police raid. His employer, news magazine Argia, has refused to pay the fine as “unjust and against the right to press freedom.” Pending cases include a Facebook comment about police and a photo posted of a police car parked in a spot reserved for disabled persons. (See more about press/media freedom here)

Catalunya Radio indicated it would appeal the fine, reported La Vanguardia (May 21). "News professionals have self-regulatory measures, through standards and codes of conduct, and to coerce us and treat us like criminals leaves us in a concerning state of helplessness and that is not exactly the best solution because we do our job well." Catalunya Radio is the Catalan regional public broadcaster.

Radio Page week ending May 20, 2016
radio in France, digital devices, mobile devices, Mediametrie, radio in the UK, radio audience, RAJAR, BBC Radio, commercial radio, radio brands, Radio 2, Radio 1, Radio 4, Radio 3, Heart, Capital, Magic, digital radio, DAB

Radio Page week ending May 13, 2016
radio in the Czech Republic, radio audience, Radioprojekt, Radio Impuls, Radio Blanik, Radio Beat, news-talk, CRo Plus, radio in Switzerland, consolidation, One FM, Rouge FM, radio advertising

Radio Page week ending May 6, 2016
radio in France, public radio, Radio France, Mouv', BBC Radio 1, digital radio, DAB, online radio, Spotify

Radio Page week ending April 29, 2016
radio in Austria, RadioTest, audience measurement, GfK, Lounge FM, ORF, radio in Germany, RBB, RadioEins, Spotify, radio in France, Paris radio audience, Mediametrie, RMC, Fun Radio, Radio Classique, Radio Latina

Radio Page week ending April 22, 2016
radio in Spain, radio audience, EGM, Cadena Cope, Onda Cero, Los 40 Principales, radio in France, Europe 1, RMC, France Inter, Fun Radio, NRJ, measurement

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