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ftm Radio Page - week ending April 30, 2021

Big picture rules not big enough for radio broadcasting
"uniform application"

Polish media house Agora has not given up on completing its takeover of the Eurozet group of radio channels. After a Polish court dismissed an appeal of the Competition Authority (UOKiK) block on Agora acquiring the 60% of Eurozet it does not already own, the next appeal venue will the European Commission (EC) Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager. Agora president Bartosz Hojka requested a meeting, reported the Financial Times (April 27).

Mr. Hojka’s letter to Commissioner Vestager cited “unlawful” and “anti-free media” policies of the right-wing, nativist and xenophobic Law and Justice (PiS) party that controls state agencies. He is asking for Commissioner Vestager to “express reservations” about the UOKiK decision - and the independence of competition authorities generally - rather than overruling it. The letter questioned “the uniform application and lawful enforcement” with regard to competition rules. (See more about competition and antitrust law here)

In January UOKiK rejected Agora’s exercise in 2019 of a shareholder agreement allowing it to acquire the entire share holding of Eurozet. Its principle justification was the possibility of a “quasi-duopoly” being created to the detriment of radio broadcaster RMF Group, operator of RMF FM, which is owned by Bauer Media. In the October 2020-March 2021 national radio audience estimates from Kantar Polska (April 23), the top three, in order, are RMF FM, Radio Zet, operated by Eurozet, and TOK FM, operated by Agora. (See more about media in Poland here)

A EC official, cited by the Financial Times, indicated “the deal was not big enough to be scrutinised by Brussels.” After all, Commissioner Vestager is consumed with punishing Apple, Google and Facebook. On the other hand, EC vice president for values and transparency Vera Jourova recently noted a “need for better financing and a stable economic situation for the media” in Poland and Hungary.

For Every Sound There Will Be A Paywall
must eat now Scanning recent radio audience estimates the suffering is clear for music stations. Disruptions in the daily routines opened a bigger hole than first expected. Streaming services and podcasts ran right through it. They have the technology, the money and customers quite willing to sample the serendipity.

Measurement returns, results barely change
many clones

Measurement institutes and suppliers are bringing back radio audience estimates paused for several months due to data collection difficulties. Many have adjusted collection methods. Generally, those relying on electronic devices for measurement have taken no break. They have a bigger issue gathering data on audio streaming, podcasts and pop-up digital channels.

Belgian measurement coordinator CIM (Center for Information about the Media) released radio audience estimates recently (April 23) after a pause last summer. Data is for the period from September 2020 through February 2021. Like period year on year comparisons are, then, not possible.

In the Flemish region public channel VRT Radio 2 is still far ahead of the rest. For several years it has attracted at or about 30% share of radio listening with contemporary music mixed with news and information for regional cut-aways. For September through February its share was 29.88%.

Pop music channel QMusic placed second, again, with 11.98% share. Oldies channel Joe, recently renamed from Joe FM, bumped into 3rd place with 9.82%. Alternative music public channel Studio Brussel took 4th at 9.05%, a slight downward trend. Public news/talk channel Radio 1 placed 5th, with a clear upward trend. (See Belgium Flemish region radio audience share trend chart here)

Top radio channels in the French-speaking region have changed very little in recent months. Oldies channel Nostalgie, a clone of the French national channel, is on top with 14.09% share, trending lower. Public broadcaster RTBF channel Vivacité, practically a clone of VRT Radio 2, is a quite stable number two with 13.64% share. General interest channel Bel RTL, almost a clone of French national channel RTL, placed third with 12.65% share. Pop music Radio Contact, also owned by RTL Group, took fourth place with 11.92%, drifting lower. RTBF pop contemporary music channel Classic 21 is also a rather stable 5th place with 10.51% share. (See Belgium French region radio audience share trend chart here)

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