ftm Radio Page - week ending April 1, 2022

Less talk, more fun from state radio
"new reality"

A very large expense line for radio broadcasters is staffing. On the top of that line - after executives, of course - are the folks who speak for a living. Salaries for show hosts, DJs, news readers, reporters and actors really eat into a budget. Add to that, there’s support staff. The obvious decision, oft taken, is to fire the DJs.

Polish state radio Polskie Radio is heading toward a less-talk future. “There is no point in racing with commercial stations,” said Polskie Radio programming council Jan Ordynski to media news portal Wirtualnemedia (March 29). The broadcaster’s management board earlier this month (March 16) presented the programming council with a revised 2022 operating plan and budget. Speech-based programming will shrink, not a lot but noticeable. The changes are aimed at "finding strength in the new reality and going through the economic and social crisis.”

After years being a treasured public broadcaster Polskie Radio reverted to state media status in 2016 shortly after the right-wing, populist Law and Justice (PiS) party took control of the government. Major executive and managerial positions - trickling down to staff level - were assigned by party functionaries. Others fled as distinctly political overtones were imbedded. Over time, audience estimates showed listeners also fled. Party leaders were non plussed with their strict messaging in placed. (See more about media in Poland here)

While general decreases in speech content will be slight, cultural and educational programming will be affected most. On main national general interest channel Jedynka speech content will drop from 61% of the broadcast day to 49%. News content will remain about the same, as will sports, but entertainment content will rise to 31%. Speech content on youth channel Trojka will drop from 44% to 33%, news programming cut to 14% from 21%. Entertainment programming will fill in the gaps, rising to 28% from 12%.

Ranting politician puzzled by different media practices
"You're here now”

Relative awareness of public broadcasting’s independent value cannot, of course, be taken for granted. Some in the general public, led by politicians of a certain stripe, have no clue about the basic principles; balanced news coverage, facts.

A recent incident in Romania with a radio appearance by a right-wing Hungarian politician would be head-spinning if it wasn’t so pathetic. Barna Pal Zsigmond is a member of the Hungarian National Assembly representing a Budapest district through the right-wing xenophobic Fidesz political party. He was recently invited (March 23) to appear on Romanian regional public radio station Radio Targu Mures for an interview. The modest city of Targu Mures is at the center of Transylvania and has a significant ethnic Hungarian minority population. Mr. Pal Zsigmond was born in Targu Mures. Hungarian parliamentary elections will be held this Sunday, April 3. (See more about elections and media here)

Mr. Pal Zsigmond took advantage of his interview time by delivering a wide-ranging rant. “I have a suggestion,” he began. “I always have very concrete ideas. You do not have on your radio that regularly, continuously features (Hungarian prime minister) Viktor Orban and Fidesz. What would be a program that could tell the position of Fidesz and the right (wing) on a regular basis?" reported Telex HU (March 24).

“You’re here now,” replied Radio Targu Mures editor István Farkas, conducting the interview. “You can tell us.” And he did, rounding on Romanian public radio, generally, for not paying attention to the Fidesz party. Afterward, Mr. Farkas said he was “saddened” by the episode. (See more about media in Romania here)

“Radio Targu Mures operates according to the principles and laws of public radio, freedom of the press, complete and fair information, and a democratic system that is no longer known in Hungary,” observed Romanian/Hungarian media critic and journalist Boróka Parászka. “We don’t ‘anger Viktor Orbán’ and the Hungarian government on our channel. But as the fourth branch of power, we are critical. We ask questions, we check the facts, we inform.”

Radio DJ fired up about invasion gets deleted
"caused outrage"

Many ears and eyes in Central Asia are fixed on news from Ukraine and the Russian Federation. And there are differing opinions, often finding their way to the airwaves and, of course, social media. While authorities refine policies, public opinion jumps out.

A radio DJ in Kazakhstan was reportedly fired (March 27) for a social media post in an exchange of views on the Russian Federation invasion of Ukraine. Frustrated by perceived criticism of the Russian military action, Europa Plus Kazakhstan DJ Lyubov Panova posted "we will call in Uncle Vova if you talk too much,” using an affectionate term for Vladimir V. Putin, reported Eurasianet (March 28). Her comment was quickly deleted but, as usual, not before social media lit up. Kazakh state news agency KazTAG (March 28) referred to posts as “aggressive and caused outrage among Kazakhstanis.”

A statement purportedly from station management referred to editorial policies being founded on “such immutable values as the democracy, unity, independence and integrity of Kazakhstan.” That was followed up with a direct reference to the DJ. “Europa Plus Kazakhstan hereby states that the positions expressed by our employee Lyubov Panova on her personal social media accounts are in no way associated with policies of our radio station.” (See more about media in Central Asia here)

Local authorities were looking into the incident as possible incitement of ethnic hatred, said a social media statement attributed to Almaty police department investigations deputy Rustam Abdrakhmanov. It, too, was deleted. With obvious coincidence Ms Panova was then deleted by the broadcaster. Deputy prosecutor general Bulat Dembayev warned social media users not to “publish separatist slogans that refer to the territorial integrity of our country.”

Europa Plus Kazakhstan is part of the larger multinational network first formed in the later days of the Soviet Union. The Kazakh affiliate is a pop music station. The network owner is European Media Group (EMG), based in Moscow, Russian Federation, believed to be owned principally by Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company. Affiliate broadcasters may be locally owned and operated. French broadcaster Lagardère Active Radio International, now defunct, owned EMG until 2004.

Radio Page week ending March 25, 2022
radio in Sweden, radio licenses, radio advertising, digital radio, Bauer Media, NENT Group, radio in Belgium, RTBF, radio in the Czech Republic, Media Bohemia, radio in Germany, WDR, children's radio, Ukrainian language, radio in Tunisia, Mosaique FM, investigative reporting, press freedom

Radio Page week ending March 18, 2022
international broadcasting, BBC, radio in Norway, NRK Nyheter, news radio, Nielsen PPM

Radio Page week ending March 11, 2022
radio in Austria, news talk radio, KommAustria, Radio Standard, LoungeFM, radio in the Netherlands, Radio 555, NOS

Radio Page week ending March 4, 2022
radio in the Russian Federation, Ekho Moskvy, Gazprom Media, radio in Ukraine, Russian Radio Ukraine, Kiss FM Ukraine, Kiss FM Berlin

Radio Page week ending February 25, 2022
podcasts and podcasting, MA Podcast, media in Germany

Radio Page week ending February 18, 2022
radio in Ireland, audience measurement, JNLR, RTE, FM104, Today FM, radio in the US, sports radio, Super Bowl, radio audience, WEBN, KSPN, World Radio Day 2022, UNESCO, World Radio Alliance, radio advertising

Radio Page week ending February 11, 2022
media in Brazil, podcasts, podcasting, Flow Studios, Spotify, radio in Africa, radio in Guinea-Bissau, Radio Capital FM, radio in Portugal, Media Capital Radios, Radio Comercial, Radio Cidade, Radio M80, Bauer Media Audio, mergars and acquisitions

Radio Page week ending February 4, 2022
radio in the UK, RAJAR, radio audience, BBC, radio in the Russian Federation, Ekho Moskvy, radio in France, Médiamétrie, radio audience, Greater Paris, local radio, Oui FM, Voltage

Radio Page week ending January 28, 2022
radio in Italy, social media, Social Radio Lab, Radio Deejay, radio in Poland, audience measurement, Kantar Radio Track, Polskie Radio, music quotas

Radio Page week ending January 21, 2022
radio in Germany, Vaunet, ARD, streaming media, podcasts, Deezer, radio in France, Médiamétrie, radio audience, national reach, Radio France, France Inter, France Info, France Bleu, RMC, Europe 1, NRJ, Nostalgie, FIP, coronavirus

Radio Page week ending January 14, 2022
radio in Hungary, Sportradio, A Rock, consolidation, radio in France, elections and media, FranceInfo, news radio, journalism, radio in Sweden, NENT Group, Lugan Favoriter, Bauer Media, podcasts

Radio Page week ending January 7, 2022
radio in the UK, radio advertising, ad spending, radio in Africa, radio in Democratic Republic of Congo, Radio de la femme, Women's Radio

Radio Page week ending December 17, 2021
radio in Germany, shortwave radio, NDR, Gruss an Bord

Radio Page week ending December 10, 2021
radio in Switzerland, digital radio, FM shutoff, mobile media, radio in Poland, audience measurement, Radio Track, Polskie Radio

Radio Page week ending December 3, 2021
radio in Germany, online audio, MA Audio, streaming audio, radio in Hungary, radio license, Klubradio, European Commission, Media Council

Radio Page week ending November 26, 2021
radio in Kazakhstan, media in Central Asia, Qazag Radiosy, media in the US, Edison Research, NPR, Spoken Word Audio Report, spoken word, podcasts, mobile media, radio audience

Radio Page week ending November 19, 2021
radio in France, Médiamétrie, radio audience, coronavirus, Radio France, France Inter, France Info, France Bleu, RTL, Europe 1, radio in Spain, Cadena SER, investigative reporters, Prisa Group, Vivendi

Radio Page week ending November 12, 2021
radio in Germany, comedy, Radio Badesalz, radio in the UK, BBC Radio 2, holiday charity, Kitchen Disco, podcasts, podcasting, market segments, lifestyle, PWC, Kantar

Radio Page week ending November 5, 2021
Radio in Sweden, Radio Disney, Bauer Media, Walt Disney Company, radio in Germany, radio in Poland, MDR, Radio Wroclaw

Radio Page week ending October 29, 2021
radio audience, RAJAR, measurement, BBC, radio in Norway, radio in the UK, digital radio, FM shut-off, radio in Denmark, Radio Loud, Culture Ministry, Radio24syv

Radio Page week ending October 22, 2021
radio in Palestine, online radio, community radio, Radio Alhara, radio in the US, Chicago Public Media, WBEZ, podcasts, Chicago Sun-Times, mergers and acquisitions, paywalls, radio in France, Radioplayer France

Radio Page week ending October 15, 2021
New York Times Company, podcasts, podcasting, radio in France, DAB+, AirZen, digital radio, European Commission, Digital Markets Act, European Broadcasting Union, EBU, Association of European Radios, AER, Alexa, Siri, smart speakers

Radio Page week ending October 8, 2021
radio in Australia, radio audience, audience measurement, coronavirus, news radio, talk radio, ABC, Sweden, podcasts, podcasting, Bauer Media, PodPlay, Schibsted, NENT

Radio Page week ending October 1, 2021
radio in Zimbabwe, radio in Africa, community radio, UNESCO, radio in Denmark, Radio Loud, DAB+, digital radio, mobile media, radio in Australia, Nova

Radio Page week ending September 24, 2021
radio in the UK, Classic FM, classical music, Nigel Kennedy, radio in France, Mediametrie, radio audience, France Inter, France Bleu, Nostalgie

Radio Page week ending September 17, 2021
radio in Ireland, Freedom FM, pirate radio, Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, radio in Afghanistan, Milma Radio, radio in France, Europe 1, CSA, elections and media

Radio Page week ending September 10, 2021
radio in Germany, German Radio Prize, Radio Wuppertal

Radio Page week ending August 6, 2021
radio the UK, Radio Caroline, Ofcom, radio license, sports radio, baseball, KDKA, MTV

Radio Page week ending July 30, 2021
radio in Austria, RadioTest, ORF, KroneHit, Radio 88.6, audience measurement, radio in France, Mediametrie, radio audience, greater Paris radio, FIP, coronavirus

Radio Page week ending July 23, 2021
radio in New Zealand, GfK, RNZ National, Newstalk ZB, The Breeze, radio in Germany, Vaunet, FM radio, coronavirus, radio audience

Radio Page week ending July 16, 2021
radio in France, Médiamétrie, radio audience, national reach, RTL, Radio France, France Inter, France Info, RMC, Europe 1, NRJ, Nostalgie, RFM, radio in Spain, EGM, AIMC, Cadena SER, Grupo Prisa, Cadena Cope, Onda Cero, RNE, esRadio, Los 40 Principales, Atresmedia, show hosts, coronavirus

Radio Page week ending July 9, 2021
radio in France, Europe 1, CNews, Vivendi, Lagardere Group, radio in Switzerland, mergers and acquisitions, BNJ Suisse, SSR-SRG, Radio Swiss Pop

Radio Page week ending July 2, 2021
radio in Hong Kong, RTHK, censorship, radio in Germany, Antenne Bayern, Antenne NRW, LfM, radio license

Recently added radio audience figures and resources

• France - Greater Paris Radio Audience (January 2022)
  national and local channels, market share, trend
• France - National Radio Audience (November-December 2021, published January 2022)
  national channels, sectors, market share, reach/TSL
• France - National Radio Summer Audience (September 2021)
  national channels, summer period 2016-2021 trend
• Spain - National Radio Audience (July 2021)
  national and regional channels, reach share, trend
• Romania - Radio Audience (May 2021)
  national and Bucharest surveys, market share, trend
• Belgium - Flemish region, Radio Audience (April 2021)
  market share, Jan-Apr 2019 to Sep 2020-Feb 2021 trend
• Belgium - French region, Radio Audience (April 2021)
  market share, Jan-Apr 2019 to Sep 2020-Feb 2021 trend
• France - Greater Paris Radio Audience (April 2021)
  national and local channels, market share, trend
• Austria - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (February 2021)
  public and private broadcasters, owners, management, audience trend

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