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ftm Radio Page - week ending March 5, 2021

Defying digital convention, long list applies for FM license
"a little bit surprised"

FM radio licenses seem so old school in the age of Alexa. Who would bother? Just power-up something online and create a clever mobile app. Of course, there’s that small fortune to clue-in potential listeners. But that’s for the accounting department to sort out, right?

There are 18 applicants for a Berlin, Germany FM license. “We were a little surprised by this interest,” said regulator Berlin-Brandenburg Media Authority (MABB) president Anja Zimmer, quoted by Berlin daily Tagesspiegel (March 4). “Despite digital and internet, FM is still of huge importance in Berlin.”

The concession came available in November when KCRW returned it to the regulator and left the airwaves. “We could not escape the long-term effects of the pandemic,” said its statement at the time. KCRW Berlin was licensed to a partnership of Los Angeles public radio station KCRW and US public radio network NPR. The Berlin station broadcast English-language programs from both partners as well as producing several of their own. It had been on-the-air in Berlin since 2017 when it replaced NPR Berlin, on-the-air since 2006 when it replaced the Voice of America (VOA) transmission. (See more about media in Germany here)

Two-thirds of the applicants are already broadcasting somewhere or somehow. Half currently use a DAB multiplex; one is online. A third can be heard in other German Federal States. According to MABB rules applicants submit a detailed plan, from tunes and target audience to language and speech proportion. “The diversity requirement plays an important role,” added Dr. Zimmer. “It’s a very, very broad field.” German radio news portal radiowoche.de (March 2) has the complete list of applicants.

In the latest count there are 29 privately-owned licensed FM stations in Berlin and Brandenburg. Public broadcaster RBB recently suggested in would reduce its FM compliment to six stations each State. It is unclear exactly when the MABB will make its decision. One thing is clear: the successful applicant will be paying €1 million a year for the keys to the 104.1 FM transmitter.

Digital reality: every platform is but fleeting
"cost avoidance"

Well, it was an interesting experiment. Too bad it just didn’t attract an audience. Ireland’s public broadcaster RTÉ announced this week a firm date to discontinue broadcasts on DAB (digital audio broadcasting) networks at the end of March. As no private, commercial broadcasters took up the DAB cause, this effectively ends the platform’s availability.

In its statement (March 2), RTÉ said just 0.5% of Irish listeners have been using the DAB platform, quoting JNLR listening audience studies from Ipsos/MRBI. This was cited as one of three reasons for the decision. RTÉ being the only Irish broadcaster using the platform also figured into the decision as well as “cost avoidance.” The closure of DAB platform channels was first announced by RTÉ in November 2019. (See more about digital radio here)

The five RTÉ DAB channels - RTÉ Gold, RTÉ 2XM, RTÉ Radio 1 Extra, RTÉ Pulse, and RTÉjr Radio - will continue on other digital platforms. RTÉ Gold has been a classic hits channel first appearing in 2008, RTÉ 2XM an alternative music channel spun-off from RTÉ 2fm, RTÉ Radio 1 Extra an extension of main general interest channel Radio1, RTÉ Pulse a dance music channel and RTÉjr Radio a children’s channel.

RTÉ principally owned and operated the country’s only DAB multiplex since introduction in 2006. Bauer Media, operator of a slew of multi-platform radio channels - including DAB+ - in the UK and Scandinavia, just announced it is acquiring the radio channels and stations of Irish private, commercial broadcaster Communicorp. In the UK, Bauer Media channels promote listening through smart speakers.

Free media hits its limit, leaves airwaves
"cannot afford it"

The bite on small media operators from - name your problem - is tearing at the fabric of the entire sphere. Support has come only for certain publishers and very few broadcasters. Without a robust field of experimenters and dreamers, particularly in radio broadcasting, interest just fades away.

Small Polish internet radio station Halo Radio is hanging on by a thread. It has been operating for about a year and a half as a “citizens” radio. The on-air output has been unstable for months; people come and go. An attempted format change in January had no impact. (See more about media support here)

On Monday (March 1) there was an announcement on-air and on social media that the midday program would end. "If you listen to us for free, you contribute to the inevitable end of broadcasting,” said program director Kuba Watly, noted WirtualneMedia.pl (March 2). “Between 10 and 1pm we will not broadcast the program because we cannot afford it.” (See more about media in Poland here)

Of course, the announcement - also posted on social media - was meant to get a reaction. “We are convinced that people listening to us appreciate the quality that Halo Radio and 97% of people who listen and do not financially support Halo Radio, would like to join 3 percent listening and financially supporting Halo Radio, so that we can continue our mission and be independent,” said station chief editor Mariusz Rokos.

The plan, said Mr. Watly, is for “premium” content, which would imply a paywall. A new cast of voices “from the world of culture, politics and< science (will) present… their point of view.” The midday program host, who exited, said the “station did not find any one to do it for free.”

Radio Page week ending February 26, 2021
radio in Ireland, mergers and acquisitions, Communicorp, Bauer Media, radio in Italy, Radio Radicale, media support

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

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