ftm Radio Page - week ending June 10, 2022

Rising costs scare broadcasters into platform decisions
energy-eating machine

Soaring energy prices is something of a gift to sellers of digital radio technology. Looking at those electricity bills, broadcasters - like many householders - feel the need to turn down the juice. After dismantling AM/MW transmission systems years ago, radio broadcasters - attentive to their accountants - are eying FM systems in favor of less expensive DAB+ platforms. Never mind that DAB+ usage stalled after mobile apps took over. Those same accountants cheered for firing the DJs.

German public broadcaster Deutschlandradio director Stefan Raue, to news agency dpa (June 14), argued for ending FM distribution in favor of DAB+ sooner rather than later. “In the long run, we will not be able to afford two terrestrial distribution channels. The signs are more clear (today) than two or three years ago. FM is an energy-eating machine.” Deutschlandradio and German commercial competitors have operated both distribution systems for several years with little interest in FM shut-off. All have also adopted appropriate online and mobile apps. (See more about digital radio here)

“The topic has become even more pressing due to the current (energy) crises and the immense price increases," he continued. "More and more private providers also see it this way; in addition, the advertising market has not become easier for them. Politicians and radio providers must therefore consider together how support for the switch can be organized.” (See more about media in Germany here)

Nearly 90% of German households access radio channels and programs on FM, 27% using DAB+ receivers, just 17% choosing online platforms. It is a reality not lost on broadcasters as the DAB+ platform is viewed as yesterdays’ news compared to the mobile phone. Still, broadcasters continue to add DAB+ channels, particularly those in the private sector.

Confidence and trust favor top rated radio channel
larger-than-life brand

Media watchers long ago adapted metrics for success. Neither circulation counts nor audience estimates would make headlines. Online page views and visits have also been discounted, for obvious reasons. User confidence and trust have supplanted all of these. Part of the reason, as with all media measurement, is demands from advertising people resisting dodgy locations.

Fortunately, we have the Reuters Institute annual Digital News Report to reveal, of course, winners and losers in the battle for media trust. The new report was just released with many illuminations. One jumping off the many pages is radio channel RMF FM posting the greatest trust among all outlets in Poland.

Of Polish respondents to the Reuters Institute survey 51% assessed RMF FM as credible and trustworthy. Granted, it’s 17% lower than last year’s report but all Polish media retreated year on year. Second place went to another radio channel, Radio Zet; 47% tied with TVN News. According to the report, RMF FM is accessed at least once a week by 35% of Polish media users. (See more about media in Poland here)

Legacy is certainly a factor in the RMF FM positioning. It was the first commercial radio channel licensed in Poland, launched in January 1990 with an “eastern” FM frequency. Ostensibly a pop music station, it has continued to burnish a larger-than-life image. Its’ best known voices have been on-the-air for years. RMF FM has a serious news and public affairs department; correspondents from Brussels to Washington DC.

Owned since 2006 by Bauer Media Group, RMF FM and its three brand-extension sister stations - classical music RMF Classic, RMF Maxx and all news RMF24, recently added two Ukrainian-language stations. In the Radio Track Kantar Polska March-May national audience estimates RMF FM posted its historic 31.3% audience share, up from 30.3% year on year. Radio Zet, also mentioned in the Reuters Institute Digital News Report, placed second with 13.4% audience share, up from 12.3%.

Radio Page week ending June 10, 2022
radio in Australia, radio broadcasting, Smooth FM, Triple J, mood music, radio in the Russian Federation, Kommsersant FM, hacking, conflict zones

Radio Page week ending June 3, 2022
radio in Portugal, Media Capital Radios, Bauer Media Audio, Radio Comercial, M80, radio in the Netherlands, Qmusic, DPG Media, mergers and acquisitions, RTL Group

Radio Page week ending May 27, 2022
radio in the US, community radio, local radio, radio in Denmark, 24syv, Radio Loud, Radio24syv, Culture Ministry, digital radio, DAB, podcasts

Radio Page week ending May 20, 2022
radio in the UK, RAJAR, radio audience, BBC, Radio 2, 6Radio, Heart, LBC, KISS, digital radio, brand extensions, audio in the Netherlands, streaming media, streaming audio, podcasts, Beat Technologies, Fluister, DPG Media, Veronica, paywalls, e-books

Radio Page week ending May 13, 2022
streaming media, streaming audio, streaming radio, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Prisa Audio, radio in Spain, Grupo Godo, Prisa Radio, mergers and acquisitions, RAC 1, Cadena SER, Amber Capital, radio in France, mergers and acquisitions, Europe 1, Lagardère, Vivendi, radio in Hungary, Tilos Radio, community radio, NMHH, radio license

Radio Page week ending May 6, 2022
radio in Ireland, South East Radio, media support, sports radio, Hessischer Rundfunk, Europa League

Radio Page week ending April 29, 2022
radio in Germany, Brillux Radio, digital radio, radio in the UK, Fix Radio, branded radio

Radio Page week ending April 22, 2022
radio in France, Mediametrie, Radio France, France Inter, France Info, RTL, NRJ, Fun Radio, Europe 1, RMC, radio in Spain, radio audience, EGM, Cadena Ser, Cadena Cope, Onda Cero, RNE, morning shows, radio in Poland, digital radio, DAB+, KRRiT, RMG Group, Agora Group

Radio Page week ending April 15, 2022
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Radio Page week ending April 8, 2022
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Radio Page week ending April 1, 2022
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Radio Page week ending March 25, 2022
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Radio Page week ending March 18, 2022
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Radio Page week ending March 11, 2022
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Radio Page week ending March 4, 2022
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Radio Page week ending February 25, 2022
podcasts and podcasting, MA Podcast, media in Germany

Radio Page week ending February 18, 2022
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Radio Page week ending February 11, 2022
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Radio Page week ending February 4, 2022
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Radio Page week ending January 28, 2022
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Radio Page week ending January 21, 2022
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Radio Page week ending January 14, 2022
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Radio Page week ending January 7, 2022
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Radio Page week ending December 17, 2021
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Radio Page week ending December 10, 2021
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Radio Page week ending December 3, 2021
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Radio Page week ending November 26, 2021
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Radio Page week ending November 19, 2021
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Radio Page week ending November 12, 2021
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Radio Page week ending November 5, 2021
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Radio Page week ending October 29, 2021
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Radio Page week ending October 22, 2021
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Radio Page week ending October 15, 2021
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Radio Page week ending October 8, 2021
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Radio Page week ending October 1, 2021
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Radio Page week ending September 24, 2021
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Radio Page week ending September 17, 2021
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Radio Page week ending September 10, 2021
radio in Germany, German Radio Prize, Radio Wuppertal

Radio Page week ending August 6, 2021
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Radio Page week ending July 30, 2021
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Radio Page week ending July 23, 2021
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Radio Page week ending July 16, 2021
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Radio Page week ending July 9, 2021
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Radio Page week ending July 2, 2021
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Recently added radio audience figures and resources

• France - Greater Paris Radio Audience (April 2022)
  national and local channels, market share, trend
• France - National Radio Audience (January-March 2022, published April 2022)
  national channels, sectors, market share, reach/TSL
• 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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