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ftm Radio Page - week ending March 19, 2021

Multicultural radio station offers podcasts, seeks DAB channel
"For people of the world"

With toxic nationalism rising in many countries, it seems counterintuitive that broadcasters serving cultural diversity would find their place. But, they do. This is a good thing.

World Radio launched in the Czech Republic last December as an online broadcaster. "We don't want to go with the commercial style Adult Hits radio,” said program director Gerhard Hadi. “On the contrary, listeners will actually find music from all over the world in our broadcast. We play traditional Balkan music, German, Turkish, Polish and high-quality modern funk. I dare say that such a radio is missing in the Czech airwaves. Listeners tell us that our radio is something new and with its idea it fulfills an open multicultural approach.” (See more about media in the Czech Republic here)

World Radio currently reaches about ten thousand listeners each day. Branded as “For People Of The World,” it offers music, news and, to be absolutely up-to-date, podcasts. There are ambitions for a DAB+ channel. This week the station began informing its listeners about the recently announced Czech Census of Population, noted Czech media news portal radiotv.cz (March 17). Video elements for this initiative were produced in Pakistan. The Czech Republic is home to 14 nationalities, totalling about 400,000 persons.

Aggressive acquisition strategy not hostile, says takeover artist
others have "blank check"

The investment firm principally controlling UK-based radio broadcaster Global Media has asked the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to authorize raising its stake in US radio broadcaster iHeart Media. Global Media and Entertainment Investments (GMEI), managed by Michael Tabor, founder of Global Radio, acquired an 8.7% stake in iHeart two months ago now wants the FCC to green-light raising the stake to 9.99%. iHeartMedia was OK with GMEI raising its stake, reported UK media and advertising portal Campaign (March 18), but only up to 9.99% and not the 49.99% GMEI lawyers discussed with iHeartMedia in February. GMEI was known as Honeycomb Investments Limited at the time of the first transaction.

Both parties expressed “surprise.” iHeartMedia executives were caught off guard by GMEI acquiring that 8.7% stake in January. In a filing for the FCC, GMEI expressed frustration with iHeartMedia executives asking that brakes be put on its ambitions, which they said were “not hostile.” There is the appearance, at the least, that GMEI was seeking to circumvent iHeartMedia board rules governing stakes above 10% by taking its case directly to the FCC. (See more about mergers and acquisitions here)

Ashley Tabor-King, son of Michael Tabor, runs the Global broadcasting and, now, outdoor advertising company. The company operates several national radio channels in the UK. iHeartMedia is the successor to Clear Channel, which expanded through brisk acquisition, leading to gargantuan debt largely held by private equity firms. The name change took place in 2014. The company emerged from bankruptcy in 2019 and - released from debt - continued acquisitions, primarily in digital media.

Separately, last November US cable operator Liberty Media raised its stake in iHeartMedia to 9.9% shortly after the FCC issued a declaratory ruling that iHeartMedia could raise its foreign ownership from 25% to 100%. In January, Liberty Media formed a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), also known as the “blank check,” which it floated on the New York Stock Exchange, raising more than US$500 million. Where that might go only John Malone knows.

Radio brands live on in minds and dreams
"decent"

Rock Radio - or Radio Rock - has become a widely used radio brand name. Rock - the name - can convey a certain image, typically quite marketable. And there are many possible brand extensions; Hot Rock, Rock Max, RockZone, Rock Antenne not to forget the dreadful Lite Rock. This rise in the Rock Radio brand name is similar that of the Kiss radio brand nearly a generation ago. But some broadcasters are looking toward a “post-rock” era.

In the Czech Republic Rock Radio is a regional channel owned by Media Bohemia. For several years the basic pitch has been “trouble rock,” inviting that rowdy feeling of an Iron Maiden show. But rowdiness is a tough-sell during the coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, the pitch has changed to “rock is decent music,” noted Czech media portal radiotv.cz (March 9). Gone are the tattoos. Media Bohemia recently ditched its Radio Oldies brand in Prague for Rock Radio. (See more about media in the Czech Republic here)

Bauer Media may have the most Radio Rock brands; in Finland and Norway plus Rock FM and Planet Rock in the UK. Radio Rock has been a fixture on the FM band in Rome, Italy since 1985, arguably the oldest continuous use of the brand. Radio Rock of São Paulo, Brazil may have the biggest audience, about 2 million listeners last year.

Shrouded in mystery a billboard for iconic Los Angeles rock station KMET appeared last summer in the San Fernando Valley. The station’s story was the model for the movie “FM” and exited the airwaves in 1987. Truth be told, a movie producer needed the billboard, still in the ClearChannel warehouse, for a film. In a different vein, a Florida (US) rock radio station, 93X, changed its branding to Trump Country last year. Post-election the branding was changed again - for legal reasons, said a spokesperson - to Hell Yeah 93.7 FM and continues playing country music.

Radio Page week ending March 12, 2021
radio in Finland, Mediatakojat, Bauer Media Audio, radio in France, RMC, Altice, show hosts, DJs

Radio Page week ending March 5, 2021
radio in Germany, MABB, radio license, KCRW, radio in Ireland, digital radio, DAB, RTE, radio in Poland, Halo Radio, internet radio

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
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Radio Page week ending December 4, 2020
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Radio Page week ending November 27, 2020
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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
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Radio Page week ending October 23, 2020
radio in Poland, Polskie Radio, Radio Trojka

Radio Page week ending October 16, 2020
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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
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Radio Page week ending September 25, 2020
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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
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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
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Radio Page week ending July 24, 2020
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Radio Page week ending July 17, 2020
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Radio Page week ending July 10, 2020
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Radio Page week ending July 3, 2020
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The Six Radio Brands is about the uniquely European development of radio brands. Competition among broadcasters - and certainly between the public and commercial sectors - gives radio in Europe a rich dynamic. As consumers become more media-literate and demand more attachment broadcasters find target markets illusive.
Regulators, advertisers and broadcasters take turns trying to influence radio brands. Culture and technology makes an impact. More and more, the greatest influence comes from consumers.
The Six Radio Brands describes advantages and pit-falls of brand strategies, with illustrations from current radio practice.

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