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ftm Radio Page - week ending June 4, 2021

All-sports radio floods the field for super fans
"no world politics"

Broadcasters have found new interest in sports radio channels. After a year of coronavirus lockdowns sports fans are clamouring for live broadcasts brought to life on radio as TV coverage looks a little bland. Sports talk shows fill a fans’ desire to hear news, views and even engage. Then, too, broadcasters have found easy, inexpensive distribution on DAB+ multiplexes.

Czech public broadcaster Ceské rozhlas (CR) recently unleashed Radiozurnál Sport, available online and via DAB+ networks. First up was live coverage of the FIH Hockey World Cup in Riga, Latvia, which runs through June 6. Professional and amateur sports are covered, including Paralympics. Like sports fans everywhere, the broadcaster is holding its breath for the opening of the Tokyo Summer Olympics. Radiozurnál Sport was originally scheduled to launch last summer, postponed for a year like everything else. (See more about media in the Czech Republic here)

Radiozurnál Sport is appropriating sports staff from main radio channel Radiozurnál and Czech public TV. Leading the channel is Miroslav Bures, currently Czech broadcasting sports director. Other staff have been added, largely in production capacities. “Within 12 months, we will broadcast from the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, the Hockey World Cup, the European Football Championship and many other sporting events for which Czech Radio has broadcasting rights,” Radiozurnál editorial director Ondrej Suchan to media news portal mediar.cz (April 28). Of course, sports rights are no small matter. (See more about sports and media here)

Also patiently waiting for football and the Tokyo Olympics is newly minted Sportradio Deutschland, launched May 29. It is also a digital channel, available on DAB+ and online. It is owned and operated by Leipzig-based Teutocast and managed by German private radio pioneer Erwin Linnenbach. The company recently launched Femotion Radio, to considerable notice, targeting women with an all-female on-air crew. (See more about media in Germany here)

“It’s like a permanent podcast of the most beautiful hobby in the world,” said program director Alexander Fabian to Radioszene (May 29). “Nobody will end up with us by accident. Whoever engages us wants to find out everything that is important about sport.”

Sportradio Deutschland features 15 minute top of the hour sports news with “no music, no maps, no world politics,” explained Herr Fabian. In typical radio fashion, it began its first broadcast day with non-stop stadium crowd sounds before the live program arrived. Yep, theater of the mind.

Broadcaster pays off bank, expands digital
"solid and prosperous"

Big French bank Crédit Agricole exited its 30% stake in broadcaster Skyrock last week, noted Le Figaro (May 27). Skyrock founder and general director Pierre Bellanger acquired the stake and, thus, majority control. No amounts were disclosed nor much of anything else. “There is no additional information at this stage,” said a spokesperson to AFP (May 27).

"Pierre Bellanger now has full control of Skyrock on the occasion of the sale of the shares of the Skyrock group held by Crédit Agricole since 2011,” said the official statement. "Today, the Skyrock group is solid and prosperous, which allows Crédit Agricole to withdraw.” M Bellanger and Crédit Agricole bought a 53% stake in Skyrock in 2011 from Axa Private Equity, the investment arm of the insurance company, raising the shareholding to 83%. Of course, French media regulator CSA must give its approval. (See more about media in France here)

Skyrock, the radio channel, was founded by M Bellanger in 1986, operating as a local station in several cities, intended as an alternative to hit music channel NRJ. Gradually, with several investor cash injections, it expanded to national FM distribution and the station’s programming gravitated to “urban music;” rap and hip hop. Since 1997 the morning show host has been Difool, pseudonym of David Massard, also the evening show host and station manager.

Skyrock Groupe has also jumped into the digital realm with online brand extensions appearing in 2016, mobile apps to follow. Strategic investment has centered on “mobiradios” fitted for the most popular mobile operating systems. In July the “classic rap” channel Skyrock Klassiks will appear on urban DAB+ multiplexes.

Listeners Left The Cities And Changed Channels
out and about As springtime arrives in the northern hemisphere and coronavirus restrictions begin to abate radio broadcasters are set to embrace exhausted listeners. Through the last 12 to 15 months, consuming media of all sorts has been a challenge. Quite naturally, people adapt their choices to disrupted routines. Where the work had been rather stable for decades, media operators had few cues for the publics' wants and needs. What a surprise!


Radio Page week ending May 28, 2021
radio in Denmark, RadioDays, Audiodays, podcasts

Radio Page week ending May 21, 2021
radio in Greece, public trust, news radio, Skai, Real FM, ERT, radio in Hong Kong, RTHK, DJs

Radio Page week ending May 14, 2021
radio in the Czech Republic, Radioprojekt, Radiozurnal, Radio Impuls, radio in Norway, digital radiko, DAB, local radio, Hallo Ski

Radio Page week ending May 7, 2021
radio in Germany, MABB, disinformation, radio in Denmark, radio licenses, Radio Loud, digital radio

Radio Page week ending April 30, 2021
radio in Poland, Eurozet, Agora, competition law, European Commission, podcasts, podcasting, Spotify, Apple, paywalls, radio in Belgium, radio audience, CIM, measurement, VRT, Radio 2, QMusic, Studio Brussel, RTBF, Vivacite, Bel RTL, Radio Contact, Classic 21

Radio Page week ending April 23, 2021
radio in France, radio audience, Mediametrie, Greater Paris, IDF, France Inter, RTL, France Info, RMC, Europe 1, FIP, Chante France

Radio Page week ending April 16, 2021
radio in France, radio audience, Mediametrie, France Inter, RTL, France Info, NRJ, Lagardere Group, Europe 1

Radio Page week ending April 9, 2021
radio in France, Radioplayer France, radio in Sweden, podcasts, NRG Sweden, Bauer Media

Radio Page week ending April 2, 2021
5G Broadcast, radio broadcasting, digital radio, radio in the Czech Republic, public radio, Radio Senior, dikgital radio, radio in Kenya, radio in the US, racism, misogyny

Radio Page week ending March 26, 2021
radio in Sweden, Sveriges Radio, Trust Barometer, Kantar Sifo, radio in Slovenia, Radio Ognjisce, FM frequencies, ITU

Radio Page week ending March 19, 2021
radio in the US, radio in the UK, mergers and acquisitions, Global Media, iHeartMedia, radio brands, rock radio, radio rock, radio in the Czech Republic, KMET

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
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

Recently added radio audience figures and resources


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