followthemedia.com
a knowledge base for media professionals 		ftm Radio Page
ftm Home Page

ftm Radio Page - week ending December 7, 2018

Quick spin for radio assets, buyers quiet
"create market interest"

Radio broadcasting in Europe is again a target of opportunity for investors. Several owners have been waiting patiently after the last round of qualified buyers appeared a decade ago. There have been few sellers and fewer buyers. It’s a moment for venture capital.

Back in the spring Lagardère Active moved to divest its Central and Eastern European radio assets to Czech Media Invest, the first being the Eurozet radio assets in Poland. That in itself was something of a shock, particularly in Poland, and then Slovakia, Romania and the Czech Republic. Several of the radio channels have long been market leaders. National competition commissions approved the transactions.

Czech Media Invest is an media investment holding company, principally controlled by Daniel Kretinsky, owner of power plants in the Czech Republic. Its first acquisition was through Ringier Axel Springer exiting its Czech publishing assets in 2014. The acquisition of the Lagardère Active radio assets, for €73 million, was followed by taking a minority stakes in several French magazines, including daily newspaper Le Monde.

Now, reported by Polish media news portal wirtualnemedia.pl (December 3), Czech Media Invest has the Eurozet Polish assets on the block. The Eurozet assets include the euphonious Radio Zet, Antyradio, Chillizet and Meloradio.

The Polish media market being fought with government interference, available assets are rare, buyers more so. The leading contenders for the Eurozet radio channels are well-established in publishing or broadcasting. Some are well-connected to the governing right-wing nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party. (See more about media in Poland here)

PMPG Polskie Media is, by some, considered the most likely successful bidder. It publishes weekly news magazine Wprost and associated online portal. It is considered “friendly” toward the PiS or, at least, unfriendly toward its critics.

Agora Group is another potential bidder. It publishes daily newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza, considered critical of the PiS government, and owns radio channels Tok FM, Zlote Przeboje, Rock Radio and Radio Pogoda. It also owns a record label.

Publisher and broadcaster Fratria is also considered a potential bidder, said Rzeczpospolita (December 3). It publishes pro-government newspaper Sieci and news portal wPolityce.pl. It is principal owner of Grupa ZPR Media, which owns radio stations Eska Radio, Eska Rock and Vox FM. “We are not interested in Eurozet,” said Fratria majority shareholder and Law and Justice (PiS) party senator Grzegorz Bierecki. “I think this is an attempt to create market interest in this radio company.”

So far none of the suspected bidders, nor Czech Media Invest, have confirmed or denied much of anything. In Poland, that could indicate rather heated negotiations. A decision is expected before the end of the month.

Radio Page week ending November 30, 2018
radio in Spain, EGM, AIMC, Cadena SER, Grupo Prisa, Los 40 Principales, Onda Cero, M80, Cadena COPE, RNE, Atresmedia

Radio Page week ending November 23, 2018
radio in France, Paris radio, radio audience, Mediametrie, RTL, Europe 1, France Culture, Radio Latina, radio in Austria, music rights, digital radio, DAB+

Radio Page week ending November 16, 2018
radio in France, Médiamétrie, radio audience, DJs, Show hosts, RTL, RMC, Radio France, France Inter, France Info, Lagardere Active, Europe 1, NRJ Nostalgie, Skyrock, Radio Classique, radio in the Netherlands, KINK FM, Veronica, digital radio, DAB+

Radio Page week ending November 9, 2018
radio in Denmark, NRJ, NRJ Groupe

Radio Page week ending November 2, 2018
radio in Denmark, public broadcasting, DR, radio drama, radio in Poland, Polskie Radio, radio audience, radio management, Jedynka Radio, Trojka Radio, RMF FM

Radio Page week ending October 26, 2018
radio in the UK, radio audience, RAJAR, BBC Radio, public broadcasting, commercial radio, Radio 2, Radio 4, Magic, LBC, Heart, Classic FM, digital radio, digital transition

Radio Page week ending October 19, 2018
radio in Norway, digital transition, digital radio, Norwegian Media Authority, Metro Radio, radio in Belgium, CIM, radio audience, summer listening, Nostalgie, Bel RTL, Vivecité, RTBF, Radio 2, MNM, VRT, QMusic, Joe FM

Radio Page week ending October 12, 2018
radio in Greece, audience measurement, AEMAP, Focus Bari

Radio Page week ending October 5, 2018
radio in France, Radio France, public broadcasting, advertising

Radio Page week ending September 28, 2018
radio in Poland, radio license, KRRiT, Radio WNET, Eurozet Group

Radio Page week ending September 21, 2018
radio in Denmark, Danmarks Radio, DR, digital radio, P6 Beat, P7 Mix, P8 Jazz, podcasts, radio in Germany, digital radio, Vaunet, DAB, online audio, radio in Norway, FM

Radio Page week ending September 14, 2018
radio in Lithuania, music quotas, M-1

Recently added radio audience figures and resources

Also see ftm Knowledge

Europe's Radio - Southern Europe

Radio broadcasting in southern Europe ranges from highly developed to developing highly. Italian, Spanish and Portuguese radio is unique, creative and very popular. Radio in Croatia, Serbia and Greece has had ups and downs. The ftm Knowledge file includes Resources. 126 pages PDF (June 2015)

Order here

Europe's Radio - Western Europe

Opportunity meets tradition in Western Europe's radio broadcasting. Change has come fast and yet oh, so slowly. This ftm Knowledge file contains material and resources on public and private radio broadcasting in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Netherlands and Switzerland. 244 pages. Resources. PDF (September 2013)

Order here

Europe’s Radio – Eastern Europe

Eastern Europe’s radio writes new rules. In fact, most everything about radio in this region is new... and changes often. The ftm Knowledge file reports on Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia and Ukraine. 159 pages PDF (April 2013)

Order here

Europe’s Radio – Northern Europe

Northern Europe’s radio has a very digital sound. And change is in the air. Economic challenges abound for both public and commercial broadcasters. The ftm Knowledge file reports on Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and the UK. 144 pages PDF includes Resources (November 2012)

Order here

Digital Radio - Possibilities and Probabilities

Digital radio has many platforms. From broadcast platforms to internet radio and rapidly emerging smartphone platforms, listeners and broadcasters have choices galore and decisions to make. Some regulators have made up their minds, others not, some hedging their bets. This ftm Knowledge file details the possibilities for digital broadcasting and the probabilities for success. Includes Resources 149 pages PDF (August 2012)

Order here

Become an ftm Individual or Corporate Member and receive Knowledge files at no charge. JOIN HERE!

ftm Knowledge files are available to Members at no additional charge.

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.

100 pages. 2004

Available at no charge to ftm Members, €49 for others. Email for more information

copyright ©2004-2018 ftm partners, unless otherwise noted Contact Us • About Us