ftm Radio Page - February 8, 2013

Digital price setting
And the number is…

The lords of high finance have gleefully noted the jump in M&A (merger and acquisition) activity in the media sector this year, thanks to Liberty Global buying Virgin Media and, presumably, a buyer coming forward for ProSiebenSat1.Media. Already M&A activity is about half today what it was for all of 2012. It’s been a buyers market for more than five years and now, maybe, buyers are coming forward.

While the big newsworthy deals so far have been in cable TV and mobile, the radio sector in Europe is holding its breath for a new influx of money, particularly for digital radio. Bauer Media in the UK stepped forward with its acquisition of mostly digital channel Planet Rock for about GBP 1.3 million (roughly €1.5 million), say the rumors. Planet Rock, a classic rock channel, has performed well in recent years but its music fan owner just couldn’t keep up with the costs. (See recent RAJAR audience survey chart here)

The BBC’s 6Music digital-only channel has – nearly – broken through the 2-million listener threshold, one indicator that attractive radio brands can succeed on digital platforms. The cost of it all is another story. The price of Planet Rock’s DAB coverage is, reportedly, about GBP 1 million a year. The multi-platform Absolute Radio is also a break-through digital radio brand and also, reportedly, on the block.

Bauer Media Group is a significant radio operator in the UK, Germany and Poland. With its assertive stance toward digital acquisitions – not limited to radio, it’s huge in publishing – every potential seller has their phone number. (JMH)

Car radios the next digital dinosaur
No nostalgia allowed

The car radio in the dashboard could soon disappear as automobile manufacturers look to simplify the information and entertainment packages on offer. The solution, reported Norwegian travel portal boarder.no, via radionytt.no (February 1), is the smartphone. That digital dividend keeps on giving.

“Instead of lots of expensive content players, the new car stereos use the existing functionality of the mobile phone,” offered Norwegian Kenwood importer Sørensen og Balchen marketing director Martin Helle. “The new car stereos will be smartphone docks and they will cost considerably less than (factory installed) solutions.”

Car makers are ready to give up offering the multitude of audio and screen things because, well, the smartphone has them all. In-board entertainment systems “will be discarded after five years now that technological development is so fast,” said mobile portal Amobile.no technical editor Kurt Lekanger. Smartphones already have embedded radio chips, mostly, so all that’s needed is a docking station. (JMH)

Radio Page week ending February 1, 2013
radio in the UK, RAJAR, Radio 2, local radio, digital radio, 6Music, Absolute Radio, radio In Ireland

Radio Page week ending January 25, 2013
radio in Switzerland, PublicaData, SSR-SRG, public radio, private local radio, radio in Paris, Médiamétrie, NRJ, Skyrock, Gènèrations, Radio Latina

Radio Page week ending January 18, 2013
radio in France, Médiamétrie, NRJ, RMC, France Bleu, Virgin Radio, radio in the UK, OFCOM, medium wave, community radio

Radio Page week ending January 11, 2013
radio in Russia, Radio Liberty, RFE/RL, radio in Norway, NRK, music rights

Radio Page week ending December 28, 2012
radio in Canada, CBC Radio, advertising

Radio Page week ending December 21, 2012
radio in Australia, 2Day FM, Southern Cross Austereo, DJs stunt, radio in Switzerland, BAKOM, Energy Basel, local content, SSR-SRG, WRS, Anglo Media, radio in Norway, digital radio, Media Authority, A-pressen

Radio Page week ending December 14, 2012
radio in Germany, FG DJ Radio, DAB+

Recently added radio audience figures and resources

• UK - National Radio Audience (30/01/2013)
  market share, trend, sectors
• UK - London Radio Audience (30/01/2013)
  market share, trend
• UK - National Radio Audience (30/01/2013)
  BBC/commercial 'gap'
• France - Greater Paris Radio Audience (21/01/2013)
  national and local channels, market share, trend
• Switzerland - Radio listening by region (20/01/2013)
  public and private sectors, penetration, time spent listening
• Switzerland - French region Radio Audience (20/01/2013)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Swiss-German region Radio Audience (20/01/2013)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Italian region Radio Audience (20/01/2013)
  share, trend
• France - National Radio Audience (15/01/2013)
  national channels, sectors, market share, reach/TSL
• Bulgaria - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (27/12/2012)
  public and private radio channels, management, platforms, market share
• Finland - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (26/11/2012)
  public and private radio channels, management, market share
• Norway - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (08/11/2012)
  public and private radio channels, management, platforms, market share

More Resources

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