ftm Radio Page - April 10, 2015

A city grows, radio changes, social media attached
finding you finding me

Tapping into social media is topic number one for radio broadcasters and, certainly, radio consultants. Swedish public radio Sveriges Radio (SR) is rebranding Stockholm local station Metropol as P5 STHLM to become “Europe’s most social radio station.” All media outlets want to find that Facebook and Twitter joy.

"We are changing and developing Metropol to portray multi-faceted Stockholm in an even better way,” said channel director Lotta Mossberg, quoted on the SR website (April 9). “It will be a fresh start for the channel and that is why we are also renaming it.” The name change will be effective May 4th.

“There is a large migration (to Stockholm) from other parts of Sweden and from other countries,” he explained. “According to projections we will have 2.5 million inhabitants in the region by 2022. As a local public service operator that demands we… find new ways of working to continue to be revenant to the audience.” (See more about media in Sweden here)

There will be changes to the music format, currently urban, hiphop and such. And live presentation will be extended to nights and weekends. Exactly how social media will be used isn’t exactly clear, perhaps a secret, although there are no secrets on social media. (See more about social media here)

Metropol has been on the air in Stockholm since 2007 when SR created a multi-cultural youth channel from an FM frequency used by local general interest channel P4 Stockholm. The stations will share staff, resources and facilities.

Broadcaster faces rocky road to new century
nothing stays the same

The industrial action by unions against public broadcaster Radio France has entered the historic phase with both sides holding firm during the longest strike ever for the broadcaster. Programming on national radio channels has been reduced to pertinent strike information held together by long musical interludes for nearly three weeks. French media watchers are wondering what might happen in first quarter Médiamétrie audience estimates.

At its heart the strike is about jobs and budget cuts. Director General Mathieu Gallet, given the daunting task of preserving the expected quality of France Inter, France Info, France Culture and the 44 station France Bleu network as well as saving money, proposed merging the two Radio France orchestras and introducing the voluntary departure of between 300 and 380 mostly “senior” employees. He also proposed adding 50 new posts of the digital variety. In its soul the strike is about taking the public broadcaster into the 21st Century. (See more on media in France here)

A Saturday meeting of unions and management showed nothing but deadlock, reported Les Echos (April 6), and calls for M. Gallet’s head. “Management remains inflexible, the trade unions reiterated their request for mediation,” said a joint union statement, reported by challenges.fr (April 6). At mid-week M.Gallet meets the Central Works Council to reveal a definitive strategic plan.

Radio Page week ending April 3, 2015
digital radio, DAB, DAB+, radio in the UK, radio in the Netherlands, radio in Austria

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radio in the Netherlands, BNR Nieuwsradio, STER, sales-houses, radio in France, Radio France, public broadcasting

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Recently added radio audience figures and resources

• France - National Radio Audience (April 2015)
  national channels, sectors, market share, reach/TSL
• FYR Macedonia - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (April 2015)
  public and private stations, management
• Malta - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (March 2015)
  public, private, educational and religious stations, ownership, management, platforms, audience reach
• Germany - Radio Audience (March 2015)
  leading stations, audience trend, daily reach
• Italy - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (February 2015)
  public and private broadcasting companies, channels, audience reach/share, management
• UK - National Radio Audience (February 2015)
  market share, trend, sectors
• UK - London Radio Audience (February 2015)
  market share, trend
• UK - National Radio Audience (February 2015)
  BBC/commercial 'gap'
• Switzerland - Radio listening by region (February 2015)
  public and private sectors, penetration, time spent listening
• Switzerland - French region Radio Audience (February 2015)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Swiss-German region Radio Audience (February 2015)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Italian region Radio Audience (February 2015)
  share, trend
• Bosnia/Herzegovina - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (January 2015)
  public and private broadcasters, management, descriptions, regulator, broadcaster association
• Albania - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (January 2015)
  public and private radio channels, national, regional, religious and community stations
• France - Greater Paris Radio Audience (January 2015)
  national and local channels, market share, trend
• Turkey - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (January 2015)
  ownership, management, program formats, platforms, audience estimates

More Resources

Also see ftm Knowledge

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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. 74 pages PDF (May 2012)

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