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Politician to Council: Let’s go to the (mobile) phones
"what the future looks like"

Platforms are a major interest of broadcasters, including radio. Once upon a time the vast majority of radio broadcasting was carried on AM/MW. FM became the radio platform of choice in the middle of the last century. It held on for decades. GenZers wouldn’t remember.

Since the great digital transition at the turn of the century the engineers and inventors in the technology realm longed for something new. Bandwidth was always the problem, neither the internet nor mobile technology sufficiently - and cheaply - delivered the product. Interim solutions were developed and marketed. One was Digital Audio Broadcasting, first known as DAB and now DAB+.

Broadcasters, regulators and politicians approached DAB+ in various ways. In Europe the attitude was - mostly - why not? The European Commission was lobbied to mandate DAB+ receivers in automobiles. Some national governments joined in the DAB+ marketing, sometimes succeeding to convince consumers. Yet, skeptics remained. (See more about digital radio here)

For DAB+ promoters the next step would be FM-shutoff. Some broadcasters were OK with this since FM transmitters burn through a lot of electricity compared to DAB+, transmission of which is similar to mobile phones. Finally, Norwegian authorities made the move, albeit in small steps. Some Norwegian listeners started listening to Swedish channels.

About the same time the Swiss government adopted a time-table for FM-shutoff. It was delayed at the last minute. After all this time the aforementioned bandwidth issues were resolved, certainly for mobile telephony. Consumers, broadcasters and automobile manufacturers took note.

This past week (December 7) Swiss politician Ruedi Noser, a Zurich representative at the Council of States, raised a motion to hold off on FM-shutoff altogether. He also raised questions about DAB+ noting that both platforms are losing listener share to mobile and internet technologies. “In this situation, a switch from a technology that is losing market share (FM) to a state-sponsored technology that is also losing market share (DAB) cannot be pushed. You should also use the time until it is switched off to consider what the future of radio looks like.” The Council of States approved the motion.

Unhappy with the numbers, government hacks seek control over audience survey
blame the measurement

When estimated audience grows broadcasters always praise their programming, astute observers have long known, and when audience falls reflexively blame the measurement. This is not a theory. It happens everywhere. Rarely are do these complaints result in action against measurement providers.

This is being tested in Poland where right-wing politicians are flummoxed by the poor performance of state radio channels. “There are grounds to suspect market collusion,” said right-wing xenophobic Law and Justice (PiS) party member of parliament and political appointee to the National Media Council Joanna Likchocka. She intends to ask the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) to “take over” the Radio Track measurement.

Poland’s state radio broadcaster Polskie Radio has been under strict control of PiS party appointees since the party took control of the government in 2015. Audience shares for Polskie Radio channels - measured by Radio Track - have fallen significantly particularly among urban-dwelling, educated high-earners, advertisers preferred target. Media watchers, including Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF), have consistently reported that Polish state radio and television channels are now merely “government propaganda mouthpieces.” (See more about media in Poland here)

In Poland Radio Track is a radio measurement product of respected international market researcher Kantar Poland, formerly Kantar Millward Brown. It has been in consistent service since 1990. Implementation is directed by the Radio Research Committee (Komitet Badań Radiowych - KBR), comprised of the four major private-sector broadcasters. Polskie Radio withdrew from the KBR and suspended financial support for the Radio Track measurement though its channels remain included and Polskie Radio is allowed “observer” status in KBR meetings, which Ms Likchcka described as “irrelevant business talks,” reported media portal Wirtualnemedia (December 6). (See more about media measurement here)


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