ftm Radio Page - week ending February 17, 2017

In the digital age, broadcast licenses are so last century
Do what you like

The impact on broadcasting from digital transition is a vexation for many media regulators. For local and regional radio broadcasting platforms - AM/MW, FM, DAB, et.al. - seem irrelevant when online and mobile platforms attract considerable listener attention. What, then, is a radio station if not defined by the constraints of platform? The old arguments based on spectrum limits are out the window.

The Swiss Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) is exploring this, opening a public consultation on amending the basic Radio and Television Ordinance (ORTV) and, very specifically, setting in motion notable licensing rule changes leading to the inevitable< end of FM transmission. (See DETEC statement here - in French)

Struck off in DETECs proposal will be service mandates for most local radio broadcasters. “Freed from the program constraints defined in these service mandates, local commercial stations will enjoy greater autonomy,” said the DETEC statement. “They will be able to compose their programs as they see fit and choose the optimal strategies to reach their target audiences.”

In addition, geographic limitations will be redrawn. DETEC foresees this coming into force in 2020 when all current local commercial radio concessions expire. After that, there will be an official digital transition period to be completed by 2024. Essentially, radio concessions (licenses) will simply determine ownership and tax rate.

Meanwhile, the Swiss Federal Council’s Transport and Telecommunications Commission (CTT) suggested (February 15) elimination of several radio channels offered by public broadcaster SSR-SRG - all, interestingly, digital-only channels - be eliminated as having “no actual public service value,” reported media portal kleinreport.ch (February 15).

Real People, When It’s Warm Or Cold, Share With Their Voices
With every word and thought in every language now streamlined - and streamed - for specific audience targets it is good to appreciate the resilience of electronic media. Broad reach may not satisfy media buyers but there’s a feel to it. Digital media may well be effective and efficient but it’s undeniably cold. Sands are shifting; they always do.

Radio Page week ending February 10, 2017
radio in the UK, radio audience, RAJAR, BBC Radio, public broadcasting, commercial radio, Radio 2, Radio 1, Radio 4, Heart, KISS, Capital, Magic, LBC, London radio market, radio advertising

Radio Page week ending February 3, 2017
radio in France, Paris radio, Médiamétrie, Radio France, France Inter, France Info, Europe 1, RMC, Skyrock, Generations, Tropiques FM

Radio Page week ending January 27, 2017
radio in Switzerland, Mediapulse, SFR, RTS, Rete, Energy Zurich, Rouge FM, Radio3i, radio in Denmark, radio audience, DR, Nova, Radio24syv

Radio Page week ending January 20, 2017
radio in France, Mediametrie, radio audience, RTL, Europe 1, RMC, NRJ, Fun Radio, radio in Romania, radio audience, SRR, Romania Actualitati, Radio ZU, Radio 21, Virgin Radio, Digi FM, Radio Guerrilla

Radio Page week ending January 13, 2017
radio in Norway, DAB, DAB+, FM shutoff, NRK, radio in Gambia, radio in Africa, Paradise FM, Teranga FM, Hilltop FM, Afri Radio, radio in Bulgaria, music rights, public broadcasting, BNR

Radio Page week ending December 23, 2016
radio in France, Fungate, Fun Radio, RTL France, NRJ Group

Radio Page week ending December 16, 2016
radio in Spain, EGM, AIMC, radio audience, Cadena SER, Onda Cero, Cadena Cope, Los 40 Principales, radio in Portugal, Record FM, Global Difusion, Kiss FM

Radio Page week ending December 9, 2016
radio in Switzerland, Ringier, DAB+, Spotify, SFR 3, radio in Norway, digital radio, DAB, digital transition

Radio Page week ending December 2, 2016
radio in Germany, ARD, mobile apps, VPRT

Recently added radio audience figures and resources

• UK - National Radio Audience (February 2017)
  market share, trend, sectors
• UK - London Radio Audience (February 2017)
  market share, trend
• UK - National Radio Audience (February 2017)
  BBC/commercial 'gap'
• France - Greater Paris Radio Audience (January 2017)
  national and local channels, market share, trend
• Switzerland - Radio listening by region (January 2017)
  public and private sectors, penetration, time spent listening
• Switzerland - French region Radio Audience (January 2017)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Swiss-German region Radio Audience (January 2017)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Italian region Radio Audience (January 2017)
  share, trend
• France - National Radio Audience (January 2017)
  national channels, sectors, market share, reach/TSL
• Romania - Radio Audience (January 2017)
  national and Bucharest surveys, market share, trend
• Spain - National Radio Audience (released December 2016)
  national channels, reach share, trend
• Czech Republic - Radio Audience (November 2016)
  Top stations, national survey, reach trend
• France - National Radio Summer Audience (September 2016)
  national channels, summer period 2011-2016 trend
• Germany - Radio Audience (July 2016)
  leading stations, audience trend, daily reach
• Italy - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (July 2016)
  public and private broadcasting companies, channels, audience reach/share, management
• Spain - National Radio Audience (April 2016)
  national channels, reach share, trend
• Sweden - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (February 2016)
  public and private radio channels, owners, management, national market share trend
• Poland - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (January 2016)
  public and private radio channels, owners, management, platforms, market share
• Estonia - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (December 2015)
  public and private broadcasting companies, channels, management, platforms, audience estimates
• Spain - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (December 2015)
  public and private broadcasting companies, channels, management, platforms, audience estimates
• Ireland - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (November 2015)
  national public and commercial radio channels, major local/regional stations, management, listening share
• Finland - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (September 2015)
  public and private radio channels, management, market share, platforms
• Ireland - National Radio Audience (August 2015)
  market share, 07h00-19h00, trend
• Ireland - Dublin Radio Audience (August 2015)
  market share, 07h00-19h00, trend
• Greece - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (June 2015))
  public and private broadcasting, owners, executives, market share

More Resources

Also see ftm Knowledge

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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)

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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)

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