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

ftm Radio Page - week ending October 19, 2018

Broadcasters, regulators mix it up over digital reality
"all hell will break loose"

At a conference hosted by the Norwegian Media Authority, director general Mari Velsand complained that certain commercial radio broadcasters are flouting the law and continuing to broadcast on the FM platform. “This entails a systematic undermining of the government’s decision,” she said, quoted by Norwegian business daily Dagens Naeringsliv (October 15), referring to an official audit. “The Media Authority is serious about the situation.”

The shift to DAB platforms for national channels - and the consequent FM transmission shutdown - was completed about nine months ago. Public broadcaster NRK and national commercial broadcasters Modern Times Group (MTG) and Bauer Media made the switch. Local stations were given until 2021 to get with the DAB program. By August total daily radio listening in Norway, said Dagens Naeringsliv, has dropped 19% since the FM switch-over began. By contrast, FM listening in Oslo has increased. (See more about digital radio here)

Local Oslo station Radio Metro chief executive Svein Larsen said Ms Velsand’s presentation contained “so many factual errors and misunderstandings,” quoted by media news portal medier24.no (October 16). Radio Metro is part of a group of local and niche format stations, in theory, not falling under the mandatory switch-off rules. The Media Authority presentation suggested Radio Metro’s antenna had been raised from 12 meters to 40 meters and “directed toward Oslo.”

“I hope they go deeper in the matter than this," said Radio Metro sales/marketing director Hilde Apneseth, quoted by ABC Nyheter (October 17). “Apparently, we are the problem.” (See more about media in Norway here)

This brought a stern warning from Culture Minister Trine Skei Grande. “We will not sit and manage the concession rules at this meeting! We do not litigate here. The Norwegian Media Inspectorate has a regulatory authority. If I start mixing it up, all hell will break loose.”

Audience estimates show the perils of that summer pause
Listeners, still, unforgiving

The latest radio audience estimates for Belgium from CIM (Centre d'Information sur les Médias/Centrum voor Informatie over de Media), released last week, are an interesting study in contrasts between the country’s two major linguistic regions. New to these reports are, essentially, new reports. For the first time added to the May and June measurement are the July and August months, summertime, traditionally left out because it is holiday time. Therefore, there is no possibility of year to year comparison. Some broadcasters really like having the summer months includes; big promotional opportunities abound. Those who traditionally take a summer work-break grimace.

In the French-speaking region - Wallonia - the French-language oldies radio channel Nostalgie leads with 15.10% market share. This is relatively new. "We savor our first place even though we are well aware that the results of a day are not always the results forever.” said Nostalgie program manager Frédéric Herbays, quoted by news agency Belga (October 11).

Bel RTL, owned by RTL Group, is also up over the last three periods, second place, with 14.52% market share, up significantly since January-April. The Vivecité network of public broadcaster RTBF, is third, 13.56% market share, It is followed by Radio Contact (RTL Group) with 13.27%, then the RTBF classic rock channel Classic 21 with 10.00% market share. (See French-speaking Belgium CIM radio audience market share trend chart here)

Most other channels moved lower, compared with the previous period. Public broadcaster RTBF preferred not to dwell on trends as “the new methodology still needs to stabilize,” said general director Xavier Huberland. He suggested the audience main general interest channel of La Premiere and classical music channel Musiq’3 is “still not measured correctly.”

Audience results in the Flemish region were far more steady. They usually are. Public broadcaster VRT held number one, three, four, sixth and eighth positions; general interest Radio 2 with 30.76% market share, pop music channel MNM with 10.43% market share and alternative music Studio Brussel with 10.22% market share. “VRT is obviously very satisfied,” said the public broadcast’s radio manager Els Van de Sijpe in a quite limited statement. (See Flemish Belgium CIM radio audience market share trend chart here)

Pop music channel Q Music placed second with 12.46% market share and sister station oldies JoeFM placed fifth with 8.59%. Both are operated by media house Medialaan. “It's the first time we know how many people are listening to the radio in the summer,” offered radio director An Caers, quoted by media news portal tv-visie.be (October 11). “It is very nice to see that the Flemish are faithful to the medium.”

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