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ftm Radio Page - week ending October 22, 2021

Sharing more important than proximity for hyperlocal media
"governed by its inhabitants"

Media watchers have been attentive to local media, the sense being that proximity better serves the public. Community radio makes its mark by making that focus even more specific, from towns and villages to neighborhoods. These are often not-for-profit broadcasters, operated by volunteers. There have been several examples of these stations popping up during the coronavirus pandemic. (See more about Media and the Virus here)

Radio Alhara, operating in Palestine, is one of these tiny voices, reported Al Jazeera (October 20). It is an online radio station; actually a pirate station. The founders, five designers and architects, came together for an initial project to archive hour-long cultural broadcasts. The radio station is rather free-form and operates from the homes of the founders in Bethlehem, Ramallah and Amman. The name means neighborhood in Arabic: “It’s a space governed by its inhabitants and its users,” said one of the volunteer founders. The neighborhood, said another, is a collective of “cultural producers.” (See more about community radio here)

Inspiration came from Radio Quartiere Milano, an online radio channel set up to provide neighborhood contact during the first coronavirus quarantine in Italy. A measure of support came from Yamakan Radio, a Beirut-based broadcaster hosting online radio stations in Beirut and Tunis. It was up and running within a day with a flood of collaborators. “When the quarantine began, we were bombarded by emails from cultural institutions,” said one of the founders.

Public broadcaster moves forward with newspaper takeover
"Wait. Wait. Don't Tell Me"

Toward the end of September Chicago Public Media and the Chicago Sun-Times said talks of a operational and financial transaction had gelled into a letter of intent. Many people were surprised. Some were overjoyed, given the recent takeover and trashing of the Chicago Tribune by hedge fund Alden Global Capital. Chicago is the third largest US media market, reaching about 3.5 million homes.

Chicago Public Media (CPM) operates radio station WBEZ, with originated in 1947 as an educational service for Chicago public schools, which sold it to the current owners in 1990. Its transmitter and tower sit atop the John Hancock Center, Chicago’s second tallest building. WBEZ is a charter member of National Public Radio, now commonly known as NPR. The station is a prolific program producer for NPR, American Public Media, Public Radio International and BBC World Service. Best known titles are This American Life and Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me. (See more about public broadcasting here)

The Chicago Sun-Times is also a Chicago institution, founded in 1948 by the merger of the Chicago Sun and Chicago Daily Times, both owned by the Marshall Field family. The Sun-Times was briefly owned by News Corporation and it went through several more. Through it all Sun-times reporters, photographers, columnists and editors collected Pulitzer Prizes. Chicago investors Michael Sachs, W. Rockwell Wirtz and a consortium of labor unions, previous shareholders, are the current owners. Mr. Sachs is also a financial supporter of Chicago Public Media/WBEZ.

Understood due to the ongoing negotiations, little information has trickled out from executives from either CPM or the Sun-Times. CPM chief executive Matt Moog gave the expected tip to collaboration between newsrooms with the caveat that the Sun-Times staff would bring strength in local, breaking news. He also said CPM has been “breakeven or better for the past seven years, even through the pandemic,” quoted by The Verge (October 19). The same cannot be said of the Sun-Times.

Audio has become the secret sauce for the news business. CPM knows audio. Its true-crime podcast Motive is a hit. CPM also knows non-profit fundraising and memberships. Mr. Moog also tipped that the Sun-Times paywall just doesn’t fit their model.

Radio aggregator reports progress, more features
"not looking to be breathtaking"

Since the beginning of the digital age radio broadcasters have experimented with various means of displaying their services to listeners who have shuttled away from traditional receiving devices. The enduring method is Radioplayer, something between aggregator and catalogue of scores of available radio channels. It was spawned by UK public broadcaster BBC in 2011 to develop and manage online radio listening. Obviously, the market has expanded. Radioplayer is offered in 13 countries, with slight differences.

Radioplayer France arrived six months ago and the organizers have reported their progress. The mobile and online apps offer 230 French public, private and community radio stations, 700 online-only radio channels and, of course, 170,000 podcasts. In September they had a quarter of a million downloads. "We are not looking to be breathtaking,” said organization president Jean-Éric Valli in a statement (October 19). “We are looking for sobriety.” (See more about media in France here)

With that in mind, new technical features are rolling out like a rewind function, very useful. In 2022, a “French” algorithm will be available to transport listeners to recommended destinations. But the big challenge remains with automobiles. "We must become the default offer on vehicles,” added M Valli. Radioplayer France shareholders include public broadcaster Radio France, independent broadcasters association Les Indés Radio, NRJ Group, M6 Group, Altice Média and Lagardère News.


Radio Page week ending October 15, 2021
New York Times Company, podcasts, podcasting, radio in France, DAB+, AirZen, digital radio, European Commission, Digital Markets Act, European Broadcasting Union, EBU, Association of European Radios, AER, Alexa, Siri, smart speakers

Radio Page week ending October 8, 2021
radio in Australia, radio audience, audience measurement, coronavirus, news radio, talk radio, ABC, Sweden, podcasts, podcasting, Bauer Media, PodPlay, Schibsted, NENT

Radio Page week ending October 1, 2021
radio in Zimbabwe, radio in Africa, community radio, UNESCO, radio in Denmark, Radio Loud, DAB+, digital radio, mobile media, radio in Australia, Nova

Radio Page week ending September 24, 2021
radio in the UK, Classic FM, classical music, Nigel Kennedy, radio in France, Mediametrie, radio audience, France Inter, France Bleu, Nostalgie

Radio Page week ending September 17, 2021
radio in Ireland, Freedom FM, pirate radio, Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, radio in Afghanistan, Milma Radio, radio in France, Europe 1, CSA, elections and media

Radio Page week ending September 10, 2021
radio in Germany, German Radio Prize, Radio Wuppertal

Radio Page week ending August 6, 2021
radio the UK, Radio Caroline, Ofcom, radio license, sports radio, baseball, KDKA, MTV

Radio Page week ending July 30, 2021
radio in Austria, RadioTest, ORF, KroneHit, Radio 88.6, audience measurement, radio in France, Mediametrie, radio audience, greater Paris radio, FIP, coronavirus

Radio Page week ending July 23, 2021
radio in New Zealand, GfK, RNZ National, Newstalk ZB, The Breeze, radio in Germany, Vaunet, FM radio, coronavirus, radio audience

Radio Page week ending July 16, 2021
radio in France, Médiamétrie, radio audience, national reach, RTL, Radio France, France Inter, France Info, RMC, Europe 1, NRJ, Nostalgie, RFM, radio in Spain, EGM, AIMC, Cadena SER, Grupo Prisa, Cadena Cope, Onda Cero, RNE, esRadio, Los 40 Principales, Atresmedia, show hosts, coronavirus

Radio Page week ending July 9, 2021
radio in France, Europe 1, CNews, Vivendi, Lagardere Group, radio in Switzerland, mergers and acquisitions, BNJ Suisse, SSR-SRG, Radio Swiss Pop

Radio Page week ending July 2, 2021
radio in Hong Kong, RTHK, censorship, radio in Germany, Antenne Bayern, Antenne NRW, LfM, radio license

Radio Page week ending June 25, 2021
radio in Sweden, Mix Megapol, Bauer Media, Mad Men Media, Relax FM, radio awards, Prix Italia, radio documentary, radio drama, radio music

Radio Page week ending June 18, 2021
radio in France, Europe 1, SNJ, Vivendi, CNews

Radio Page week ending June 11, 2021
radio in Poland, radio jingles, jingle pirates, RMF FM, Bauer Media, radio in Switzerland, radio broadcasting, FM shutoff

Radio Page week ending June 4, 2021
sports radio, radio in the Czech Republic, Radiozurnal Sport, radio in Germany, Sportradio Deutschland, radio in France, Skyrock, Skyrock Klassiks, radio in Romania, ARA, Romania Actualitati, Kiss FM, Europa FN, Radio ZU, Radio Antena Satelor, radio audience, coronavirus

Radio Page week ending May 28, 2021
radio in Denmark, RadioDays, Audiodays, podcasts

Radio Page week ending May 21, 2021
radio in Greece, public trust, news radio, Skai, Real FM, ERT, radio in Hong Kong, RTHK, DJs

Radio Page week ending May 14, 2021
radio in the Czech Republic, Radioprojekt, Radiozurnal, Radio Impuls, radio in Norway, digital radiko, DAB, local radio, Hallo Ski

Radio Page week ending May 7, 2021
radio in Germany, MABB, disinformation, radio in Denmark, radio licenses, Radio Loud, digital radio

Radio Page week ending April 30, 2021
radio in Poland, Eurozet, Agora, competition law, European Commission, podcasts, podcasting, Spotify, Apple, paywalls, radio in Belgium, radio audience, CIM, measurement, VRT, Radio 2, QMusic, Studio Brussel, RTBF, Vivacite, Bel RTL, Radio Contact, Classic 21

Radio Page week ending April 23, 2021
radio in France, radio audience, Mediametrie, Greater Paris, IDF, France Inter, RTL, France Info, RMC, Europe 1, FIP, Chante France

Radio Page week ending April 16, 2021
radio in France, radio audience, Mediametrie, France Inter, RTL, France Info, NRJ, Lagardere Group, Europe 1

Radio Page week ending April 9, 2021
radio in France, Radioplayer France, radio in Sweden, podcasts, NRG Sweden, Bauer Media

Radio Page week ending April 2, 2021
5G Broadcast, radio broadcasting, digital radio, radio in the Czech Republic, public radio, Radio Senior, dikgital radio, radio in Kenya, radio in the US, racism, misogyny

Radio Page week ending March 26, 2021
radio in Sweden, Sveriges Radio, Trust Barometer, Kantar Sifo, radio in Slovenia, Radio Ognjisce, FM frequencies, ITU

Radio Page week ending March 19, 2021
radio in the US, radio in the UK, mergers and acquisitions, Global Media, iHeartMedia, radio brands, rock radio, radio rock, radio in the Czech Republic, KMET

Radio Page week ending March 12, 2021
radio in Finland, Mediatakojat, Bauer Media Audio, radio in France, RMC, Altice, show hosts, DJs

Radio Page week ending March 5, 2021
radio in Germany, MABB, radio license, KCRW, radio in Ireland, digital radio, DAB, RTE, radio in Poland, Halo Radio, internet radio

Radio Page week ending February 26, 2021
radio in Ireland, mergers and acquisitions, Communicorp, Bauer Media, radio in Italy, Radio Radicale, media support

Radio Page week ending February 19, 2021
radio in the Russian Federation, Russian Media Group, radio in Germany, Radio Berlin Brandenburg, RadioEins, Fritz, mobile apps

Radio Page week ending February 12, 2021
World Radio Day 2021, UNESCO, podcaasts, DAB, radio in Poland, Agora SA, Eurozet, RMF FM, radio in Austria, Radiotest, ORF, Kronehit, Radio Arabella, coronavirus

Radio Page week ending February 5, 2021
radio in Canada, The Raven, indigenous media, radio in Germany, rs2, coronavirus, MABB

Radio Page week ending January 29, 2021
radio in Hungary, Klubradio, Media Council, elections and media

Radio Page week ending January 22, 2021
radio in France, radio in Paris, France Inter, RTL, Radio Classique, Evasion, Chant France, international broadcasting, Voice of America, RFE/RL

Radio Page week ending January 15, 2021
radio in the US, talk radio, hate speech, radio in France, Radio France, public broadcasting, Round House, radio in Poland, mergers and acquisitions, Agora SA, Eurozet, TOK FM, Radio Zet, UOKiK

Radio Page week ending January 8, 2021
Media And The Virus, coronavirus, radio broadcasting, radio audience, local radio, digital radio, FM

Radio Page week ending December 11, 2020
radio in Hungary, radio license, Spirit FM, Klubradio, NMHH, radio in Afghanistan, Merman Radio, Reporters sans Frontieres, 2020 Press Freedom Awards, audio news, mobile media, advertising

Radio Page week ending December 4, 2020
radio in the Czech Republic, Radio Hana, fairytales, radio in Belgium, radio audience, coronavirus, digital radio, FM radio

Radio Page week ending November 27, 2020
radio in France, radio audience, radio in Paris, France Inter, RTL, France Info, Skyrock, France Culture, radio in Germany, media support, Neustart Kultur, radio in Hamburg, coronavirus, radio technology, radio and automobiles, Radioplayer

Radio Page week ending November 20, 2020
radio in France, Médiamétrie, radio audience, France Inter, RTL, NRJ, France Info, RMC, Radio France, radio advertising, environment

Radio Page week ending November 13, 2020
radio in Switzerland, DAB, digital radio, media support, digital transition, coronavirus, radio in Greece, radio license, pirate radio, sports radio, ESR

Radio Page week ending November 6, 2020
radio in Portugal, radio audience, Bareme Radio Marktest, coronavirus, RTP, Radio Comercial, RFM, radio in Hungary, Klubradio, radio license, online radio, NMHH

Radio Page week ending October 30, 2020
radio audience, streaming audio, Spotify, radio in Bulgaria, Bulgarian National Radio, Council of Electronic Media, public radio

Radio Page week ending October 23, 2020
radio in Poland, Polskie Radio, Radio Trojka

Radio Page week ending October 16, 2020
radio in France, Radio France, podcasts, Deezer, radio in Brazil, online radio, social media, Kantar

Radio Page week ending October 9, 2020
radio in Poland, online radio, start-up, business model, crowdfunding, Radio Nowy Swait, Radio 357, radio in Denmark, Radio Loud, Berlingske Media

Radio Page week ending October 2, 2020
radio in Denmark, DR, P6 Beat, P8 Jazz, Ministry of Culture, radio in Norway, Christmas Radio, Juleradioen

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