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ftm Radio Page - July 2, 2010

Belgium radio ratings back to normal
RTL stations score

After CIM radio audience figures for the second half 2009 were released in January, there was a certain amount of consternation, among Flemish broadcasters. First half 2010 figures, released July 1, seem to put the order of things back to normal…or predictable.

In the Flemish region, public broadcaster VRT’s Radio 2 continues to lead with 31.2% among persons 12 years and older, down slightly from 32.1% year on year. Q Music took 2nd place with 15.4%, down noticeably from 17.2%. Studio Brussel placed 3rd with 9.8%, up from 8.6%.

Nostalgie, the Flemish version of the French oldies channel, more than doubled its market share to 5.6% from 2.6%. (See Flemish region ratings chart here)

It’s the first time RTL Group channels in the Flemish region beat the combined market share of VRT channels, gloated the RTL Group press release.

RTL Group channels also did well in the French-speaking region. BEL RTL took 1st place with 18.8% market share, up from 17.9% year on year. Fun Radio increased to 4.0% from 2.8%. (See French region ratings chart here)

Radio Contact dropped to second place with 16.8%, down from 17.9%. Public broadcaster RTBF’s VivaCité placed 3rd with 13.8%, up from 12.7%. (JMH)

Christian broadcaster loses radio license
Not enough religion

Berlin-Brandenburg media regulator MABB decided not to renew the concession of Radio Paradiso. The station, reportedly the only commercial Christian radio broadcaster in Germany, has occupied a Berlin frequency since 1997. Reasons cited by the MABB include too little religious programming.

“The decision, we think, is neither just nor fair,” said station director Matthias Gülzow, quoted by Berliner Morganpost (June 23).

Radio broadcast licenses for Berlin-Brandenburg can be automatically renewed after seven if not glaring issues are outstanding. After that first renewal, at 14 years, a promise versus performance evaluation is part of the criteria for additional renewals. The MABB said Radio Paradiso has been offering too little Christian programming either with its music format (sort of ‘80’s soft pop) or speech-based programming.

The station claims its programming is based on a “wellness” concept.

Baring legal challenges, Radio Paradiso will be replaced by Oldiestar in November. (JMH)

Listeners pick the hits via smartphones
Thumbs up or thumbs down

Italy’s Gruppo Finelco introduced Listener Driven Radio (LDR) system to its Virgin Radio brand in hopes that radio “guided by listeners” will strike a chord with the social media fans. The automated system tags listener requests and messages from smartphones and social networking sites, which guide the music playback system. Messages can be sent to listeners letting them know when their music request will be played on-the-air.

Listeners can interact with the system to give a thumbs up or thumbs down to tunes the station is playing. Through the social network interface, favorites can be shared with friends. The company expects to rollout the system eventually for Radio 105 and Radio Monte Carlo.

Listener Driven Radio is a software product of McVay Media. (Full disclosure: Mike McVay has been a dear friend since radio was fun.) (JMH)

Digital Flip-Flops And Cut-Offs
Summer harmony

The German Federal agency responsible for allocating funds from the broadcast license fee (KEF) approved (June 25) public broadcasters financing request for a relaunch of digital radio.  The KEF had twice denied the request, most recently one year ago, citing little interest among consumers and less among private sector broadcasters. The approval comes with several conditions including successful negotiation to shut-down long, medium and shortwave AM transmitters.

The decision, unanimous according to the KEF statement, allows German public broadcasters to enter into negotiations with network provider Media Broadcast GmbH for digital radio multiplexes using the DAB+ standard. The funding appears predicated on those negotiations resulting in closure of AM transmissions, essentially shifting the same money to DAB+ multiplexes. Several German Länder have already shut-down AM broadcasting. The KEF decision primarily applies to national public radio broadcaster Deutschlandradio’s three channels. Media Broadcast GmbH, owned by  Télédiffusion de France (TDF) since 2008, provides the majority of broadcast transmission systems in Germany, including about 40 long, medium and shortwave AM transmitters.

"The state media authorities always wanted two things in a successful restart of digital radio in Germany; joint use by Deutschlandradio and private radio broadcasters of the national multiplex and a digital broadcasting future for the nation,” said Direktorenkonferenz der Landesmedienanstalten (Director’s Conference of State Media Authorities – DLM) radio director Gerd Bauer. “This day is a good day for the digitization of broadcasting in Germany.” The DLM represents the 14 State (Länder) media regulators. (See more on digital radio here)

The national DAB+ decision follows KEF’s recent rejection of an increase in the broadcast license fee. Germany’s private sector broadcasters will, apparently, participate in the national DAB+ multiplex system but details remain unclear about what exactly will appear. Private sector broadcasters represented by VPRT rejected digital radio relaunch plans last year, in part, over costs related to simulcasting their channels on FM and the digital radio platform. With that issue off the table, VPRT seems willing to keep discussions going, the negotiating point moving to advertising on public radio channels.

The KEZ set a September deadline for multiplex negotiations, saying the public and private sector plans must be “harmonized.” Last summer the KEF refused to continue funding public sector digital radio because agreements could not be reached with private sector broadcasters. (JMH)

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Recently added radio audience figures and references

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