ftm Radio Page - April 9, 2010

Another Moscow station changing
Billionaires at work in secret

98 FM, owned by United Media Holdings, will relaunch sometime soon under a new name yet to be revealed, reports Infox.ru (April 8). The Moscow station will target women. Sketchy details, yes? United Media general director Michael Berger said only that more information would be forthcoming.

Shuffling within Russia’s radio sector is continuing. Alexander Lebedev’s Pioneer Radio will be overhauled. And the News Corp owned stations have just been sold.

Number one Russian billionaire Vladmir Lisin principally owns United Media. (See more on Russian billionaires in media here) (JMH)

French broadcasters ask Culture Minister to sort out digital mess
“unjustified” delay

Two French broadcaster associations slammed Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand for the “unjustified” delay in implementing a digital radio strategy. Last week Mitterrand referred to digital radio as “not a priority” for the government.

DR France, an association of digital radio supporters, and Syndicat National des Radios Libres, the community non-profit radio association, released (April 6) an open letter to Minister Mitterrand (Read here – in French) asking for support, clarity and the addition of DAB+ as an authorized standard for digital radio.

The French government chose the T-DMB standard over others. Big national network operators – not represented by the groups appealing to Minister Mitterrand – pushed T-DMB over DAB and DAB+. (See more on digital radio here)

“In an attempt to preserve their advantage, some private broadcasters want a further delay for digital radio. However, in terms of audience interest, the enrichment of the offer and the principles of pluralism and media independence, nothing justifies this. This is dangerous for the equilibrium between the telecoms sector and the audiovisual media. This is dangerous for the future of seven hundred radio broadcasters, over four-fifths of which are small businesses.”

“Your support on this point is essential because it is the government, not the CSA, decides the standards,” said the statement. “Our European neighbors are on a much more proactive path and more respectful of the broadcasters.” (JMH)

News Corp Russian stations sold
Easier said than done

Ever since News Corporation Chairman Rupert Murdoch made clear in 2008 his intentions to exit Russian and other Eastern European media investments the pathway has been bumpy. Aside from a cold towel thrown on potential buyers by the economic downturn there were slippery deals to untangle. The Russian radio stations – Nashe Radio, Best FM and Ultra – were finally sold last week. (See more on radio in Russia here)

The buyer is Vitaly Bogdanov, owner of My Family radio (Moya Semya) and 95.2 FM. Terms were not disclosed in the News corporation statement (April 2). Russian sources peg the value at about US$ 15 million. Last year News Corporation came to an agreement of the purchase and sale of the Russian radio stations to Alfa Group, related to Alfa Bank, for US$ 20 million. Those talks disintegrated when a Moscow court decided to allow a suit from the estate of the late Badri Patarkatsishvili.

Patarkatsishvili, it appears, acquired stakes in Nashe Radio, Best FM and Ultra from News Corporation’s original partner in the Russian radio stations, Boris Berezovsky. (See more on the colorful Mr. Patarkatsishvili here)

Last month (March 11) News Corporation exited Latvian television stations LNT and TV5, selling to the former owner.  Within days the Riga Circuit Court seized the assets pending a corruption investigation. It’s not known if the sale came to closing.

News Corporation exited Bulgarian national television channel bTV, selling to Central European Media Enterprises (CME) at less than half the sum originally anticipated.

So far, News Corporation has been unable to sell its outdoor advertising business in Russia. (JMH)

Radio Page - April 2, 2010

Radio Page - March 26, 2010

Radio Page - March 19, 2010

Radio Page - March 12, 2010

Radio Page - March 5, 2010

Radio Page - February 26, 2010

Radio Page - February 19, 2010

Recently added radio audience figures

• Germany - Radio Audience (14/03/2010)
  leading stations, 2010 national survey, daily reach
• Czech Republic - Radio Audience (01/03/2010)
  Top stations, national survey, trend
• Netherlands - Radio Audience (20/02/2010)
  national survey, market share, trend
• Romania - National Radio Audience (11/02/2010)
  national survey, market share, trend
• UK - National Radio Audience (04/02/2010)
  market share, trend, sectors
• UK - London Radio Audience (04/02/2010)
  market share, trend
• UK - National Radio Audience (04/02/2010)
  BBC/commercial 'gap'

Also see ftm Knowledge

Europe’s Radio – Eastern Europe – new

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, Ukraine, Romania, Russia and Slovakia. 65 pages PDF (February 2010)

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Available at no charge to ftm Members, others from €49
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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. 72 pages PDF (December 2009)

ftm Members order here

Available at no charge to ftm Members, others from €49
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Digital Radio - Forward...slightly

Digital radio is slowly finding its way. Broadcasters are challenged by shifts in business models, audience expectations and regulation limbo. This ftm Knowledge file details the promise of digital broadcasting and the paradigm shifts. 83 pages PDF (June 2009)

ftm Members order here

Available at no charge to ftm Members, others from €49
Order