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ftm Radio Page - July 9, 2010

Greek broadcasters braced for frequency map
End of chaos?

A stakeholders consultation is underway, directed by the Greek Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks, to give some much needed organization to FM frequency allocations. Only about one-third of Greek commercial radio stations actually have licenses and FM frequencies are frequently “adopted” by pirates. The government tried and failed to give structure to the FM spectrum two years ago. The current consultation ends July 30.

Adding to the chaos is the funding crisis at public broadcaster ERT. Some private sector broadcasters want national coverage, most want coverage in the Attica region (greater Athens) where – technically – only 40 (or so) allocations are available. There will be 28 allocations in the Thessaloniki region. By most counts, there are over a thousand users – legal or otherwise – of FM frequencies in Greece.

Digital radio has been discussed by the Ministry, which has decided to allow market forces to be the “solution.” (JMH)

Politician endorses DAB… sometime… later
“can’t impose this on an unwilling public”

UK Culture, Communications and Creative Industries Minister Ed Vaizey spoke with resounding uncertainty for the ultimate triumph of digital radio.  If consumers hadn’t turned up their noses, he seemed to say, UK receiver manufacturers and technology companies would be making lots more money rather than spending more over the next few years promoting their wares. Ah, such is the free-market.

“A whole ecology is needed to get digital radio moving and off the ground,” he said on the BBC Radio 4 Today program (July 8). Different stakeholders have been trying to get DAB digital radio “off the ground” for nearly two decades. Through those years more than just signals have been mixed. (See more on digital radio here)

Listeners were promised more radio choices. Some appeared, to less than raving reviews, and several disappeared as broadcasters tried, spent and waited for the flood of listeners to arrive. Broadcasters, including the BBC, were unwilling to sacrifice name brand channels on the alter of alternative technology. FM works just fine.

Suspicions that digital radio development has always been a bit of social engineering for the benefit of the UK technology sector were confirmed. "At a time when we are looking for manufacturing success stories,” said Vaizey in remarks released ahead of a speech to be given later at the Intellect Digital Home Conference, “British companies like Pure, Roberts and Bush are world leaders.”

“But we can't impose this on an unwilling public, no matter how persuasive the business case, or how clearly we know that analogue is already providing a barrier to growth and creativity,” he will add. “So listeners need to be persuaded that the content on offer is compelling, that the quality is high and that digital radios, at home or in the car, are affordable and have listening quality that is at least as good as FM.”

As for analogue radio switch-off: '”I am not setting a date. The industry believes 2015 is an achievable target date and we will work to support that ambition. And when the weight of public opinion is behind it, with more than half of all radio listening digital, then we can take the decision on when the country will be ready for switchover.” (JMH)

Young people still tuning in to radio
Young and old, more time spent listening

Young people haven’t turned away from radio, reports the survey of German listening. Time spent listening increased in all demographic segments, particularly among persons 10 to 29 years assumed to be whiling away hours upon hours with Facebook. Daily reach increased to 78.9% of the German population (58.1 million) from 78.6% in the last survey of comparable data.

Germany’s radio audience measurement service AG.MA (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Media-Analyse) released (July 16) top line data from the first half of 2010. The survey of this period includes foreigners, a significant methodological change from surveys prior to the second half 2009. The full data set – stations, market share, reach, et.al. – will be released July 13.

Similar to previous surveys of German radio listening, men listen longer (210 minutes) than women (186 minutes). Altogether, Germans listened 198 minutes per day, up six minutes from the previous survey. This is evidence of the “great importance of radio in the daily lives of people,” said the AG.MA press release. (See more on media in Germany here)

Young people 10 to 29 years listened 141 minutes per day, up five minutes from the previous survey. “This refutes the biased judgment that internet use among young audiences weighs against radio,” said AG.MA director Dieter Müller in the statement. Persons 30 to 59 years listen longest, 228 minutes per day. (JMH)

Facebook saves digital radio channel
The power of love

Back in March, when chilly winds blew, BBC General Director Mark Thompson signed the execution warrant for two digital radio channels, 6Music and Asian Network. He also listed other bold cuts to the UK public broadcaster, like trimming the website by half. Election season was approaching and the BBC-unfriendly right-wing Conservatives were divined a shoe-in, ready to give the public broadcaster a good dose of austerity.

6Music is a full-service alternative music channel. There are full-time show hosts, actually live on-the-air. Like other digital-only radio channels it barely scored in the RAJAR ratings.

Thompson said 6Music should be jettisoned because something had to go and the station’s format was “at the heart of commercial radio’s demographic.” BBC critics, from Conservative politicians to Clan Murdoch, complained that the BBC unfairly encroaches on the rightful domain of commercial broadcasters and publishers. Thompson’s Strategy Review seemed to appeal to those chilly winds.

A funny thing happened on the way to the gas chamber. 6Music fans and the UK music industry rallied to the channel’s defense. Tens of thousands joined a special Facebook page. There were even a few real letters. But, all things being post-modern, the joiners joined in with the music people to feel the loss of a lot of local music that never gets a moment on commercial radio. (See more on digital radio here)

Et Voila, as we say in French. The May RAJAR numbers came out and 6Music had doubled its audience. 6Music had become quite hip and cool, even attracting fans from the Conservative Party who you’d think would be more comfortable with something more traditional. Does anybody still doubt social media’s ability to gin up chatter?

The BBC is governed by the BBC Trust, which has the ultimate vote on the general director’s plans. The BBC Trust chairman, Sir Michael Lyons, made his views public (July 5) and 6Music will be saved because “the case has not been made for the closure.” He noted the “strong public response” that “no one was surprised by”.

Is this a good sign for digital radio? Maybe. Yet to come, said Sir Michael, is a “proper and coherent strategy.” (JMH)

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