ftm Radio Page - December 11, 2009

Radio license dispute condemned by US Congress
The dispute over national radio license renewals in Hungary, with suspected political intrigue, has spilled over to the United States Congress. Political and media watchers in Hungary have been surprised by international expressions of concern after US-based broadcaster Emmis International and Austrian investment fund Accession Mezzanine Capital lost license renewal applications. While both firms pursue legal remedies the political heat on the Hungarian government is rising.

Big Spanish networks punished
Cadena SER still leads

It was a good day and it was a bad day for big Spanish radio networks. Such is audience ratings day. More people were listening and there were more changes than expected.

The February through November AIMC General Media Study, released December 10, revealed an increase in radio listening over the same period 2008; 55.3% penetration up from 53.1%. Biggest increases came from teens (15 to 19 years), women and 25 to 44 year olds.

Perennial winner Cadena SER kept first place in the national survey, dropping to 38.1% reach from 38.4% one year on. Pop music network Los 40 Principales, remaining in second place, dropped to 22.2% reach from 23.8%. (See top channels by reach share here)

Ranked number three is Onda Cero, which displaced Cadena COPE. Onda Cero, a general interest channel, posted its highest reach share 16.4%, up from 15.5% one year on. Cadena COPE, which has been on a slide, posted 14.2%, down from 16.1%. Spanish media watchers cite the loss from Cadena COPE of morning program host Federico Jiménez Losantos a few months ago.

Public radio RNE Radio 1 rose to 7th place from 8th in ranking by reach share, changes place with KISS FM. (JMH)

UK internet radio use grows
The personal is popular

Over the last six months, internet radio usage in the UK has grown more slowly, reports radio audience measurement service RAJAR (December 10). Still, one-third of the UK population 15 years of age and older say they’ve listened to radio services over the internet.

“Personalized online radio is the fastest growing internet delivered audio service, with 4.5 million people now claiming they have used such a service,” said RAJAR research manager Christel Laceze in a statement.  “Listening to Podcasts and to the radio via the internet - live and using Listen Again services - also continue to grow, but at a reduced pace.” (See RAJAR release here)

Personalized online radio services are hot in many markets. These include last.fm, Spotify and Pandora, which have been around for a few years, and newer services like open.fm and Jellie. (More on internet radio here)

Typical UK internet radio service users are male and persons between 15 and 34 year of age.

The MIDAS survey is taken from the RAJAR audience survey sample. (JMH)

Doors spinning at French networks
Or musical chairs?

As recent French national and Il-de-France (greater Paris) radio surveys show, there are big audience changes taking place. So it’s little surprise when big network broadcasters start spinning the doors. (See the recent national survey results here and Il-de-France survey results here) 

Weeks ago NRJ Group separated itself from legacy programmer Christophe Sabot, who had only returned to the home of NRJ, Nostalgie, Cherie FM and Rire & Chansons about a year earlier. He’d spent a few years with Lagardère Active. Before that he was the program director of NRJ.

Once the non-compete agreement expired, M. Sabot appeared as a consultant for – VOILA! – Lagardère Active.

Out the door went Lagardère Active head of programming Sam Zniber. He’d been working with the Virgin Radio and RFM projects for just short of a year and a half. He’d also been the roving programming person for the Lagardère Active international stations. Prior to that, he’d been run RTL’s Fun Radio and RTL2 for about two years. Earlier in his career – looks longer than it is – he was a DJ at NRJ.

After Christophe Sabot was shown the door at NRJ Group, NRJ manager Sandrine Tuil departed after a very brief six month tenure. She’s been replaced by Cherie FM program director Didier Bouchend'homme.

For career planning, the last five years or so haven’t been much fun for French radio people. But, apparently, the few who get the top programming jobs just trade them around. (JMH)

Radio Page - December 4, 2009

Radio Page - November 27, 2009

Radio Page - November 20, 2009

Radio Page - November 13, 2009

Radio Page - November 6, 2009

Radio Page - October 30, 2009

Radio Page - October 24, 2009

Radio Page - October 16, 2009

Radio Page - October 9, 2009

Radio Page - October 2, 2009

Radio Page - September 25, 2009

Radio Page - September 18, 2009

Radio Page - September 11, 2009

Recently added radio audience figures

• Spain - National Radio Audience (11/12/2009)
  national channels, reach share, trend
• France - Paris Radio Audience (30/11/2009)
  national and local channels, market share
• France - National Radio Audience (18/11/2009)
  national channels, sectors, market share, reach/TSL
• Czech Republic - Radio Audience (11/11/2009)
  Top 12 stations, national survey, trend
• Slovakia - National Radio Audience (09/11/2009)
  leading stations, market share, trend
• UK - National Radio Audience (29/10/2009)
  market share, trend, sectors
• UK - London Radio Audience (29/10/2009)
  market share, trend
• UK - National Radio Audience (29/108/2009)
  BBC/commercial 'gap'
• Poland - National Radio Audience (24/10/2009)
  national survey, market share, trend
• Poland - Warsaw Radio Audience (24/10/2009)
  Warsaw survey, market share, trend

Also see ftm Knowledge

Europe’s Radio – Northern Europe – new

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)

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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
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