ftm Radio Page - February 12, 2010

Digital Radio East
Every broadcaster, with nary an exception, pays regular tribute to a digital future. The journey for digital radio has followed no single course. In some countries, not even Google Earth can find it.

Digital Up and Digital Down
Good news and not…

The digital radio realm has felt the pain from the economic downturn, perhaps more than the rest of the broadcast sector. Investment – from broadcasters program output to new infrastructure projects – essentially ground to a halt when money got tight. There are – and I hate this expression – “green shoots.” There are also rather brown ones.

Switzerland’s Markus Ruoss, digital consultant to the broadcasting stars, is leading a consortium of local broadcasters in HD Radio development. The five stations involved announced they will have the digital FM alternative on the air in September. (Read release here)

The Swiss broadcast regulator OFCOM and the Federal Council have taken a progressive attitude toward digital development. For all practical purposes, they say: “Try it. See what happens.”

Meanwhile, UK media consultant Grant Goddard has analyzed radio listening figures for the DAB platform in the UK. (Read here in graphic detail) It seems that those who tuned into DAB digital radio in the UK prior to 2007 have started pulling the plug. Goddard suspects – and he’s not alone – BBC Audio and Music director Tim Davie will also be pulling the plug on BBC digital channels. (JMH)

Kiss FM Brand Hot
Morning shows battle and win

The ratings battle in Romania’s radio market notched up with two pop music stations gaining listeners. In the September-December 2009 IMAS / Mercury national audience survey, released February 8, Kiss FM jumped to first place and newcomer Radio ZU reached fourth place.

Kiss FM scored 15.1% market share, up from 14.1% year on year. Public radio news and information channel Romania Actualitati placed second, 14.5% down from 16.1%. Adult contemporary Europa FM fell to 3rd place, 13.4% market share from 15.1%. (See Romania national audience chart here)

Radio ZU, on the air barely a year, has focused its branding on morning show Buzdugan and Morar, appropriated from Radio 21. Radio ZU posted 11.5% market share, persons 11 years and older. Radio 21 fell the most of all rated stations, down to 6.0% from 11.1% one year on.

Public broadcaster channels suffered market share losses. In addition to Romania Actualitati, Antena Salator dropped to 3.5% from 4.3% and Romania Culture fell to 0.3%.

InfoPro, owned by CME, was one of two other gainers, rising to 2.4% from 2.0% one year on. Sister station Pro FM fell to 5.6% from 6.3%. Magic FM rose to 2.6% from 1.8%.

Names have always been a not insignificant part of station branding. The name has to fit the product, of course. Several years ago I wrote a long piece on the Kiss radio brand name. (See here) The name certainly holds up. (JMH)

Radio Page - February 5, 2010

Radio Page - January 29, 2010

Radio Page - January 22, 2010

Radio Page - January 15, 2010

Radio Page - January 8, 2010

Recently added radio audience figures

• 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'
• Switzerland - French region Radio Audience (23/01/2010)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Swiss-German region Radio Audience (23/01/2010)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Italian region Radio Audience (23/01/2010)
  share, trend
• France - National Radio Audience (20/01/2010)
  national channels, sectors, market share, reach/TSL

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)

ftm Members order here

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

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