ftm Radio Page - December 18, 2009

Lagardère proposes service cuts
Regulator and unions informed

Largardère Active Radio, one of the three big French national network operators, opened to door to local market service cuts for its Virgin Radio and RMF brands, reports Le Monde (December 17). Presentations to both the French regulator CSA and unions were made this week, though group CEO Didier Guillot said, “no decision has been made.” Consultant Jean Isnard made the recommendation to cut some local service and centralize operations in Paris.

The Le Monde article also mentioned that Lagardère, with the other major French network operators, has given up on digital radio because of cost.

That Didier Guillot would give this interview to Le Monde suggests an admission that the French national radio network system is beset with structural problems. Different license classes affect rules about local and national advertising. When French broadcasters made more money than they could count none of this was a problem. Now, it is. (JMH)

Radio Okey bumped for Evropa 2
Hasty ambition

The final moment for Radio Okey in Slovakia passed (December 12), replaced by Evropa 2. The hasty change by Lagardère Active brings Czech management, at least temporarily.

“Radio Okey, since April 2007, was long unsuccessful under the previous management team,” said Czech Evropa 2 director Petr Vladyka, in a statement. “Because Evropa 2 in the Czech Republic, Romania and Russia are steadily successful stations, the shareholder decided to bring this brand to the Slovak market.”

Vladyka said he expects to have Evropa 2 among the top three radio channels within a year. “Evropa 2 has the ambition to succeed in the Slovak radio market as it has so far managed to wherever it operates.”

The station targets 10 to 25 year olds. Radio Okey DJs began disappearing earlier in December. (JMH)

Hot FM to Vilnius
“minimal” voices

Hot FM will add a Vilnius FM frequency after a decision by the Lithuanian Radio and Television commission (December 16).

Hot FM’s owner ‘Harmony of Sounds’ was already awarded licenses in Klaipeda and Palanga. The stations will begin broadcasting in 2010.

Hot FM targets 25 to 34 year olds with an all-music format, a mix of current tunes and hits from the last 15 years, “in accordance with long-standing Western-music radio station programming experience,” said the company press release.

“We have removed one of the most risky elements of the radio, the human factor,” said station director Alexander Palivonas to Vakuru Ekspresas (December 15). (JMH)

Abrupt end for RFI in Bulgaria
Frequency sold to church-related company

Radio France International (RFI) broadcasts in the Bulgarian capital Sofia came to an abrupt end (December 15) replaced by Radio Focus, a commercial operator. RFI staff, apparently, was notified only moments before the change took place.

“From here onwards we do not know what we are doing,” said RFI-Sofia director Nelly Zyumbilova to Darik News (December 16).

The operator of Radio Focus has been a long time partner for RFI in Bulgaria. The new owner of the frequency is Renaissance Varna, owned by the Bishop of Varna. Bulgarian sources provide conflicting details; either the Sofia station will absorb RFI-Sofia staff and continue programming in French or the new owner intends a religious (Orthodox) channel. Incorporation documents for Renaissance Varna, filed in September, establish the company for “the realization and broadcasting of radio and television, including cable programs.”

According to public documents, the Renaissance Varna has contracted with Radio Focus to supply programming for about half each day.

RFI’s executive board announced in October 2008 eventual closing of all Eastern European bureaus, except in Romania. RFI-Sofia has broadcast on FM since 1994. Unlike in Romania, RFI applied for but was never able to obtain other frequencies in Bulgaria.  The BBC World Service was forced off FM frequencies in 2008 after a long dispute with the Bulgarian government over foreign language broadcasting. German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle continues to broadcast on FM in Bulgaria. (JMH)

Radio Page - December 11, 2009

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
Order