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Tensions enter the TV studio, broadcast interrupted for fight
The whole world is still watching
Protests turned violent in the Ukrainian capital Kiev over President Viktor Yanukovych’s suspension of trade negotiation with the European Union last week. The decision, favoring closer ties with the Russian Federation, has further divided Ukraine. Ill-feelings moved into the studios of TV channel Inter where the Savak Shuster Studio live talk show was being broadcast Friday night, reported Telekritika (November 29). Details are sketchy but apparently members of opposing factions got into a fight during a commercial break forcing the station to briefly broadcast something else.
Mr. Shuster began the show with comments about the beating of journalists in Kiev that day. As the show headed into a commercial break, next segment was previewed as “Life after Vilnius – Disappointment as Ukraine and the EU break.” Invited for that discussion were supporters of EU-Ukraine integration, including current WBC heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko. It seems – and reports vary – security guards for the TV station or deputy prime minister Alexander Vilkul, also invited to appear, refused to allow Mr. Klitschko and others into either the station or the studio. (See more on media in Ukraine here)
Obviously, the commercial break was, er, extended. The show resumed after the intervention of station co-owner and presidential representative to the Parliament Sergei Liovochkin. Mr. Shuster said in a statement afterward it was a “technical glitch.” On Saturday, Mr.Liovochkin announced his resignation from the government position over police response to protestors in Kiev.
Two journalists from Hromadske.tv were attacked by persons unidentified Friday morning while covering the Kiev protests, camera smashed and memory stick removed. ”Violence against journalists cannot and should not be tolerated in the OSCE region,” said OSCE media freedom representative Dunja Mijatovic in a statement (November 30). ”I trust the Ukrainian authorities will swiftly investigate these attacks, and do their utmost to ensure the safety of media workers, especially during public events.” Kiev police are investigating the incident as “hooliganism,” reported BBC Ukrainian (November 30).
Talk channels make big city gains
No school, no music
The general interest national radio channels made gains in the Médiamétrie Il-de-France (IDF - Greater Paris) audience survey for the September-.October period, released this week. And, presaged by the national results for the same period released last week, the national music channels were stung. Aggregated market share for the general interest national rose to 43.3% from 37.6% one year on while the national music channels aggregated market share dropped to 24.8% from 27.6%.
All national general interest channels gained market share. RTL placed first, as usual, with 12.6% market share, up from 11.9%. Public channel France Inter posted 10.6% markets share, up from 8.9%. Europe 1 was reward with 10.5% market share and 3rd place from 8.5% for the biggest gain of all in the IDF survey. News-talk and sports channel RMC placed 4th with 8.0% market share, up from 7.0% year on year. (See the IDF audience trend chart here) All-news national public channel France Info, classified as a thematic channel, dropped to 4.1% market share from 4.5% to rank 6th.
Pain, with few exceptions, was rendered to the national music channels. Resurgent NRJ placed 5th overall with 5.1% market share from 5.3% one year on. Skyrock dropped to 4.1% from 4.8%, RFM 2.5% from 2.7%, Nostalgie 2.2% from 2.8%, Cherie FM 1.7% from 3.0% and Fun Radio 1.5% from 2.0%. Only Rire & Chansons posted a significant gain; 2.0% from 1.3%.
Local stations, on aggregate, fell very slightly to 18.0% from 18.2%. Radio Latina pushed further into the top 10 – 8th – with 2.6% market share, up from 2.3% year on year. Radio Nova, now with a coverage footprint beyond Paris, posted 1.8% market share, up from 1.4%. TSF Jazz bolted to 1.7% market share from 1.2%.
Overall audience reach was off rather noticeably; 79.3% from 82.0%, and time spend listening Monday through Friday 05h00-24h00 fell to 158 daily minutes from 166 daily minutes. This September October survey period was a bit longer, 45 days versus 41 days. Perhaps affecting some of those music channels, there were 11 school holidays in this survey period and only one during the September October 2012 period. Somebody was sleeping later? (JMH)
Radio auctions a day for charity
Going once, going twice…
Midday DJs Grant Benson and Luca Viscardi at Italy’s Radio Number One are running with one of the more creative holiday charity promotions ever…anywhere. The show is being auctioned on eBay and then highest bidder will have DJs and crew at their home or place of work. Listeners – and presumably anybody else – can participate in the auction winding up December 2nd.
Proceeds from the auction will support Comitato Maria Letizia Verga, which is building a children’s leukemia hospital in Monza. “We think this is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit with our listeners,” said Benson, quoted by liberoquotidiano.it (November 27). (See more on media in Italy here)
Go to www.ebay.it and look for ‘benson e viscardi’ auction. (JMH)
Politician adds to media portfolio
another Eastern exit, too
A purchase and sale agreement between Czech broadcaster Londa and Agrofert Group announced this week will place top rated Radio Impuls in the expanding media portfolio of billionaire politician Andrej Babis, reported strategie.cz (November 25). Financial details were not disclosed though financial watchers speculate the tab is in the vicinity of CZK 750 million or €27.5 million. Radio Impuls is the top rated commercial radio station in the Czech Republic. Also included in the deal is local Prague station RockZone. Regulator approvals will be necessary.
Mr. Babis is the sole owner of Agrofert Group, which trades in the agriculture sector, food procession and chemical production. Earlier this year, the company acquired television channel Ocko TV and most assets of publisher Mafra. In 2011 he formed the free-market, euro-skeptic ANO political party, which finished second in this year’s legislative elections behind the Czech Social Democrat Party. (See more on media in the Czech Republic here)
Exiting the Czech Republic with the transaction is German broadcaster Eurocast, which has owned two-thirds on Londa for fifteen years with minority Czech partner Ivan Batko. Dublin-based Communicorp disposed of its Czech radio assets in January.
”Fifteen years is a really long time,” said Mr. Batko in a statement. “We want to thank the partners and managers who always steered the stations in the right direction. I will be very glad if this continues for years to come.” (JMH)
Digital combinations, permutations and inertia
Falling off the table
Under the patronage of French Culture Minister Aurélie Filippetti and regulator CSA president Olivier Schrameck a day-long series of discussions with radio broadcasters took place in Paris (November 25). Government policies, finance and technology were the agenda points for the Focus on Radio (Assises de la radio). Sometimes the best remedy for anxiety is a little talk therapy.
“Regulation in this new digital space” must evolve, said M. Schrameck in opening remarks. Frequency allocation thresholds, limited in France by audience reach, could be reevaluated to reflect online coverage. “We will have to revise our methods of calculation, while allowing balanced and sustainable growth for the sector. On licensing generally, “it is necessary to change our methods, analyzing audience needs.” (See more on media in France here)
He also reiterated “personal reservations” about digital terrestrial radio,” which does not adequately reflect issues of degraded service where FM coverage is bad.” Just under 9% of radio listening in France is from the broad scope of digital platforms, reported Médiamétrie earlier this month. The French measurement institute also showed marked decline of national music channels aggregate market share. (See more on digital radio here)
Among broadcasters, attitudes toward almost everything remain implacable. The big private broadcasters want nothing to do with digital terrestrial radio (RNT - radio numérique terrestre), the inevitable competition worrying. “There is no country where the RNT works, except when it is subsidized,” repeated NextRadioTV CEO Alain Weill. “The internet is the future of radio,” said, again, NRJ founder and chairman Jean-Paul Baudecroux.
Smaller independent commercial and community station operators, seeing no joy from the prospect of digital terrestrial radio, have set their sights on FM frequencies currently occupied by public broadcaster Radio France, overlapping coverage is common. “These double or triple frequencies are a huge resource,” said Oui FM general director Emmanuel Rials,” quoted by Les Echos (November 25). Radio France channels occupy about one-third of FM frequency allocations and the union of independent radio and TV broadcasters (Sirti) would like roughly 1,000, which “would not affect Radio France,” said M. Rials. Anyway, nobody listens to youth channel L’Mouv.
Closing the meeting, Minister Filippetti mentioned the possibility of a little State subsidy for tiny local radio broadcasters. As for digital terrestrial radio, there was nary a word except to suggest there might be the possibility of mixing radio and Twitter. “We should consider any combination,” she concluded.
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