[grc] Tech giants threaten the survival of radio stations in Europe

[Tom Voorhees]

Please be aware, this is also happening here without DAB. Tom. 

https://www.radioworld.com/columns-and-views/guest-commentaries/dab-radios-biggest-ally-in-facing-off-digital-giants?


DAB+ — RADIO’S BIGGEST ALLY IN FACING OFF DIGITAL GIANTS

Tech giants threaten the survival of radio stations in Europe 

BY FRANCIS GOFFIN ⋅ [1]
PUBLISHED: MARCH 16, 2021 

_The author is chairman of the European Digital Radio Alliance (EDRA).
This is one in a recurring series of commentaries from and about
WorldDAB._ 

The European Digital Radio Alliance is a joint initiative bringing
together 25 members from 13 European countries. 

Its members represent public and commercial broadcasters from across the
continent, several hundred large and small radio stations along with a
few hundred million listeners. 

One of EDRA's key priorities has been to promote digital radio, and
ensure it is included in the new European Electronic Communications
Code. Digital terrestrial radio is now compulsory for new passenger cars
sold across Europe, and member states have the possibility to extend
this obligation to domestic receivers. 

_[READ: COMMENTARY: DAB+ TAKES CENTER STAGE] [2]_

In November, EDRA decided to adopt a manifesto in the face of digital
developments, and raise awareness regarding radio stations' growing
dependence on certain digital giants, and the dangers that entails.
_European Digital Radio Alliance members_ 

By putting their content on the platforms of these tech giants, radio
stations become increasingly dependent on tech giants and enable them to
act as gatekeepers. Therefore they are becoming the new digital
competitors of our radio stations, weakening them as they attract more
listeners, make limited national production investments, and reduce the
pool of choice of consumer and radio stations' exposure on digital
platforms. 

We firmly believe that the intervention of commercial third-party
platforms, mediating the relationship between the broadcasters and the
listeners, is detrimental to the level playing field which has existed
in European countries until now.

At EDRA, we aim to promote together a radio distribution strategy based
on a secure, direct route to reach audiences, independent of the
technologies employed. In this context, we would underline the
importance of broadcast distribution in maintaining continuity of
service for public safety in emergency conditions. 

We have outlined two strategies to face these challenges -- the first
one is to facilitate collaboration within our industry. While we
continue to compete on content, we need to bring the industry together
to maintain a strong basis for radio around Europe and stay attractive
to our listeners. 

We also need to secure direct access to our listeners by favoring common
platforms that allow for the growth of radio -- DAB+ digital radio being
the obvious one -- but also by develop attractive digital platforms that
will allow us to step away from third parties who are less likely to
invest in our economies. 

The success of DAB+ is based on cooperation between radio stations, and
we are seeing strong growth in DAB+ listening across several European
markets as the migration of radio audiences to digital continues. 

Digital distribution, both terrestrial broadcasting and internet, is
inevitably the future of radio; it will continue to deliver listener
benefits around supplementary data and flexible on-demand provision. 

Links:
------
[1] https://www.radioworld.com/author/francisgoffin
[2]
https://www.radioworld.com/tech-and-gear/digital-radio/dab-takes-center-stage