15.12.2009
FICORA's survey on content of radios subject to license
A survey commissioned by the Finnish Communications Regulatory
Authority (FICORA) depicts the content of radio stations subject to
license. On the basis of the survey results, FICORA has sent
clarification requests on the content of five radio stations. FICORA
has also reminded all radio operators of distinguishing between
advertising and editorial material and of sponsor identifiers.
Out of the ten survey samples, two were national or comparable (Classic Radio and The Voice) and the remaining eight were local radio stations (Radio Manta, Metro FM, Iskelmä Helsinki, Radio Sata, Radio Melodia 88,2, Auran Aallot Salo, Auran Aallot and Radio Melodia). A 12-hour continuous sample was taken of the surveyed channels during one day between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. in April 2009.
According to the license terms set by the Government, radio programmes must contain a certain average share of verbal content on each weekday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. National or equivalent radio stations face the highest verbal content requirement; it was 20 per cent for the stations selected for the survey. The share of verbal content of the local radio stations selected for the survey must be 15 per cent of the entire programme.
The survey sample of The Voice contained the greatest amount of verbal content, more than three hours. Auran Aallot Salo came second with a little less than three hours. The station with the least verbal content was Classic Radio, slightly more than an hour.
In addition, license conditions require that the transmission of the channel must be clearly identifiable as an independent program. FICORA's policy requires that, on the average, at least half of the programme's editorial content deviates from other radio transmissions on each weekday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The transmission samples of Auran Aallot Salo and Auran Aallot were nearly completely convergent with one another. Also, the editorial contents of the samples of Radio Melodia 88.2 and Radio Melodia were, in principle, the same and the transmission samples were partly congruent.
FICORA has requested a clarification of the identification of transmissions of four radio stations as independent programs (Auran Aallot, Auran Aallot Salo, Radio Melodia and Radio Melodia 88.2) and the amount of verbal content of one station (MetroFM).
Survey on the content of radio stations subject to license 2009 [PDF, 676 KB] (in Finnish)
Further information:
Tiina Aaltonen, Development Manager (research), tel. +358 9 6996 430, +358 40 777 4082
Merja Saari, Deputy Director (supervision), tel. +358 9 6966 468, tel. +358 50 386 1771
