2012 Berlin Summit

"Radio has a golden opportunity, but change is also needed!" This was the theme that Cilla Benkö, Director General of Swedish Radio and member of the EBU Executive Board, focused on in her presentation to the managers of culture Radio stations gathered in Berlin on 26 October 2012 for their annual plenary meeting on the fringes of Prix Europa.

Stressing a very broad definition of "culture", Annika Nyberg Frankenhaeuser, EBU Media Director, opened the meeting describing the new EBU Media Department’s development of synergies between Radio and TV.

Regarding the changes, Cilla Benkö stressed that Radio is facing stronger competition with the print press, even if the latter’s content value is becoming poorer, and with more TV channels in sport, entertainment and fiction. At the same time, stations devoted to culture, Classical music and jazz are rarely launched. Music and culture are thus more than ever an essential part of public service media. The changes which Cilla Benkö spoke about are "aimed at bringing our unique cultural content to the audience, using any possible platforms, including newspaper Web sites".

For the Chair of the EBU Culture Group, Karl Karst, Head of WDR 3 Radio, who presented the new organization of his channel, the changes are aimed at making his station the main cultural platform of the region.

The new integration of Radio, TV, News and New Media is now completed in Hungary, said Lidia Márton, MTVA Director of International Relations. Here again, the unique content is looking for all possible platforms to reach a demanding and interacting audience.
 

A culture Radio station?

There was a lively discussion at the Berlin Summit on the definition of a culture Radio station. For some, the obvious definition, that of a music and arts broadcaster, is not enough since culture is wider than music and the arts. A culture Radio station should highlight for listeners what is important in life, including social aspects, politics, science, etc. For others, such a programme should include everything not dealt with by other channels, such as “news and entertainment” or “music for youth”. Yet quality is not enough since commercial competitors also provide quality programming.

Culture radio stations should therefore offer quality programmes, with more culture and more background information.

More on Prix-Europa: « Dans les coulisses des jurys radio du Prix Europa » (telerama.fr, 29 Oct 12)