An American has a certain perception about radio and the offerings they see in America. The 'template' that you might put together.....works in the US, but simply doesn't fit within Germany.
AM radio has more or less 'died' in Germany. I'm take a guess that quality of transmissions and limited advertising became a big issue.
So what has survived on is FM, digital and satellite radio (the Astra 19.2 E Satellite).
Off my TV dish, my preference is the satellite-delivery system (the quality is better). The negative is that there's just one single English vehicle (the BBC network) of the 140-odd stations that arrive via the satellite.
Among all the FM, digital and satellite choices....you can subdivide the networks along state-sponsored and commercially operated sides. Because of the TV/Radio/Media tax.....state-run radio has a ample budget and able to function just as well as the commercial side.
The general themes? From my own prospective, I'd say roughly sixty percent of the stations (both commercial/state-run) revolve around new age rock, pop, and 'oldies'.
There are a handful of Christian theme commercial stations around Germany.
Around twenty-percent of the stations are hooked up with schlager singers (less popular than pop/rock but still attracts a lot of attention).
Then you come to talk radio. Few if any of the commercial radio stations get into talk radio. I think the big reason is simply lack of interest within the German public. From the state-run side.....there's probably around fifteen talk radio stations based around Germany. One might compare them to the NPR theme, with science, education, and world topics. Heated discussions simply don't occur....nor do these stations attract that many listeners.
Rush Limbaugh-type characters appearing? No. The market simply doesn't exist. You look around at people in their work-place or business, and you tend to note only soft music in the background. People walking around and quoting talk-show hosts? No. It's not regarded as 'news' and it's not going to sell on the German market. Why no strong political market via the radio? I think the major issue is a multi-party system which allows everyone to drift over to their brand or style of politics. If you want X.....you can find X. Instead of trying to convert people or sell people on something as you might find with a two-party system.....you find people mostly happy with whatever they fell into line with, and they don't have much of a desire to get hyped up.
Business news hyped over the radio? No. There are two TV networks which cover the business world and most people with any investment or business curiosity will slide toward them. The German avoidance of risky bets or stock playing is the cause of the limited audience.
The aliens-have-arrived, conspiracy thrills, and gossip type radio programs? They don't sell because the typical German doesn't buy into this stuff as anything except marginal entertainment. I wouldn't say that intellectural wit has interrupted the expansion but Germans tend to ask a few more questions before getting hyped up. Maybe it's the two thousand years of history working in their favor.
Sports radio? Virtually non-existent. Soccer might be the only sport left where radio coverage is played out to some minor degree. Everyone expects the broadcast on TV....if you are covering sport cycling, Grand Prix auto racing, winter sky episodes, or tennis. Most state-run regional networks will cover the 2nd league for German soccer, while the big networks will cover the 1st league. Intensive sport chatter via radio talk hosts? It'll never happen.
Community-type radio stations? There are a handful of these.....run by individual towns or communities. Most are in highly rural areas and it's strictly a volunteer situation for hosts or operators.
The present growth area? Digital radio is about the only thing left where something big might occur. Retailers and broadcasters are sitting there and trying to scheme up a creative way that might attract listeners and gain more potential bang-for-the-buck. It's hard to say if there is some magic left that would rebuild a large crowd.
As for how Germans use this wonderful technology? If you stand there and observe society in Germany.....it's three basic themes. First, on the way or return to work.....as some entertainment or news delivery type device. Second, background noise while cleaning the house or working in the warehouse. Third, delivery device for the latest tunes for the teen crowd.
Bottom line? If I were going to look fifty years ahead.....I'd take a guess that FM radio will cease to exist, and digital radio (via Smart-phones) will be the single radio entity left.
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