Dutch Media Collects Millions For Ukraine
• Yesterday we told you about the amazing efforts of 10 Dutch radio stations that came together for one day under a unifying name: “Radio555,” and pulled off an ambitious 15-hour nationwide simulcast to raise much needed funds for the people of Ukraine.
Thomas Giger, Sales Director of Pure Jingles, which supplied the imaging package for Radio555, updated us on the unbelievable results of this unified media effort, telling RAMP, “Before Radio555 started on Monday morning 6am local time, the united help organizations had already collected roughly 21 million euros from other promotions. When the 15-hour radio network program ended around 9pm local time, the counter was at 53 million euros. Therefore, Radio555’s joint promotion for Giro 555 across 10 national stations contributed to collecting about 32 million euros (roughly $34.8 million USD).”
• One highlight of this marathon charitable broadcast was the unexpected reunion of the popular former on-air team of Mattie Valk (of Top 40 Qmusic, right) and Wietze de Jager (now at rival Radio 538, left) who did their first show together since their acrimonious split five years ago. They are pictured in the Radio555 studio on Monday. Giger said, “They hadn’t spoken to each other in all of those years, but set aside any animosity that might have been left. It made for two hours of honest, raw and funny radio.”
Giger added, “The radio event was dovetailed by a television show that ran between 8:30 and 11pm across three major Dutch TV networks (NPO 1, RTL 4 and SBS 6). In the slipstream of this media attention, it’s expected that even more contributions will be flowing in over the next days. At the time I am writing this email (Tuesday morning 05:30am CET), the counter is already at a staggering 106 million euros (115.2 million USD),” as seen in this screenshot.
In closing, Giger said, “With great power comes great responsibility, and I think it goes to show that media, including radio, can make a tremendous impact for the greater good.”
