[cma-l] Is it the end of community and local TV? - Urgent request to you all!

[Murray Dawson]

Hi everyone,

I'd like to add support to Jaqui's recent request re the Community/Local
TV lobby.

We (Station House Media Unit in Aberdeen) recently started broadcasting on
FM, we also support our communities in video, magazine and online
publications.
At present we do not run a 'TV' service, and have no real desire to do so
in the next year or two - we support the production of occasional video
projects, but that's about it.
However, we are really keen to encourage/push/force Ofcom to re-think it's
present stance on local/community TV - and will be submitting details as
requested by Ofcom and outlined by Jaqui in her email to ensure that Ofcom
realise that there is an interest in use of the spectrum outwith the
private sector.

The planned Digital switch over in Aberdeen is 2010 - whether by that time
we'll be ready to launch a community TV service I'm not sure, but if we
don't respond now, one thing is sure - we won't need to worry about
delivering a digital TV service through our local transmitter, cause it
will be filling our communities homes with shopping channels and other
glorious (market led) offerings.

So we are going to put in the required details - we hope to pull the info
together over the next two weeks and then post it on our site so that
others can see what we've submitted for advice/support/plagiarism etc.  It
may seem a bit daunting initially, but if you are an active community
media resource/service, then I think you will tick most of the boxes - the
key job to be done will be to muster local political and agency support
(which shouldn't be too hard with such a 'sexy' product).

Remember, you don't have to actually bid for the service at this point -
we're merely showing that there is interest/demand from the Community
sector out there.

All the best,

Murray

> Dear all
>
> We have an urgent request to make of you, even if you think you are not
> interested in the development of community television.  Thanks to those
> of you who have already responded to my earlier message, but we need a
> bit more and from more of you!  Otherwise community television for all
> is likely to be dead in the water...
>
> Below is a brief summary of Ofcom's thinking on community and local TV
> as outlined in a meeting on Jan 14th.  Please if you can could you send
> me answers to some of the questions below so we can challenge Ofcom
> further.
>
> With thanks
>
> Jaqui
>
> Jaqui Devereux
>
> Acting Director
> Community Media Association
>
>
> "Ofcom finds spectrum suitable for 100s of local TV channels but will
> only make these available for local use if potential channel operators
> have business plans ready by 14th February!!"
>
> At a packed local TV stakeholders meeting on 14th January Ofcom
> introduced its frequency plans showing it could enable upwards of ten
> local TV channels serving different areas from each of 71 main UK
> transmitter sites.  As shown in the work by NGWireless this spectrum
> would provide local channels reaching 80% of the UK population.
>
> However, Ofcom is only considering auctioning (they refuse to consider
> any other option for deciding spectrum use) 25 of these sites, on the
> basis that no-one out there is interested in developing local TV.  Some
> major conurbations are omitted from this list of 25 including, for
> example, Sheffield.
>
> Ofcom  then emphasised that if more than the 25 sites identified were to
> be included in these spectrum packages, as suggested for delivery of
> local TV channels, potential local and community channel operators would
> need to provide evidence to Ofcom of demand (ideally with a business
> plan!) by 14th February.
>
> This spectrum will only be configured by Ofcom to suit local channels if
> there is sufficient evidence of demand to do so, not only from viewers
> but from potential operators.
>
> What's required for 14th February? A business plan is unrealistic ....
> but:
>
> Evidence of demand - local support, council, health board etc, popular
> public interest, supporting organisations, partners etc
>
> Geographic area to be served - post code areas
>
> Business plan - unlikely till you have information on spectrum and costs
> of transmission, so evidence of capability in running community
> enterprise or community media activity, radio station etc
>
> Finance - here evidence of past performance in media related funding
> (grants secured, funds raised and purpose) would help
>
> Please send any expression of potential interest either to me or direct
> to Ofcom (though if you do send it straight to them please could you
> copy me in).
>
> Carmel.McLaughlin at ofcom.org.uk
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
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>
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> _______________________________________________
>
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>


-- 
please reply to
murray at shmu.org.uk

Murray Dawson
Project Director
Station House Media Unit
Station Road, Woodside,
Aberdeen  AB24 2WB
Tel - 01224 487174



www.shmu.org.uk

listen to our community radio station live on 99.8FM and at www.shmufm.net

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