[cma-l] £130 million per annum media fund

[Steve Buckley]

Dear Marilyn

I deliberately *did* refer to community 
television (and community media/broadcasting) 
because in future there should be much more 
community TV in this country and this 
consultation is relevant to radio and television. 
The reference you highlight was to the fact that 
DCMS and Ofcom have undertaken substantive 
evidence based studies of community radio the 
results of which confirm its social impact. I am 
not aware of anything similar that has yet been 
conducted into community television. We have to 
build on that recognition to get more support for 
both community radio and television. This is also 
why it is essential to win the case for a 
properly financed Community Radio Fund if this is 
to be extended, as legislation allows, to support 
community television in the future.

Thanks for supporting our campaign and keep up 
your great work at Northern Visions.

Best wishes

Steve



At 13:50 01/09/2009, Marilyn Hyndman wrote:
>Steve,
>Could we remember that the only two community 
>television stations in the UK, Channel 7 and NvTv, are also members of CMA?
>We are both huge supporters of community radio, 
>one was previously an Access Pilot which helped 
>to make community radio possible.... but it 
>would be really appreciated if we could remember 
>to say community radio and community television 
>in correspondence such as this.
>For example 'community radio and community 
>television has proved already that it can make a 
>unique and essential contribution........etc etc'
>I know you are a supporter of community 
>television and the CMA have been great at 
>pushing forward the community television agenda, 
>that is not the issue at all.......just asking 
>for a small adjustment in thinking to always 
>include community television....it will make all 
>the difference to those working in the moving 
>image who are also struggling with many issues in connection with broadcasting.
>There may be community media organisations 
>distributing broadband content who would wish 
>for more inclusion, I don't know, perhaps radio 
>and television does include everyone?
>Thanks a million!
>Marilyn
>
>
>On 1 Sep 2009, at 13:24, Steve Buckley wrote:
>
>>That is what is at stake!
>>
>>The government is consulting this month on plans
>>to invest £130 million per annum in public
>>service broadcasting content outside the BBC.
>>
>>Under the catchy title "Sustainable independent
>>and impartial news in the nations, locally and in
>>the regions" government is proposing a fund of
>>around £130 million per annum. And, despite the
>>title, it is not only about news.
>>
>>The consultation paper argues that a plurality of
>>news provision in the nations, regions and at the
>>local level is the top priority for new public
>>funding, but it also asks whether such funding
>>"should potentially be available to fund other
>>forms of essential public service content or .. be limited to news?"
>>
>>It is vital the community media sector respond to
>>this consultation by the deadline of 22
>>September. Among other points that could be made are:
>>
>>1. Community media can add a new and innovative
>>tier in news provision through networks of
>>citizen reporters and community correspondents.
>>Funding for just  one news editor/trainer in
>>every community radio and community television
>>station would be a highly effective way to add to the plurality of news.
>>
>>2. Beyond news, community radio has proved
>>already that it can make a unique and *essential*
>>contribution to public service broadcasting
>>content. It is time now for government to make a
>>serious contribution to the Community Radio Fund,
>>and in future to extend it to include support for community television.
>>
>>The consultation document is here:
>><http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/consultations/6245.aspx>http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/consultations/6245.aspx
>>
>>Lets make September a month of action for community broadcasting!
>>
>>We have over 2000 signatures already on the
>>community radio fund petition. It is vital we
>>continue to mobilise friends and supporters to keep them coming in.
>>
>>It's even easier now to sign on, just go to http://allthevoices.org
>>
>>And lets use the community radio airwaves to
>>promote public debate and discussion on the
>>funding arrangements for public service broadcasting.
>>
>>Keep up the campaigning!
>>
>>Steve
>>---------------------------------------
>>Support Community Radio!
>>      Sign The Petition!
>>   http://allthevoices.org
>>      Tell Your Friends!
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>
>>cma-l mailing list - cma-l at commedia.org.uk
>>
>>Community Media Association - www.commedia.org.uk
>>_______________________________________________
>>
>>To manage your mailing list subscription please visit:
>>http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l
>
>Marilyn Hyndman
>Northern Visions/NvTv
>23 Donegall Street
>Belfast
>BT1 2FF
>
>Tel: 028 9024 5495 ext 207
>Fax: 028 9032 6608
>
>NvTv
>Belfast Community Television
>Free-to-Air on Channel 62/Freq:799.276MHz
>Live on line: <http://www.nvtv.co.uk>www.nvtv.co.uk
>
>www.northernvisions.org
>
>
>

---------------------------------------
Support Community Radio!
      Sign The Petition!
   http://allthevoices.org
      Tell Your Friends!