[cma-l] Community Radio Future In Doubt?

Fri Dec 10 21:00:21 GMT 2010

I do agree with Alan
They are trying to keep the cat in the bag, as soon as internet radio is available in cars the commercial radio industry will inevitably die because it will be an open field.
Advertisers will stop advertising because listeners will be able to listen to anything
The problems with community radio on DAB are twofold
1. The DAB concept is flawed in that it has inserted a supplier in the broadcast chain, and that supplier inevitably wants to make a shit load of money. Last month we were asked if we were interested in going on DAB but the cost was going to be £60k ish. If DRM were used individual then individual stations could have their own transmitters at minimal cost.
2. All the current multiplexes that I know of are regional, not designed for local areas. The multiplex we were invited for is for North Wales, North Cheshire and Merseyside. That would never be any use for any normal community  station, only for a community of special interest station
Mark PoldenFlame CCR

From: alan.coote at btinternet.com
To: transplanfm at hotmail.com; cma-l at commedia.org.uk
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2010 17:33:12 +0000
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Community Radio Future In Doubt?

Hi Ian, I have not suggested that Ofcom or the CMA are wrong just there appears to be, a subservience to commercial radio and apparent inactivity, respectively.   I guess you like me remember Luxemburg and Laser 558 on AM not to mention Radio 1 before its move to FM. We couldn’t imaging listening to these on AM now. Not that the content was bad, it’s just the we have FM and digital which provide a much better listening experience.  Eventually this will be the case for FM, it will die. Not because its bad, just there’s a better richer experience elsewhere.   Community Radio should be at the vanguard of a move to digital, not the ‘Johnny come lately’.  Alan PS An interesting side issue: Any radio station who’s financial stability relies on there being an audience, doesn’t want masses of competition. The cake is only so big and each new station slices the audience. It’s in the interest of commercial radio to limit access to DAB, in some cases its worth financing a new DAB station rather than let another competitor have the channel. Sadly, because the Government, BBC and Commercial radio have significant vested interests in keeping DAB, it will be ‘The’ digital platform of choice - guaranteed. All of which means, if we can’t beat them we should join them - Now!    From: Ian Hickling [mailto:transplanfm at hotmail.com] 
Sent: 09 December 2010 12:23 PM
To: Alan Coote; cma-l
Subject: Community Radio Future In Doubt?  
Alan
I fail to see why you're saying that "we are to be consigned to the FM backwaters".
FM is currently the foremost platform for delivery of radio programming is it not?
There are many digital formats - none of which is compatible with any other - and all rely on some form of radio or a restrictive fixed landline link for delivery to the customer.
Putting aside all the motivational words used by the under-informed, digital broadcast radio certainly has a future in the UK - it's not DAB - and it does not and will not involve the cessation of VHF FM services in general at all - at least not for a very long time.
The CMA and Ofcom have both made this very clear on a number of occasions.

> From: alan.coote at btinternet.com
> To: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> Date: Wed, 8 Dec 2010 01:14:01 +0000
> Subject: [cma-l] Community Radio Future In Doubt?
> 
> Hi Jaqui,
> 
> I think therein lies the problem. We will never be anything other than a
> disparate group of also-rans if there isn't a single strong voice. 
> 
> I'm confident that the more progressive amongst us really see a vibrant
> future for community radio as the new local radio, but only if we are not
> downtrodden again by the incredibly strong lobbying from the commercial
> radio sector. They had their way forcing the burdensome over regulations on
> us and now it seems that we are to be consigned to the FM backwaters whilst
> they get £100Ms government funding for DAB. This does not seem proportionate
> or reasonable. 
> 
> 
> Alan 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jaquicma at googlemail.com [mailto:jaquicma at googlemail.com] On Behalf Of
> jaqui devereux
> Sent: 07 December 2010 11:11 AM
> To: Alan Coote
> Cc: cma-l
> Subject: Re: [cma-l] Community Radio Future In Doubt?
> 
> Hi Alan
> 
> The problem is that not all our community radio membership agrees that is
> the way forward for them! We will consider and put out a call for views on
> the most robust lobbying way forward.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Jaqui
> 
> On 6 December 2010 23:59, Alan Coote <alan.coote at btinternet.com> wrote:
> > Hi Jaqui,
> >
> > I don't believe there is another media outlet in the country which 
> > would 'ask' the government for a roadmap for their industry. Surely we 
> > are clear about the way forward?
> >
> > It's in everyone's interest; government, commercial, BBC and Community 
> > Radio for there to be a single platform. Logically this must be 
> > digital. The replanning  of DAB is an ideal time to be very clear 
> > about our needs as a sector.
> >
> > May I suggest as a starter for 10;
> >
> > a) That as a minimum all current community stations should have access 
> > to a FM quality stereo  DAB+ multiplex channel within their current 
> > licenced period. I believe the average person in the UK can receive 25
> > - 30 radio services (excluding digital set-top and satellite). DAB+ 
> > provides around 18 services per multiplex and with two or three 
> > multiplexes per region there is enough room for community radio.
> >
> > b) The funding should set at an achievable level and be split between 
> > government and individual community radio stations, with a change in 
> > the 50% rule enabling stations to find the extra money.
> >
> > c) As for areas that DAB+ is not a viable alternative, then there 
> > should be a 10 year plan to enable DRM+ to be used within the UK. This 
> > would be used in a subpart of the current band II (VHF) spectrum. This 
> > then would enable the other part of Band II to be auctioned off, 
> > thereby paying for the DRM+ introduction.
> >
> >
> > Regards
> > Alan
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: jaquicma at googlemail.com [mailto:jaquicma at googlemail.com] On 
> > Behalf Of jaqui devereux
> > Sent: 06 December 2010 10:09 AM
> > To: Alan Coote
> > Cc: cma-l
> > Subject: Re: [cma-l] Community Radio Future In Doubt?
> >
> > Dear Alan
> >
> > Absolutely - we are asking for a roadmap for community radio, just to 
> > let you know too that we attended the first Digital Radio Ministerial 
> > Group and will continue to press for the needs of community radio and 
> > other small radio both to keep FM in the medium term and to migrate 
> > for those that want to.
> >
> > The "at the moment" quote means that FM to be retained for a very long 
> > foreseeable future (2025??)
> >
> > We will keep you all posted on progress,
> >
> >
> > Best wishes
> >
> >
> > Jaqui
> >
> > --
> > Jaqui Devereux
> > Director, Community Media Association
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On 6 December 2010 08:46, Alan Coote <alan.coote at btinternet.com> wrote:
> >> Surely this sounds alarm bells at the CMA?
> >>
> >> >From the Independent News Paper this Sunday.
> >>
> >> "The DCMS spokeswoman said there were no plans for a sell-off  [FM
> > Spectrum]
> >> "at the moment", but did not rule it out. "We may come to a situation
> > where
> >> a proportion of bandwidth is no longer required, and will consider
> > possible
> >> other uses for it."
> >>
> >> With an estimated £100M - £200M going into the proposed DAB upgrade,
> > should
> >> we not expect space for Community Radio to be included then we're all
> > happy
> >> that FM can be switched off?
> >>
> >> Full story here:
> >>
> > http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/so-who-thinks-dab-is-
> > the-fu
> >> ture-not-enough-of-us-to-make-it-so-2151512.html
> >>
> >> Alan
> >>
> >> Alan Coote
> >> Managing Director
> >> The Bay Radio
> >> Office 01202 580200
> >> Studio 01202 571028
> >> Mobile 07801 518858
> >>
> >> Email alan.coote at thebayradio.com
> >> Web www.thebayradio.com
> >> The Bay Radio, 25B Elliott Road, Bournemouth, BH11 8LQ
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >>
> >> 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:
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> >>
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Jaqui Devereux
> > Director, Community Media Association
> >
> >
> 
> 
> 
> --
> Jaqui Devereux
> Director, Community Media Association
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 
> cma-l mailing list - cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> 
> Community Media Association - www.commedia.org.uk
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> 
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