[cma-l] demise or opportunity

[mark polden]

To be quite honest, I am not sure that the CMA really gets it. If money can be extracted from murdoch that would be great but it remains that the CMA cannot afford to be an idealogical organisation but has be a proponent of whatever works at any particular time to advance the position of the community media sector and its members. In some cases this may involve making a deal with devil.
Mark PoldenFlame CCR

From: office at ccr-fm.co.uk
To: markianpolden at hotmail.com
Subject: RE: [cma-l] demise or opportunity
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2010 20:50:07 +0000



















Yep !

 

Nick

 









From:
cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
[mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of mark polden

Sent: 30 December 2010 18:07

To: bobtyler at btinternet.com; CMA-L

Subject: Re: [cma-l] demise or
opportunity



 

Indeed Robert it is an opportunity, but we need to fight



 





chatting to a communications director of an multiplex
operator the other day, we agreed the entire industry is stuck between a rock
and a hard place.





 





There is only one way out, that is this





 





The government needs coerce the BBC to fully move to DAB
only





 





Yes it will not be popular but it will give the impetus for
people to buy DAB equipment, then a timetable be set for commercial to move
over





 





We have to fight for this because it is in our interest to
clear the FM waveband and then PROVE thro quality programming that is LOCAL
& DIFFERENT from commercial radio that we have a place in broadcasting





 





Then government and industry will face a backlash if they
try to stiffle us





 





Mark Polden





Flame CCR





 





 







Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2010 19:08:16
+0000

From: bobtyler at btinternet.com

To: cma-l at commedia.org.uk

Subject: [cma-l] demise or opportunity


 
  
  Nick
   
  Good to chat, I fully understand your problems.
   
  You have to understand that Ofcom are no longer
  regulating radio. They have given up with large scale commercial radio and
  really the likes of community radio and commercial small fry are keeping them
  in jobs. I do not agree with Steven, Ofcom are to blame for this mess.
  I do not agree that nobody gives a shit about CR.
   
  The reason why it is like it is is because it is under
  funded and underpowered. 
   
  We are in a changing radio landscape where it appears
  larger stations are changing direction and business models. We have a
  situation were once well established heritage stations are throwing away
  their names and history and becoming part of semi national networks. We have
  regional services following in the same way. We have the smaller scale
  commercial services co locating to form clusters, meaning instead of being in
  the town they are 40 miles away. We have a scenario where in many towns there
  IS NO LOCAL RADIO. This is a positive time, CR IS THE NEW LOCAL RADIO. Should
  be, can be will be.
   
  This is a good time to set some targets for 2011 before
  it all goes fully pear shaped. 
   
  The sector needs to stop being nice. Stop listening to
  what they are told and ask questions. The power/coverage problem is clearly
  the biggest issue and appears only to be a recommended coverage, yet it
  appears the majority accept any power, any restriction or waveband to get on
  air. Getting the license is easy getting but staying on air is the real work,
  so why compromise your business? Yes I’m afraid it is a business.
   
  As I said previously, the whole concept is 20 years too
  late and was the invention of a failing Radio Authority in 2002 as some sort
  of legacy. It was designed not to damage commercial radio services but in the
  then different media world and era. The majority of legislation covering
  radio is 20 years old and the concept of community radio a little over 10
  years. Have times changed? Has the radio industry changed?  
   
  We appear to live in times where local commercial
  operators are handing back licenses and consolidating but community radio is
  still trying to motor along on the out of date 2002 concept.  The
  commercial radio sector used the opportunity to bulldoze their ambitions,
  taking advantage of a weak Ofcom diminishing in power by the day. Yet
  community radio still goes cap in hand for 25 watts. Wake up please. Dare I
  say, smell the coffee.
   
  There are many frequencies and opportunities for
  increased powers but Ofcom policies are dictated to by engineers, not by
  commercial sense or social needs. It is the same old same old. 
   
  BSB – invented by IBA engineers. DAB - invented by
  European public broadcaster engineers. Commercial Radio – decided by IBA
  engineers. BBC local Radio – By BBC engineers. ITV digital – ITC engineers.
  Community Radio - Ofcom frequency planners. 
   
  Say no more…..
   
  Ends
  
 




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