[cma-l] Local radio stations frozen out.

[Ian Hickling]

This is yet another example of the uninformed misleading the unaware.

There is no "Digital Switchover" for radio.

There is no need for "Digital Switchover" for radio.

There is little demand from smaller operators for "Digital Switchover" for radio.

 

Why don't these people talk to those in the know before they sound off?

 

Ian Hickling

Partner

transplan UK

 



 
> From: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:28:52 +0000
> To: cma-l at commedia.org.uk; comradio-l at commedia.org.uk
> Subject: [cma-l] Local radio stations frozen out of digital switchover debate, says MP
> 
> Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jan/13/local-radio-digital-switchover
> 
> John Plunkett, Wednesday 13 January 2010
> 
> Future of more than 100 local stations uncertain, claims Liberal
> Democrats' Alistair Carmichael
> 
> Local radio stations fear they are being frozen out of the digital
> radio switchover debate, with the future of more than 100 of them
> still uncertain, an MP has warned.
> 
> Alistair Carmichael, the Liberal Democrat spokesman on Scotland and
> Northern Ireland, led a debate about the government's plans for the
> future of local radio in Westminster Hall in the House of Commons
> yesterday.
> 
> "There are a lot of radio providers who feel there voice hasn't been
> heard yet," he told MediaGuardian.co.uk.
> 
> "There has to be some sort of mechanic for getting people rounding the
> table and letting them have their say. That's not to say that we can
> always give them what they want – the nature of government is that you
> have to make hard choices and you can't please everyone – but it's
> important for people to feel that their views are being heard."
> 
> Carmichael said there was "widespread concern" from small independent
> stations that the digital economy bill would leave them facing an
> uneven playing field.
> 
> "Over 100 local stations still do not have a clear digital migration
> path and are likely to be consigned to an uncertain future on the
> analogue spectrum once digital switchover has occurred. It is
> important the government addresses this matter before committing to
> analogue switch-off."
> 
> Carmichael said he had been inundated with responses from the industry
> which he said was split into two opposing camps on the issue, and
> warned that small radio operators still felt that their voices were
> not being heard.
> 
> "The response I got was absolutely fascinating," he said.
> 
> "I have had about an inch of briefings from different radio companies
> and pressure groups from around the country. They are all either
> telling me that this is a pointless debate and everything is hunky
> dory, or they are saying that this is the end of local radio as we
> know it. There doesn't seem to be an awful lot in between."
> 
> According to proposals in the digital economy bill currently going
> through parliament, the radio switchover process could begin as early
> as 2015. But the two-year timetable will only begin when digital
> accounts for more than 50% of all radio listening. It currently
> accounts for 21.1%, with the majority on digital audio broadcasting
> (DAB) radio.
> 
> The radio industry is divided over how quickly it should switch to
> digital. Its industry body, the RadioCentre, and Global Radio, which
> owns Heart and Classic FM, reacted positively to the mooted 2015 date,
> assuming listening targets are met. TalkSport, which split with the
> RadioCentre over the issue, has said the 2015 target is a non-starter.
> 
> "My main concern is how you actually roll out DAB provision in a way
> that gets to all those hard to reach parts of the country," Carmichael
> added.
> 
> "What is the government doing about moving to DAB+, and will the
> market be structured in such a way that you can maintain proper local
> radio which is not concentrated in the hands of two big players
> [Global Radio and Bauer Media]?
> 
> "Local radio has a real role to play in providing and maintaining a
> focus and identity for local communities."
> 
> There is currently no DAB multiplex in Carmichael's constituency of
> Orkney and Shetland, which has two commercial radio stations, although
> Orkney has been included on a list of regions which may get it, he
> said.
> 
> \\
> 
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