[cma-l] Government response to petition 'allthevoices'
Dave Rushton
local.tv at virgin.net
Mon Jul 26 10:49:59 BST 2010
Dear Phil and Mark
The point was made in your recent exchanges that the BBC is a
national (meaning UK) public service broadcaster. Of course this
'national' perspective needs to be unpacked in the light not merely
of the devolved nations - and their lack of proportional BBC spend
and central dominance of London on commissions, but also - I suggest
- in terms of a more local devolution or subsidiarity. That
'subsidiarity' is in a fragmented way represented by community radio
and in particular by the network aspirations of local public service
television.
Section 11 of the 2003 Communications Act (Media Literacy) seeks to
ensure that all citizens have greater control over media. In writing
on this topic since 1995, and in submissions to the Calman Commission
and Scottish Broadcasting Commission as well as the DCMS - the point
has been made that 'local channels should be under local control', if
not under local regulation at least subject to local advice to
regulators. In short a model used in the Netherlands, that local
Trust's have some input into terms of licences for local/community
services.
The perenial issue is how to respond to attacks on the BBC. Since
1989 and in anticipating the 1990 Broadcasting Act and Charter
renewal the BBC has been defended monolithically, on its own terms.
The BBC hen now is seen to be at the mercy of The Fox. In the
intervening years between assaults on the BBC the BBC is not tackled
for its policies or self-characterisation of role. Support for the
BBC plays out as a periodic defence of an overly centralised public
service broadcaster that has inadequately responded to demands - know
since the 1980s - for a more genuinely locally controlled and
responsive broadcast emphasis - an emphasis that embraces the local
civic scale on local terms that are less subject to brand than local
identity.
The CMA list reads regularly as a Community Radio Association list:
it is not.
Local public service television is not a fragmented service here or
there option neither does it seek the licensing of large scale
commercial services (so called Transmitter TV not Local TV) with left-
over ill-fitting bits of spectrum left to communities. Local public
service television - to which the CMS has subscribed since 1996 -
would involve an integrated comprehensive national network of
mutually engaged services on scales suited to communities.
Hunt has advanced the use of all 81 UK transmitters to deliver local
TV. Local TV secured that prospect by arguing against Ofcoms
suggestion of first six local TV stations, then twenty five. All
eighty-one sites were brought into play because local organisation
made the demand not to be excluded. The emphasis is on service and
the service being received regardless of location.
The Community Media Association - in TV mode - supports local TV a
mosaic and network approach. This involves resisting a first and
second class service based on commercial scale swamping coverage for
services on a meaningful scale that genuinely address 'public'
service, democratic accountability and work with the commercial,
public, community and educational sectors in a recognised local area.
Some but not all in the local TV sector would argue that the BBC
could be a partner by ensuring a more genuinely local model.
Certainly the BBC knows it fails to deliver the scale of TV services
that viewers demand and, if only for that reason, a percentage of its
budget is not being used to meet the needs of the viewers. For local
TV it need not be a case of securing funding from the licence fee but
of having the BBC 'offer' to provide funds for a more localised
public service infrastructure of which it is a part (but not a
dominant part).
I would suggest that devolution and double devolution of funds to
ensure greater local accountability might support a network of
independent community radio as well as local public service
television. That is a possible point for discussion among a sector
that has not adopted a network or universal approach. Universal
access is possible for local television on Freeview with spectrum
freed up by switchover. Of course universal access locally and for
services across the UK underwrites local TV's case for access to
(national) public funds - as much as to ensuring access in low
population relay-necessary areas.
Meanwhile the discussion on whether or not the licence fee might be
seized at the centre and reapportioned from the centre misses the
point. Since the BBC has over-achieved its central task in providing
the UK's universal service for radio and TV what should it do next -
seek global conquest (1990s objective) or a address a more refined
and local set of broadcasting models within the UK?
Spectrum in transmission is fundamentally local (BBC radio was
initially local). Spectrum was aggregated centrally to provide a
national service when 'national' meant British; that is in the '20s
for post-First World War rebuilding; then rapidly in contemplation of
internal national unrest/strike/revolution: then again for national
and command led representation during the Second World War; and
echoed in the external nuclear threat throughout the Cold War.
The 'national purpose' identified was a cultural purpose of mutual
identification against a common enemy - of pulling together (when
this was central and monolithic). To achieve common purpose the
licence fee was aggregated from individual households/viewers. Yet
post Cold War a unified national view has been penetrated by global
media and - this Government - now argues for greater localised self-
reliance. Local models of broadcasting put that objective to the test
and (will) allow for greater productive innovation as swell as
cultural diversity and reflection.
National broadcasting services are amply provided for on a national
transmission network. But since that national network is composed of
variable local components, surely the appropriate debate is not about
top-slicing (at the centre) but to ensure that government repatriates
spectrum to local transmission and regulation to ensure that those in
reach of signals can best reflect their own different demands for
service?
Best,
Dave
Dr David Rushton
Institute of Local Television
On 25 Jul 2010, at 17:26, Phil Korbel wrote:
> well that's alright then - a cabinet minister makes a promise so we
> can all rest easy... [not to cast aspersions on Mr Hunt in person
> of course]
>
> Mark you're not following my drift - the greatest contribution we
> make to society [big or otherwise] is the raft of social gain that
> we generate - not the fact of our broadcasting. We do deserve a
> proper slice of the public purse for that - not for 'public service
> broadcasting'.
>
> bestss,
>
> Phil
>
> On 25 July 2010 17:44, mark polden <markianpolden at hotmail.com> wrote:
> Hi All
>
> I dont agree with Phil, if you look at my other post this morning.
> Jeremy Hunt put it quite clearly this morning "the license fee is a
> tax to finance all public service broadcasting" in fact from the
> conversation with Andrew Marr if I was ITV I would be coming round
> with a bowl too. Also he said that there would never be a FOX news
> inthe UK on his watch
>
> From: phil.korbel at googlemail.com
> Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2010 12:05:56 +0100
>
> Subject: Re: [cma-l] Government response to petition 'allthevoices'
> To: markianpolden at hotmail.com
> CC: murray at shmu.org.uk; cma-l at commedia.org.uk
>
>
> the licence fee is a tax for the upkeep of the BBC - and we are not
> a state broadcaster. We deserve proper payment for the services
> that we provide to the community. A weakened BBC means a
> strengthened Rupert Murdoch and a weakened community media sector.
> So let's prove our strengths as a provider of social gain and not
> give strength to the monopolising dreams of The Digger... do you
> seriously want to be seen as part of the reason that we ended up
> with Fox News UK?
>
> and slim the wage packets of the BBC top brass and top, er,
> 'talent' too.. A far more fair settlement wd be for Auntie to pay
> us to host extended work placements for all its new employees...
>
> [rant ends]
>
> bests,
>
> Phil
>
>
> On 23 July 2010 20:23, mark polden <markianpolden at hotmail.com> wrote:
> I realise that it is an old chestnut, phil but my argument is that
> effectively the license fee is a tax and what we and our listeners
> want it to be used for. I think that in this settlement the
> government will force the BBC to look at what it does very
> carefully, we are only talking about a small percentage which
> should make absolutely no difference to the BBC apart from focusing
> the mind a little about people wage packets
>
> Mark
>
> From: phil.korbel at googlemail.com
> Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:25:27 +0100
>
> Subject: Re: [cma-l] Government response to petition 'allthevoices'
> To: markianpolden at hotmail.com
> CC: murray at shmu.org.uk; julian at 10radio.org; cma-l at commedia.org.uk
>
>
> Hi Murray
>
> IMHO the CRF form and process is not onerous and in itself presents
> a reasonable competence barrier to applicants - i.e. if you cant
> fill out a relatively simple application, with all the guidance and
> steers given, then maybe you are not a right and proper recipient
> of that public money. Which is not to disagree with the idea of
> more experienced stations helping out others - but that help should
> be about getting them to a stage where they can fill out the form -
> not filling out the form for them.
>
> Hi Mark
>
> This is a bit of an old chestnut for me but - we really should not
> be on the side of those politicians who seek to disable the BBC and
> a call for top slicing does exactly that. I say this someone who
> nearly gagged as I read this week's Media Guardian Top 100 and the
> salaries the top BBC execs get - a disgrace. But if community
> radio is '90% community' then we should not seek the bulk of our
> funding from a 'radio' pot. What we should be asking for is
> funding that recognises our contribution to society [big or
> otherwise] and to multiple government priorities.
>
> The Community Radio Fund should recognise that point - and be bigger.
>
> But hey folks - lets get real - the next two years are going to be
> very grim for us all - stations will go dark and be cut to the bone
> and we'll need to work together to weather the storm.
>
> Over and out,
>
> Phil
>
>
>
> On 23 July 2010 12:02, mark polden <markianpolden at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> It would be a good time to start as part of all the voices talking
> about a portion of the license fee being part of this, the
> government has already said there is to be some boat rocking done
> as part of the 2012/13 BBC license settlement and it plays very
> well to the big society image that is being promoted at the moment
>
> Mark Polden
> Flame 1521
> Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:11:03 +0100
> From: murray at shmu.org.uk
> To: julian at 10radio.org
> CC: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> Subject: Re: [cma-l] Government response to petition 'allthevoices'
>
>
> I think there are two elements to this Julian;
>
> - we should work together to support those who have less experience
> in completing funding applications in producing an application that
> truly reflects the quality of the work of their organisation (I'm
> happy to assist where I can - perhaps we can create a guide on the
> CMA website or Toolkit?)
>
> - and we should have a large enough fund that allows though who
> have been successful in previous round with 'good' applications to
> be funded again (otherwise, eventually, the only ones which will be
> being considered will be the ones who haven't had funding before -
> either new stations or the ones who have previously submitted poor
> applications).
>
> All the best
>
> Murray
>
> please reply to
> murray at shmu.org.uk
>
> Murray Dawson
> Project Director
> Station House Media Unit
> Station Road, Woodside,
> Aberdeen AB24 2WB
> Tel - 01224 515013
>
> www.shmu.org.uk
>
> listen to our community radio station live on 99.8FM and at
> www.shmufm.net
>
> SHMU is a charity registered in Scotland - SC034211 and a
> registered Limited Company - SC332413
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> -----------------
> This message is not intended to have contractual effect
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> -----------------
>
>
>
>
> On 21/07/2010 17:02, Julian Mellor wrote:
> The reported comment made by Richard Hilton at the CMA conference
> "The quality of applications had been surprisingly poor" does not
> bode well for the future of the fund.
>
> Why would anyone keep a fund going when it's a struggle to find
> projects that are good enough to fund?
>
> The campaign to keep the fund will need to address this, perhaps
> explaining why recent applications have been poor and drawing
> attention to the quality and outcomes of previous grants.
>
> Julian
> ......................................................................
> ..........
>
> 10Radio: community radio for the 10 parishes
> 105.3fm
> http://www.10radio.org
>
> West St
> Wiveliscombe
> Somerset
> TA4 2JP
>
> JM tel: 01984 623 104
> Studio and office tel: 01984 624 137
>
> 10Radio CIC
> Registered Office: 1 Croft Cottage, West St, Wiveliscombe,
> Somerset, TA4 2JP
> Registered in England and Wales Number: 6004252
>
> On 21 Jul 2010, at 16:41, jaqui devereux wrote:
>
> Dear all
>
> Many of you will have received this from HM Government today
> regarding the Allthevoices campaign. We have checked with DCMS and
> this is the current position of the new government.
>
> However, a major caveat though - the new government cannot confirm
> that this would be their position following the Comprehensive
> Spending Review in the autumn, so not quite time to jump for any
> joy. The CMA Council is meeting on 31st July and will be devising
> a major campaign to feed into the CSR to try to ensure that the
> Community Radio Fund is both maintained and expanded and we will
> need your help in that. Let us know if you have particular ideas
> on the best approach for the campaign.
>
> Thanks
>
> Jaqui
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: HM Government <petitions at hmg.gov.uk>
> Date: 21 July 2010 14:42
> Subject: Government response to petition 'allthevoices'
> To: e-petition signatories <petitions at hmg.gov.uk>
>
>
> You signed a petition asking the Prime Minister to support the
> sustainability and growth of community radio by substantially
> increasing
> the resources of the Community Radio Fund.
>
> Her Majesty's Government has responded to that petition and you can
> view it
> here:
>
> http://www.hmg.gov.uk/epetition-responses/petition-view.aspx?
> epref=allthevoices
>
>
> Her Majesty's Government
>
> Petition information - http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/allthevoices/
>
> If you would like to opt out of receiving further mail on this or
> any other
> petitions you signed, please email optoutpetitions at hmg.gov.uk
>
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>
> --
> Phil Korbel
> Director
> 0161 237 5454
>
> Radio Regen is a community, media and urban regeneration charity
> A company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales
> No. 3753832
> Registered office: 12 Hilton Street, Manchester, M1 1JF
> Registered Charity No. 1077763
> www.radioregen.org
> www.communityradiotoolkit.net
>
>
>
> Get a new e-mail account with Hotmail - Free. Sign-up now.
>
>
>
> --
> Phil Korbel
> Director
> 0161 237 5454
>
> Radio Regen is a community, media and urban regeneration charity
> A company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales
> No. 3753832
> Registered office: 12 Hilton Street, Manchester, M1 1JF
> Registered Charity No. 1077763
> www.radioregen.org
> www.communityradiotoolkit.net
>
>
>
> Get a free e-mail account with Hotmail. Sign-up now.
>
>
>
> --
> Phil Korbel
> Director
> 0161 237 5454
>
> Radio Regen is a community, media and urban regeneration charity
> A company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales
> No. 3753832
> Registered office: 12 Hilton Street, Manchester, M1 1JF
> Registered Charity No. 1077763
> www.radioregen.org
> www.communityradiotoolkit.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> 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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