[cma-l] CMA Council latest

[Phil Shep]

Dear Members and Friends

Please forgive us if we are sometimes not keeping you as up to date as  
we would ideally intend, but please do not interpret relative silence  
as inaction.

We are acutely aware of the challenges facing the sector, hearing the  
needs of members, taking the best advice available and steering the  
course we judge to be in the best interest of the majority.  Our  
concerns are focused on

(1) the best tactics to try and preserve and grow the CRF - we have  
judged to date that careful lobbying is the safest option in this  
treachorous climate but have debated - and continue to debate - long  
and hard the value or otherwise of more overt campaigning. The  
meetings referred to below show some if our recent activity in this  
respect.

(2) making sure the key people of influence are getting our messages -  
also see below

(3) the futureTV debate with BBC - this decision to place the  
responsibility for funding local tv with the BBC was not entirely  
unexpected and is not certainly not without opportunity for us  
either.  Again we need to play this one carefully and without  
prejudice. We are well aware that traditional broadcasters can be  
difficult bedfellows for us but there is much to play for here, not  
just to the benefit of TV.

I can understand the frustration of people like Mark Polden but what  
he may not realise is that in the last few weeks we have met with  
EdVaizey, Minister at the DCMS, represented the sector at The Annual  
Radio Academy Festival, just this week talked to radio industry  
representatives in Port Talbot and met with PRS to ask them to try  
review the fees they charge to community radio. And that's just in the  
last couple of weeks.

The one thing we haven't done is bombard you with this information but  
rest assured,politically and otherwise, we are working  hard for the  
sector!


In solidarity!

Phil Shepherd
Chair of Council
CMA

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