[cma-l] FW: The Telegraph: Government still won't commit to digital radio switchover date

[Office - ccr-fm]

It's all gone extremely technical and possibly over the heads of the
majority of community radio laymen.

I see it quite simply as this (but correct me if I am wrong)

1) We want more community stations to join the throng
2) We can't, coz' there ain't any room left on the spectrum
3) Those already on the spectrum are getting interfered and fettled with by
commercial radio stations who are either on the same wavelength, over
modulating, too much power or just generally being a complete pain in the
arse !
4) The solution is to shift the bigger boys onto digital services to free up
FM frequencies        the BBC for example hogging 50% of space in some areas
??  er I think ?
5) Lots more community stations as they are only on peanuts watts !   and
possibly a bit of room for manoeuvre for those already getting trodden on
only 1 mile outside their own MCA

This ladies and gentlemen is how I see it, furthermore we are experiencing
it, which confirms that regardless of the down to earth slightly uneducated
language the fact remains that our view on things is possibly the correct
view and those in the Ivory Towers have still got the curtains closed, the
blinkers on and the ear muffs on their empty heads.

Regards

Nick

-----Original Message-----
From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
[mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of Alan Coote
Sent: 07 July 2011 10:59
To: 'cma-l'
Subject: Re: [cma-l]The Telegraph: Government still won’t commit to digital
radio switchover date

More bad news for DAB

RadioForums.co.uk

DAB broadcasts have ceased in Portugal, with public-service broadcaster RTP
handing back its licence to the regulator. RTP was simulcasting six national
stations, covering 74% of the population on 44 transmitters, including 9 in
the Azores and 7 in Madeira. Although no digital-only stations were offered,
RTP said it had invested £5.7million in the DAB project to date, with annual
costs of £300,000 per year, which was unsustainable given the small number
of listeners.

The country’s Regulatory Authority for the Media described the DAB project
as a “failure”, caused by problems “that also occurred in other countries,
such as the costs of simulcast, the price of receivers, a lack of
coordination with the automotive industry... and feared marginalization of
local radio stations.” The Portuguese Association of Broadcasting said “the
technology never had opportunity to take hold, given the delay in the
implementation of DAB, due mainly to the limited interest shown by industry,
listeners and radio broadcasters.” The regulator is retaining the
frequencies for radio broadcasts, allowing use for DAB+ in the future. RTP
has also temporarily ceased shortwave transmissions of RDP Internacional to
save money.

Meanwhile, in Spain, many DAB transmitters have also been switched off this
recently, after the government gave permission for minimum coverage to be
reduced from 50% to 20%, leaving only Madrid and Barcelona with DAB signals.
This forms part of a new “technologically neutral” digital radio plan for
Spain, paving the way for DAB+ and pilot services of DRM/DRM+

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
      


 



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