[cma-l] From CMA Council - we are meeting this Saturday in Sheffield

[Peter Reid]

Hello.

Some thoughts on DCMS and local television (LTV).

Given
that Jeremy Hunt has stated that LTV is one of his priorities, this
week's proposals are deeply dissappointing.  Short of abandoning the
idea altogether, they are just about the minimum that could have been
offered, although the inclusion of the BBC money will sweeten the pill
somewhat.

The use of an existing multiplex, with added
localisation via "add-drop", to deliver LTV remains the best, and only
serious way forward.  This would make LTV available to 98.5% of the
population, assuming local operators come forward.  This would provide
not only near universal access but also a strong economic base on which
to build.  Restricting development to the use of the interleaved (GI)
spectum restricts access to, allegedly, around 50% of the population,
thus making it a postcode lottery.  However, the technical quality and
the quality of coverage of this spectrum is far from proven and the use
of it could cause as many problems as it solves, as happened with the
TRSLs in the '90-00s.

The government's fallback position of
offering future broadband/IPTV/YouView access for LTV puts progeress
back for years.  It is still not clear when YouView will be avaialble
and what its take-up will be; it will require a high speed broadband
connection and it is still not clear when that will be universally
available and what its take-up will be.  Relying on this to provide a
platform on which to develop LTV seems  like a lack of serious
committment.

Use of an existing multiplex then provides:

    Near universal access.

    A stong economic base on which to build.

    All the cultural, social, economic and democratic benefits that go with local media development.

Restriction to the GI spectrum and future YouView access:

    Provides only a piecemeal, postcode lottery development.

    Undermines the economic viability of LTV.

    Denies the cultural, social, economic and democratic benefits of local media to, probably, most of the population.

I
would strongly argue therefore that Jeremy Hunt and the govenment
should support LTV dvelopment by providing access to an existing
digital multiplex.

All best,

Peter Reid.





> Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2011 23:25:37 +0100
> From: phil at somersetfilm.com
> To: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> Subject: [cma-l] From CMA Council - we are meeting this Saturday in Sheffield
> 
> Dear Members and Friends
>  
> The new Council meets this weekend in Sheffield.  I am looking forward to
> getting together with existing and new members to discuss the issues of the
> day and to support our staff in taking the next steps forward.   This summer
> sees several new contracts in place that are directly benefiting some of our
> licensed radio members as well as the core CMA service and I look forward
> with optimism to seeing us grow from strength to strength from here on in.
>  
> For avoidance of doubt - at the AGM we discussed the fact that both
> Treasurer Richard Hilton and myself as Chair were due to stand down from
> Council this year, having each completed three consecutive terms, the
> maximum allowed by our rules.  This issue had  already been discussed at
> Council and it was agreed to propose that both of us remain in our executive
> posts (of Treasurer and Chair) for a further 6-12 months and/or until such
> time as succession can be worked through and other officers appointed.   At
> the AGM it was agreed to mandate the newly elected Council to co-opt Richard
> and myself in the way described at their next meeting if they felt the
> proposal to be appropriate.  The co-option duly took place at the customary
> brief Council meeting held in the late afternoon of the AGM day.
>  
> During this interim period Richard and I will not have a vote on Council but
> will otherwise continue to conduct its business as before.  This has been
> agreed as necessary because of the difficult period we have just been
> through (for the last four years at least!) and the executive's need for
> continuity in the hopefully now emerging transition to a more sustainable
> model.
>  
> I look forward to helping make this a great year for the CMA and hope this
> clarifies what is happening organisation wise.
>  
> Please let us know if you have anything you would like us to think about
> when we meet on Saturday.  In particular, I would be interested in hearing
> feedback on the government's new consultation paper on local TV.
>  
> Download it at <http://www.culture.gov.uk/consultations/8298.aspx>
>  
> Personally I agree with a lot of it although I believe the revised model
> proposed will still not work well for communities in practice.  CMA and ULTV
> are severally and jointly preparing responses so please let us know what you
> think.
>  
> Hope to hear from you.
>  
> With best wishes
>  
> Phil
> 
> For CMA Council
>  
>  
> 
> 
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