[cma-l] Financing Community Radio Stations.
terry mechan
terrymechan at live.co.uk
Tue Apr 15 20:37:27 BST 2014
Following on from the consultation on DCMS emails, I have some comments on funding for Community Radio Stations
My view is, as a minimum, all Community Radio Stations should charge a membership fee for all presenters because all presenters needs to contribute money to keep their stations on air.
If CR presenters want the privilege of using airwaves to get their shows, views, and talent across to the general public, in the first instance, they should put their hand in their pocket to help out.
All restrictions on advertising in CR's should be removed
The CR model of relying on grants, handouts and bucket shaking collections doesn't work.
I bet 50% of CR's on this forum are no more than 24 months away from closing due to lack of income.
Also the BBC need to put their hands in their pocket and pay for re-broadcasting some of the Community Radio Shows that grace the airwaves throughout the country.
In this South West, the BBC are happy to take excerpts from CR radio presenters for a weekly hour- long community radio show but they pay nothing for it.
They don't even give a donation to the CR station which produced the programmes.
I did a few but ain't doing anymore for nothing!!
The BBC just rely on the desire of presenters to have a wider audience so they know they can put programme together for free.
Perhaps some of the 1million pounds they pay a year as fees to individual presenters, (Fiona Bruce, Jeremy Clarkson et al), could find it's way back into other radio voices who should be heard.
The BBC have a virtual monopoly on Radio Coverage in the UK, notwithstanding the niche players on FM and DAB.
Perhaps Community Radio Stations should get together, form a National Production Company, and offer to be an Independent Producer of Programmes for the BBC.
At the moment nearly all "Indies" are run or owned by ex BBC employees so the BBC money stays "in the family"
Why should we, in Community Radio, be second class citizens?
Over to you all for comment
Terry Mechan
www.terrymechan.com
> On 15 Apr 2014, at 16:00, "shirleyludford at btinternet.co" <shirleyludford at btinternet.com> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> Allowing Stations to be able to support themselves, fairly, is essential to survival. As the Manager of a non-commercial Station, I have learnt to be very creative... but not sufficiently enough to reduce our reliance on grant-funded projects which have mainly kept us going for 6 years. They do provide a great range of outcomes but take a lot of time in so many ways.
>
> We now have to find an additional £450 per month for premises costs. As a non-commercial Station that is a real problem to us. Gaining more of a "level playing field" with other community stations on freedom for more commercial activities would be a helpful start.
>
>
> I have a meeting with the Head of Radio and TV Licencing in London, through Minister Ed Vaizey, as he is interested to hear of our work; this is currently being arranged with one of our Swindon MPs
>
>
> Shirls
>
>
> Shirley Ludford
>
> Station Manager. Trainer
> SWINDON 105.5
> Mob: 07951 366289
> www.swindon1055.com
>
>
> From: Richard Hilton <Richard.Hilton at bitc.org.uk>
> To: "cma-l at commedia.org.uk" <cma-l at commedia.org.uk>
> Sent: Tuesday, 15 April 2014, 14:59
> Subject: Re: [cma-l] DCMS Consultation
>
> Ah the 50% rule! Below is part of what I posted back in February on the subject. In essence; most of us aren’t getting close to the 50% limit and fighting for those stations that can’t take any on-air advertising is far more important.
>
>
> Ofcom’s 2013 Communications Market Report has detailed information on our sector. Overall in terms of income in 2012 29% came from On-air advertising and sponsorship. Grants made up 29%, SLA’s 7%, donations 14% and other 20%.
>
> So how is abolishing the 50% rule is going to help? At 29% it’s not that the sector overall is close to hitting 50% limit.
>
> Ofcom break these income categories by type of station. Their figures show the % for On-air advertising and sponsorship as follows:-
>
> Geographic town / rural 32%
> Geographic rural 23%
> Minority ethnic 43%
> Military 7%
> Religious 31%
> Youth 28%
>
> So for minority ethnic stations at 43% the abolition of the rule might help but I can’t see it helping others. Personally speaking I think the rule was set up for all the right reasons; it encourages diversity in our funding models and makes us less dependent on one source of income. Subtly it governs our sound and ethos. Maybe argue to push it to, say, 60% but I believe this fight is a red herring.
>
> A far most justifiable fight to pick would be to campaign for those community stations that aren’t allowed any on-air advertising and sponsorship as they have a small commercial station broadcasting near them. Their case is far more important. That is where we should be concentrating our fire power.
>
> Regards
>
> Richard
>
> From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk [mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of Geoff Rogers
> Sent: 15 April 2014 14:26
> To: Fantasy Radio Office; cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> Subject: Re: [cma-l] DCMS Consultation
>
> I have to be in full agreement here that the 50% rule must go and this should be supported by the CMA.
>
> It is notoriously hard to get grant money in many circumstances and to be able to help very small local businesses with very cheap advertising is almost social gain in itself and no threat to even the smallest commercial station (if indeed any of these exist !)
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Geoff
>
> On 15 April 2014 12:53, Fantasy Radio Office <office at fantasyradio.co.uk> wrote:
> On 15/04/2014 12:00, cma-l-request at mailman.commedia.org.uk wrote:
> > DCMS Consultation
>
> The 50% rule might seem good to the stations able to pull in grant money
> - some of us have not been able to do so.
>
> By restricting advertising revenue, an important and enthusiastic
> section of the COMMUNITY is partly excluded (i.e. the business sector)
> from enjoying a relationship with the community station - and therefore
> the community. This 50% rule must go.
>
> Phil Dawson
>
> FANTASY RADIO 97FM
>
> Devizes and Mid Wiltshire
>
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> --
> Geoff Rogers
> Programme Director
> Susy Radio, Local Community Radio for Redhill and Reigate
> On-air across Sussex and Surrey on 103.4FM NOW
> Web: susyradio.com
>
> Susy Radio Ltd. A company registered in England and Wales.
> Registered Office: 54 Nutfield Road, Merstham, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 3EP.
> Registered Number: 06748586
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