[cma-l] Financing Community Radio Stations.
Richard Hilton
Richard.Hilton at bitc.org.uk
Thu Apr 17 16:09:42 BST 2014
A very articulate email and I’d like to pick up on one point;
‘Even with the current fund getting £3k each year without applying for it each time would be most welcome’
I assume this refers to the concept of simply dividing up the fund equally across all on-air community radio stations. At present there are about 210 eligible stations. The eligible funds for 2013-2014 was about £397k. £397k divided across 210 stations is about £1,890 each, not £3k. And as more stations are licenced (congratulations to the two awarded licences today) then clearly the amount will diminish unless you can increase the size of the fund and personally I can’t see the politicians substantially increasing the size of the fund if all it does is boringly divide it out equally.
Kind regards
Richard
From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk [mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of Colin Pearse
Sent: 17 April 2014 14:56
To: terry mechan
Cc: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Financing Community Radio Stations.
Good Afternoon,
I was totally for the 50% rule abolition until I attended the meeting in Sheffield however having had extensive discussions I am of the absolute opinion that it should be retained. It was thought that perhaps an exemption banding could be introduced, say !0k to 20K for the lower cost operators and I would include myself in this catagory. There's no doubt that having the rule is a good weapon when asking people for funding as it underlines the fact that you might be working under some difficulty in what looks like an unfair situation. With the general opinion that the available funding to be split equally each year the retention of the 50% rule makes it easier for the CMA to ask the DCMS for increased finance being available as in many other countries. We know that more money is a realistic aim as you only have to look at the funding now available for local t v projects. The possibility of funding being available off the back of the BBC licence fee has already been mentioned. It should be also taken into account that even as the 50% stands many licences have arranged their financial matters to overcome the problems this might create whilst remaining within the rules. Certainly the no advertising rule should be removed and I am sure there is general agreement over this.
When talking face to face with other stations it becomes immediately apparent that, for the most part, they are many " completely different animals" although I was surprised that there were so many relatively low cost operators out there. One recently quoted me annual running costs of £10k which really impressed as I thought that my £14k model was pretty good!
Within our set up in general we don't have membership fees purely because we don't need them however a few members do subscribe to a small petty cash fund which can be called upon if required. We also offer limited expenses to all volunteers including presenters and this amounts to about one half of their actual travel etc but not mileage costs in any one month. The take up for this is about 20% of the total who could claim and might amount to perhaps £180 in any one month. It is good that this is so low in that otherwise we would either require more income or we might need to reduce the payout.
As I said, naturally there are many different models currently on air and what may suit one won't always be right for another however in this case I'm happy to support the conclusions that arose out of the recent meeting and I think we need to give it a chance to see what comes out the "other end". Even with the current fund getting £3k each year without applying for it each time would be most welcome. Prior to our licence having done 18 RSL's I hate to think of the tens of thousands we've spent in going the "legal route" in order to get to here. I look forward to some pay back in that the DCMS will have increased support for all of us!
Colin Pearse - Director / SUSY Radio / Reigate & Crawley
(I would point out that my fellow directors may all have their own opinions)
On 15 April 2014 20:37, terry mechan <terrymechan at live.co.uk<mailto:terrymechan at live.co.uk>> wrote:
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<http://www.terrymechan.com>
On 15 Apr 2014, at 16:00, "shirleyludford at btinternet.co<mailto:shirleyludford at btinternet.co>" <shirleyludford at btinternet.com<mailto: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
[http://www.swindon1055.com/v_images/shirley__rep.jpg] Shirley Ludford
Station Manager. Trainer
SWINDON 105.5
Mob: 07951 366289
www.swindon1055.com<http://www.swindon1055.com>
________________________________
From: Richard Hilton <Richard.Hilton at bitc.org.uk<mailto:Richard.Hilton at bitc.org.uk>>
To: "cma-l at commedia.org.uk<mailto:cma-l at commedia.org.uk>" <cma-l at commedia.org.uk<mailto: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> [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<mailto: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<mailto:office at fantasyradio.co.uk>> wrote:
On 15/04/2014 12:00, cma-l-request at mailman.commedia.org.uk<mailto: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<http://www.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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