[cma-l] Consultation on Renewal of Commercial Analogue Licences

[James Cridland]

For what it's worth, I think that the "extend licences for 5 years" is the
least-worst option.

I don't believe that a government-mandated switchover will happen any time
soon, and think it's bad for the industry. However, I can see some radio
stations wishing to hand their analogue licences back - and being a little
nervous that they'll simply be readvertised if they do that.

Given that I don't think a switchover will happen, I was highly against the
idea of a "extend licences indefinitely"; but it's also a massive waste of
money to readvertise those licences too - particularly since we don't know
how fast FM will continue to decline. I've not listened to FM for years now
at home.

I think knocking DAB is a little pointless in any response; audiences are
moving over to it, both here and in most European countries. The issue is
that it's entirely unsuitable for community broadcasters at present; but
that's little to do with a consultation on analogue licences.

//j



On Fri Nov 14 2014 at 11:55:34 AM ROBERT TYLER <bobtyler at btinternet.com>
wrote:

> Ian
>
> Do you not Ofcom to re-advertise the licences so new people can apply for
> them?
>
> Bob
>
>   ------------------------------
>  *From:* Ian Hickling <transplanfm at hotmail.com>
> *To:* "analoguerenewals at culture.gsi.gov.uk" <
> analoguerenewals at culture.gsi.gov.uk>; cma-l <cma-l at commedia.org.uk>; "
> ed.vaizey.mp at parliament.uk" <ed.vaizey.mp at parliament.uk>
> *Sent:* Friday, 14 November 2014, 9:56
> *Subject:* [cma-l] Consultation on Renewal of Commercial Analogue Licences
>
> Our attention has been drawn to this consultation:
>
>
> https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/analogue-commercial-radio-licence-renewal-consultation
>
> I feel it is very important for the sector to take note and respond.
>
> It appears to be based on the premise that from 2017 commercial stations
> will no longer require to be broadcasting on analogue platforms - which
> essentially means FM - and will voluntarily have moved over to digital
> formats - of which DAB would appear to offer the majority of take-up.
>
> I would suggest that this proposal is flawed for several reasons:
>
>    - DAB as it exists at present using the Eureka 147 algorithm does not
>    offer a sufficiently wide or robust platform for long-term UK requirements.
>    - DAB has very few adherents in the rest of the world and as such is
>    not an International format.
>    - Other than the large Groups which have a financial interest in doing
>    so, very few commercial operators have migrated to DAB and appear to have
>    no inclination to do so.
>    - Despite the on-going publicity from those with a vested interest,
>    the Consumer appears far from convinced that DAB as it stands is attractive
>    enough to warrant cessation of FM services.
>    - There is no logical argument - other than a blind desire to "go
>    digital" - to cease the use of FM in the UK and no other major broadcast
>    authorities world wide seem to show this desire.
>
>
> Ofcom should therefore be empowered to offer analogue licence renewal for
> at least a 5-year period to those broadcasters who wish to do so.
>
> Ian Hickling
> Partner
> transplan UK
>
>
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