[cma-l] the DAB debate

office office at fantasyradio.co.uk
Mon Nov 17 23:11:10 GMT 2014 

Gentlemen. (and ladies) I really don't want this to become a 'digital 
spy' kind of debate. That was really not my intention, but these figures 
are very confusing - I quote from an article of yours James:

/Around 1.7 million digital radio sets were sold in the year to the end 
of June 2014, making up over a third (36.2%) of all radio sets sold. /


Doesn't that mean over two thirds of Radio sets sold were Not DAB, 
therefore FM?  And, although a lot of new cars are coming out with DAB 
(and FM) radios, by far the vast majority of cars CURRENTLY on the road 
do NOT have DAB.  Considering the length of time DAB has been around, it 
doesn't look all that promising.

But I must take you to task for suggesting that I (and people like me) 
'seek to denigrate the whole platform'. This is just not true. I have 
been a fan - and have followed the progress of DAB for many years, just 
waiting for it to take off - but it hasn't - because, quite honestly it 
isn't very good, in many parts of the country.

So, please let's not have a duel about this, we are on the same side. I 
would love to have a fabulous new-technology platform on which to 
broadcast, packed with listeners. Trouble is, for many of the reasons 
discussed here, we haven't, and it divides us. instead of uniting the 
enthusiastic, dedicated and talented people in Community and Commercial 
radio broadcasting.

We should, I repeat, be making good radio, because we can - and 
promoting it as such to our audience, many of whom couldn't care less if 
it's DAB, FM or even AM!

Phil Dawson
FANTASY RADIO
DEVZES
Wiltshire.


On 17/11/2014 21:45, cma-l-request at mailman.commedia.org.uk wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
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>     1. Re:  The DAB debate (James Cridland)
>     2. Re:  The DAB debate (Associated Broadcast Consultants)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 19:53:43 +0000
> From: James Cridland <james at cridland.net>
> To: The Community Media Association Discussion List
> 	<cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk>
> Subject: Re: [cma-l] The DAB debate
> Message-ID:
> 	<CADxZ7USqx1qmKkwcPv=QK51P6bSc2R0amio9ibK2URtbiTbLvQ at mail.gmail.com>
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>
> Sorry for sounding like a bit of a broken record, but you say "whilst DAB
> may not be on a downward spiral" - thank you for admitting you were wrong -
> you also say "it certainly isn't really in the ascendancy."
>
> Hmm. Let's see. Year on year, it has more listeners, more listening hours,
> sales of DAB sets outperforming sales of radio receivers as a whole, now in
> 70% of new cars (according to some numbers I heard last week in an event),
> increased take up in much of Europe, two new UK national station launches
> in the space of three months, a second national multiplex on the way with
> multiple bidders... Certainly looks like it is in the ascendancy to me.
>
> Yes, it is wholly unsuitable for community radio right now. Utterly
> unsuitable, and cripplingly expensive: two things that DAB+ won't solve, by
> the way, and I don't even believe that the little muxes will properly solve
> that either.
>
> But what irks me somewhat is that you, and people like you, seek to
> denigrate an entire platform for everybody because it won't work for *you*.
> Either you want to be on DAB (presumably you do, otherwise you'd not
> rightly complain about the suitability and pricing), or you think DAB is
> entirely unsuitable for any radio broadcasting (and in which case,
> respectfully, you are wrong, as the figures show). Either way, you should
> pick your side.
>
> http://james.cridland.net
>
> On Mon, 17 Nov 2014 18:56 fantasy office <office at fantasyradio.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> Thank you James, for your response.
>>
>> And respect to you for plugging the name of our station twice in your
>> reply! I didn't say that 6music was only available on DAB - I said it's
>> not on FM...which is rather different.
>> Whilst DAB may not be on a downward spiral, it certainly isn't really in
>> the ascendancy.
>> But the problem is - Money! DAB is very expensive to broadcast and the
>> receivers have been too expensive for too long. And now with DAB+ those
>> loyal DAB listeners are going to have to re-invest!
>> DAB broadcasting is far too expensive...and even with the new Ofcom
>> initiative, how many additional listeners would a community station be
>> able to attract, over and above what they already have on FM?
>>
>> The DAB/FM debate has been going on for a long time. If DAB could show a
>> clear advantage, in cost, in audio quality and in added listenership
>> potential, there would be no contest. However, DAB, for community radio
>> as well as for some commercial stations, can offer no such benefit.
>>
>> I'm glad though, you agree that DAB has been poorly marketed, and that
>> we should all be getting behind RADIO for all the right reasons,
>> whatever platforms remain.
>>
>> Sorry you can't get FM in your kitchen, James. Was it built within a
>> Faraday Cage?
>>
>>
>> Phil Dawson
>> FANTASY RADIO
>> Devizes,
>> Wiltshire
>>
>>
>> On 16/11/2014 22:04, cma-l-request at mailman.commedia.org.uk wrote:
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>>> Today's Topics:
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>>>      1. Re:  Superstation in Orkney ceases broadcasting
>>>         (shirleyludford at btinternet.co)
>>>      2.  New Field Recorder / Mic (terry mechan)
>>>      3. Re:  New Field Recorder / Mic (Associated Broadcast Consultants)
>>>      4. Re:  The DAB debate (James Cridland)
>>>
>>>
>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>> Message: 1
>>> Date: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 21:08:58 +0000
>>> From: "shirleyludford at btinternet.co" <shirleyludford at btinternet.com>
>>> To: The Community Media Association Discussion List
>>>        <cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk>,        "cma-l at commedia.org.uk"
>>>        <cma-l at commedia.org.uk>
>>> Subject: Re: [cma-l] Superstation in Orkney ceases broadcasting
>>> Message-ID:
>>>        <1416172138.46627.YahooMailNeo at web186003.mail.ir2.yahoo.com>
>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>>>
>>> I am so sorry to read this.
>>>
>>> All our best wishes go to members of the Station from all at SWINDON
>> 105.5
>>> ?
>>> ?Shirls
>>> ?
>>>
>>> ?Shirley Ludford
>>>
>>> Mob:?07951 366289
>>>
>>> High Sheriff's Award for Services to Community
>>>
>>> Pride Of Swindon Award
>>> Patron: Commonweal School?
>>> Patron: DPAG
>>>
>>> Station Manager. Trainer
>>> SWINDON 105.5
>>> www.swindon1055.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ________________________________
>>>    From: James Cridland <james at cridland.net>
>>> To: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
>>> Sent: Sunday, 16 November 2014, 16:26
>>> Subject: [cma-l] Superstation in Orkney ceases broadcasting
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Apparently, it fell off the air at midday today.
>>> http://media.info/radio/news/superstation-orkney-ends-
>> community-radio-broadcasting
>>> J
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>> Reply - cma-l at commedia.org.uk
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>>> Message: 2
>>> Date: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 21:03:53 +0000
>>> From: terry mechan <terrymechan at live.co.uk>
>>> To: <cma-l at commedia.org.uk>
>>> Subject: [cma-l] New Field Recorder / Mic
>>> Message-ID: <DUB130-DS21EC00380623AC03069FFC9A8A0 at phx.gbl>
>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>>>
>>> Am going to treat myself to an new WAV recorder for location work when
>> doing my documentaries
>>> It will replace the Roland R-05 I have had for a few years.
>>>
>>> Ideally would like something with a waveform monitor to confirm levels
>> when recording
>>> Any suggestions as to what works for you or your colleagues
>>>
>>> terry mechan
>>> www.terrymechan.com
>>>
>>>
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>>> Message: 3
>>> Date: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 21:54:10 +0000
>>> From: Associated Broadcast Consultants <info at a-bc.co.uk>
>>> To: The Community Media Association Discussion List
>>>        <cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk>
>>> Cc: cma-l <cma-l at commedia.org.uk>
>>> Subject: Re: [cma-l] New Field Recorder / Mic
>>> Message-ID:
>>>        <CAG9-nrZ-EoAuW1kYv+QxydkMsfenCAkq51bz6jCZZDR6bwWR
>> wg at mail.gmail.com>
>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>>>
>>> The Zoom H4n is a nice bit of kit and has sound level metering.  I know
>> it
>>> is good indoors for recording voiceovers, but not sure how good it is
>>> outdoors in noisy environments.
>>>
>>> Glyn
>>>
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> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 21:21:28 +0000
> From: Associated Broadcast Consultants <info at a-bc.co.uk>
> To: The Community Media Association Discussion List
> 	<cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk>
> Subject: Re: [cma-l] The DAB debate
> Message-ID:
> 	<CAG9-nrbDeE-hU-nniq0wd3bcZB63=v5gRYBYmo30KFAvGbQBXw at mail.gmail.com>
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>
> To be fair though James, DAB does not seem to have captured the imagination
> of listeners, judging by adoption.  Most modern radio technologies have an
> S-shaped adoption curve - that's to say a little slow at the beginning
> while the early-adopters buy it, but then quickly seeing an exponential
> growth as it becomes mainstream.  I may be wrong, but I don't think we've
> seen this with DAB in terms of adoption/penetration of receivers.   We can
> only hope that the slow adoption in not a sign of a deeper malaise with
> radio in general, regardless of delivery technology.
>
> Also what's this with the insidious re-naming from "Low cost DAB" to "small
> scale DAB"?  Even Ofcom have started using the term in their latest
> consultation!  In my opinion we need to focus more on the low cost, and
> leave the size/scale decision to whatever is best to deliver low cost.
>
> Glyn
>

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