[cma-l] Community Radio Order

Wed Jan 21 12:08:37 GMT 2015

The main two points to summarise the many dozens of messages that have 
been coming back and forth over past few days:

1 - To run a community radio station top of the list needs to be a paid 
'Station Manager' of some description.

2 - Most community radio stations are so strapped for cash that this is 
difficult to achieve. A significant majority have an hard time covering 
'core costs' never mind any development work.

So what in my view what does "the announcement" need to address? All 
links to my overarching issue "financing the sector".

1 - Licence renewal process.
We're now only months away from the "first batch" of stations current 
licences expiring with no renewal process in place. What chance has any 
one got of getting anywhere near a sustainable business plan if they 
don't know if they'll still have a licence?

2 - Removal of on-air advertising restrictions for stations overlapping 
small commercial radio stations.
The turnover of a community radio station is so small as to have no 
meaningful impact on a "small commercial licence" holders business. A 
decade down the road from the original ruling a commercial station's 
real competitor on a local scale is Google and Facebook advertising. At 
least a community radio station can help keep the money in the local 
economy, not to some off-shore multi-national.

3 - Community Radio Fund.
Everyone thinks it's too small. If it's aim is to help towards core 
costs or building sustainability in the sector it's clearly not working 
as effectively as it could. Perhaps it would be better if a chunk of the 
funds were just directed towards Ofcom to subsidise Community Radio 
Ofcom licence fees? Even extending this to the music licensing bodies - 
sector wide blanket licences at zero cost to stations sounds good.

4 - 50% advertising and sponsorship rule.
I'd propose that this isn't as pressing a worry as some think. A 
diversity of funding sources I think helps protect the qualities of a 
community radio station. Once you've claimed for volunteer time, it's 
actually a 66% rule in 'cash terms' - and possibly an even higher 
percentage if you've any support "in kind" you can claim for on your 
Ofcom return.

Phil.

On 20/01/2015 20:28, Canalside's The Thread wrote:
> Here’s a few Dom :- from Mr Wright in Bangingheadagainstwallshire
>
> 1)Why have successive Governments and Ministers pandered to commercial
> radio whilst neglecting community radio ?
>
> 2)Why have we still got restrictions after 12 years ?
>
> 3)Have the requests that we have been asking for the last 6 years been
> implemented ?
>
> 4)On Thursday will you be making a speech telling us everything we
> already know ? or are there serious beneficial changes for us      will
> bureaucracy and reporting be reduced ?
>
> 5)Do you think that some Community Radio Stations deserve a gold clock
> for managing to stay afloat whilst still achieving their key commitments
> ?  under the clouds of restrictions
>
> 6)Will there be a little more money going in the Community Radio Pot ?
> as we have gotten the same amount that was in 10 years ago with more
> Stations on-air
>
> 7)Re:- restrictions ….. if they do stay in some way shape or form how
> come 4 major on-air Stations have had to operate with NO ON-AIR
> Advertising at all and by the way you are not allowed to use the small
> ILR argument or the less than 150,000 argument as neither are relevant
> and neither are true. The Stations are mainly part of bigger groups
> which lifts them above the 150,000 anyway
>
> 8)Are we to start limbering up ready for the announcement (ie:- putting
> our deep heat on) as in are we going to have nice little smiles on our
> faces afterwards or is it going to be a damp squib ?
>
> 9)Do you seriously think there will be a falling over of commercial
> Stations if restrictions are lifted ? because I don’t.
>
> 10)How are things in the DCMS ?
>
> 11)Would you like a cup of tea and a Hob Knob ?
>
> 12)And finally … all the Stations who have done a wonderful job will
> they be given first bite of the cherry when / if extensions of licences
> are offered      which by the way I also think should be the case …. If
> not, could you tell us why we shouldn’t then all pack up now and go home ?
>
> It’s a good job I’m not interviewing him, we’d get to about number 5 and
> then he’d walk out after 10 minutes
>
> I think it sums things up to be honest when a Bill that has now turned
> up 4 years after it should have is now having only 15 minutes laid aside
> for discussion.
>
> All tongue in cheek of course …. Ed’s a decent man I know, and Dom will
> do a good job
>
> And well done to all the Community Radio fraternity
>                         by the way Dom, do you know roughly what is in
> the Bill or not. The reason I ask is because you will have to have some
> idea so that you know what you are asking him ….. if this is true, then
> my questions do not need to be asked as you will be on a ‘’’positive’’’
> footing ….. if you do not know what is in the document, then sadly my
> questions are relevant and you good have an argument / debate situation
> on your hands. I like to think we have gone past that point now and that
> my questions are now consigned to the bin ….. apart from the Hon Knob J
>
> Nick
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> *From:*cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
> [mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] *On Behalf Of *CMA-L
> *Sent:* 20 January 2015 17:34
> *To:* cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> *Subject:* [cma-l] Community Radio Order
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: *Dom Chambers* <chair at commedia.org.uk <mailto:chair at commedia.org.uk>>
>
> TO CMA members,
>
> The Community Radio Order is due to be published on Thursday this week.
> I will be interviewing  DCMS minister Ed Vaizey on Thursday morning.
> Time is limited to around 15 minutes for this. I will be conducting the
> interview on behalf of the CMA and welcome any questions you might like
> me to consider informing the interview. We will naturally focus on the
> content and implications of the CRO but this will be an opportunity to
> also ask about other areas of community media development.
>
> Best to all,
>
> Dom 1
>
> *Dom Chambers*
> *Chair*
>
> *Mobile*: +44 (0) 7802 457 396
> *Direct Line*: +44 (0) 1761 568 004*
> CMA Office: *+44 (0) 1142 795 219
> *Email:* Chair at Commedia.org.uk <mailto:Chair at Commedia.org.uk>
> *Personal Twitter:* @TheDomChambers <http://twitter.com/thedomchambers>
>
> *cmalogo44mmURL*
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> <http://www.avast.com/> 	
>
> This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus
> <http://www.avast.com/> protection is active.
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> Reply - cma-l at commedia.org.uk
>
> The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community Media Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk
> Twitter: http://twitter.com/community_media
> http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation
> Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/
> _______________________________________________
>
> Mailing list guidelines: http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/
> _______________________________________________
>
> To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please visit:
> http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l
>