[cma-l] Community Radio Consultation Report - Summary of GovernmentResponses

Thu Jan 22 13:15:29 GMT 2015

Dear All

Number 1 :- A move in the right direction, but only a token gesture when you
look at the figure. I would have been a lot more comfortable if the figure
was £30,000. It has been proved on numerous occasions that for a Community
Radio Station to be operating at its full potential we do need around
£75,000 - ish as an average figure and to be in the easy chair.

So Number One in my opinion is a ‘half’ cop-out, possibly slightly nearer to
a full cop out. Clearly influenced by folk who have got nothing to do with
Community Radio poking their ores in again.

Number 2 :- Clearly all my explanations on ‘interfering’ have gone by the by

. Commercial radio should not even be mentioned, they have got nothing to
do with what we are doing here 

 so after 12 years there is no change on
that one and as I read on, the puppet strings are still in operation. In 35
odd years in Radio I have never told a commercial radio station what they
can do and what they can’t do, or how much money they can earn or spend or
where they get it from.

Number 3 :- I did suggest 75% 
 a move in the right direction again 

. But
alas, more long winded consultations. We should get a decision on this in
2022 no doubt 

Number 4 :- Having received representations from commercial radio
???????????    none of their business 
.. it should have no bearing
whatsoever. In fact, if the Community Fund was a sensible figure, not of
this would come into play anyway. We wouldn’t need to even discuss
advertising. Still messy in my opinion.

Number 5 :- If a Station can prove that it has applied for a number of
grants and been knocked back, but needs £50,000 to operate, only allowing
£15,000 means that it will possibly close 
 unless of course I have missed
something ??      in otherwords it is still a restriction as such and as
usual no common sense GREY AREAS created to allow for room for manoeuvre
something else I have been banging on about and it has been disregarded. So
we have fallen slightly short again on this one chaps.

Number 6 :- Well done 
.. common sense at least. We have dropped short
slightly, just slightly. It should read that providing the Station is doing
what it says on the can and has a clean bill of health, the word I was
looking for in relation to the licence would be    ‘’’ONGOING’’’ until the
Station itself decided it had had enough.

Overall 

 disappointing, but certainly not surprised. As Mr Self Righteous
I am itching to say ‘’told you so’’, but that would be rather arrogant so I
won’t. I was right though to be pessimistic in the main. 

In fact, definitely not surprised. There is a slight shift towards common
sense, but it is only slight. Scores on the doors, certainly not a ten from
Len 
 I would say 4/10 maybe 5/10 if I felt generous one day.

No comment on the Community Fund ??    is that somewhere else ?   it is very
relevant in this debate. As I say, if it was upped and distributed fairly
some of these points wouldn’t even come into play. In fact, the £15,000
grand advertising figure wouldn’t look that bad on top of £10,000 grand from
the Government. At least we could limp.

If there are any of our members doing cartwheels about this, please let me
know. I am very interested indeed.

Yup    4/10    maybe   5/10      would everyone like to submit their scores
please ?   I have the Norwegian, Belgian and Luxembourg jury points, but no
one else at the moment. Katy Boyle is adding them up as we speak    :-)
LOL      Keep smiling everyone, onwards and upwards.

My cup isn’t half full, neither is it now half empty, it is now just under
halfway towards the half of the other two afore mentioned halves 

 so a
little better I suppose.

Regards

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: 22 January 2015 11:45
To: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
Subject: [cma-l] Community Radio Consultation Report - Summary of
GovernmentResponses

Q.1 To lift the restriction preventing some community radio stations from
taking any income from on-air advertising or sponsorship if they overlap
with a commercial radio licence whose coverage area includes 150,000 adults
or fewer.

Government Response:

The Government believes that the “absolute rule” in its current form is
overly restrictive on community radio stations and should be modified to
allow stations subject to the “absolute rule” to raise up to £15,000 per
year in commercial revenue whether through sponsorship, advertising or other
commercial activities. The Government also believes the restriction should
no longer apply to licences whose coverage area covers 150,000 or fewer
adults where these licences have benefited from sharing premises or
programmes under section 34 of the Digital Economy Act 2010.

Q.2 If the funding restrictions on advertising were to be reduced ought the
requirement on Ofcom to look at potential economic impact need also to be
reviewed. We welcome your views on this.

Government Response:

As the absolute rule will be modified, but we will retain the provisions
requiring Ofcom, when making licensing decisions, to have regard to the need
to ensure that any new community radio service will not prejudice unduly the
economic viability of local analogue commercial radio services. However, in
view of the changes proposed, Ofcom may want to consider, whether there is
scope for these assessments to be carried out on a lighter touch basis.

Q.3. Should there be a relaxation of the restriction preventing stations
from taking more than 50% of their income from advertising and sponsorship.
If your answer to this question is yes, then what should the new restriction
be. How should it be determined? For example, set in regulation or set by
Ofcom following consultation and reviewing periodically.

The majority of responses (63%) supported a relaxation of the current 50%
restriction however there was no clear consensus to the level this should be
increased to. Only 9 responses gave any indication of what an increase ought
to be, and this ranged from 60%-100% (1 x 60%, 4 x 75%, 3 x 80% & 1x 100%).
Two responses suggested that whatever the level of increase this ought to be
determined by Ofcom following further consultation, and scope for annual
reviews.

Q.4 Of the two options noted which do you support and why. Include reasons
why you dismiss the alternative option. We invite you to provide details on
other approaches. 

Government Response:

In reviewing the comments received, there was a clear consensus from
community stations for introducing a fixed allowance before applying the 50%
rule, as this would be the simplest to operate and give clarity to stations
and to Ofcom in terms of enforcing the new requirements. Having considered
the representations made by commercial stations, the Government believes the
fixed allowance should be set at £15,000 per year. 

Q.5 – What way/s could a Fixed Revenue Allowance be fairly determined if
this was to be set by Ofcom. Should this be set by Ofcom? What facts would
Ofcom need to take into account in setting an appropriate level of
allowance?

Government Response:

Having considered the representations made by commercial stations, the
Government believes the fixed allowance should be set at a relatively low
figure of £15,000. This equates to around 25% of the mean average income
reported by community radio stations in 2013. This approach favours smaller
community stations. We will ensure that Ofcom is able to review the level of
disregard, following a request by DCMS. 

Q.6 – Would you support a further 5 year extension of a licence beyond the
second 5-year period. If you do not agree, please provide reasons why this
should not happen. 

Government Response: 

The Government believes that the arguments for a further five-year licence
term for community radio is compelling and that Ofcom to be afforded power
to extend licence for a third term, for a period up to 5 years. The
requisite for an extension Ofcom satisfied the community radio station
continues to meet current licencing conditions and the format and
programming commitments made in its licence application.

Community Media Association

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http://www.commedia.org.uk/
http://twitter.com/community_media
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Canstream Internet Radio & Video
http://www.canstream.co.uk/
https://twitter.com/canstream

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