[cma-l] Ofcom and Tomorrow
DAVE RUSHTON
local.tv at virgin.net
Wed Jul 1 16:23:51 BST 2015
Dear List
Local or community TV rarely features in the CMA list these days, but a bit
of a side-ways mention earlier in this thread prompts a response.
Twenty years ago the CRA dropped the R in favour of M (for Media). Common
to both community radio and local TV (or a more localised and its social
enterprise community variations) is the need for spectrum to be assigned
according to less centrist demands.
Underlying the points made recently on this thread is that broadcasting
each transmitter serves firstly a local or smaller or immediate footprint,
a footprint of audience the national network has commandeered for the
initial service priority, then partially devolved (again centrally) for
regional (TV) and local radio (and some local TV).
The issue for the future is the extent to which a principle of subsidiarity
should be applied to frequency access so that (if we turn things up side
down, or the right way up!) spectrum that is unwanted for a service from a
single transmitter might then be aggregated according to local, regional
and national consensus, that is once the immediately community and local
needs have been met.
So at each twelve year opportunity for BBC renewal we should question how
we use spectrum (from transmitters) to deliver public service and the scale
of public's served. This is fundamentally a local question for terrestrial
transmission. How spectrum is used from satellite is more often than not of
international interest.
In my view the bias towards the national in networking, transmission and
(possibly) advertising timing and in centralising what is a primarily local
and community resource has in effect turned efforts for a genuinely locally
accountable local TV into a service less able to answer to those it serves
than to those who distribute it.
Opportunities for a more federal network of local TV's were turned down by
Ofcom in favour of the less (centrally) threatening approach.
Best,
Dave
Dr David Rushton
Institute of Local Television
Edinburgh
On 1 July 2015 at 13:08, Trevor Lockwood <lockwood at btinternet.com> wrote:
> Ian
>
> I don't do foolhardy. My suggestion does not involve the BBC at all -
> except as external advisers, and possible job applicants.
>
> Nick is right that the BBC's attitude has always been condescending, and
> concerned only with what CMA stations can give, not what the Beeb are
> prepared to share or how they can learn. I'm frustrated by the BBC's
> inability to recognise we are a reservoir of talent, and bored by their
> endless parade of mediocre presenters and the safe but short playlist. They
> try to compete with commercial radio and that is not their remit. They do
> not serve towns and villages very well.
>
> You may find a similar perception of the BBC is held elsewhere - it is of
> its time, but that's not now.
>
> Costs are a factor - but a good set of scenarios can be offered.
>
> This would not be solely a CMA project. The Radio Academy, Sound Women,
> Prison Radio Association, Creative Skillset, Student Radio, the Radio
> Independence Group, Project Everywhere and even the BBC Technology &
> Systems all immediately spring to mind, and there are more, yet to be
> named, including all our friends in the Community Media Forum Europe and
> all over the world.
>
> I'm keen on the French model, with the government actively supporting any
> local community station. We can multistream, use listen again, and the BBC
> has a great archive, but we can have the same. We just need encouragement,
> and a modicum of cash.
>
> I'm not sure that 'formulate individual content and audience
> responsibility targets' is the next step.
>
> We need a small team - that is bursting with ideas, that is not prepared
> to accept what exists unless it can prove its worth, and is prepared to
> challenge an institution that has served its time well, but now needs to
> fade, like an old codger, occasionally commenting from the sidelines 'oh
> no, you don't do it like that!'
>
> I hope you will join in - it is a vision of the future.
>
>
> Trevor Lockwood BSc FRSA
> Tel/mobile: 01394 27032801394 270328, 07746 474180607746 474186
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Canalside's The Thread <office at thethread.org.uk>
> *To:* 'The Community Media Association Discussion List' <
> cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, 1 July 2015, 12:28
> *Subject:* Re: [cma-l] Ofcom and Tomorrow
>
> I hope everything goes a little better than the last 3 escapades where
> meetings were held with the BBC, excellent suggestions (from both sides)
> were expressed and then the end result er ? it never happened
> ! only to have yet another get-together whereby some of
> the original suggestions went on a round Robin, did the repeat circuit only
> to end up against the brick wall again.
>
> When trying to sort the follow ups out in a nice, softly softly, polite
> and sensible manner, I was met with what can only be described as a
> ‘’holier than thou attitude’’ sadly, this was yet another
> unfortunate escapade. But hey ….. we soldier on and keep chipping away J
>
> I voice my opinion not to cause trouble or make waves but to highlight
> problems and to hope that those in positions of authority can see the wider
> picture and sort the problems out.
>
> So basically, all of this I will believe it when I see it. Certainly a
> closer relationship between to two would be advantageous. What won’t work
> and what ain’t going to happen is Community Radio being used as a tool to
> get a cheap option for the BBC services. They ought to be helping us first,
> so that we can then help them. Not the other way round.
> By the way, do we have a date in the diary for the next pointless meeting
> ?? I fancy a good jolly, I haven’t had one for six months J
>
> If any of our Stations do Community TV, then maybe there is one programme
> we could take from the BBC and lighten there load how about Mr Alexanders
> – Pointless ? that would work.
>
> Keep chuckling chaps and always wear a nice big smile any news
> on the ‘possible’ daily current affairs ??
>
> Regards
>
> Nick
>
> ------------------------------
>
>
> *From:* cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk [mailto:
> cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk ] *On Behalf Of *Ian Hickling
> *Sent:* 01 July 2015 11:09
> *To:* Trevor Lockwood ; The Community Media AssociationDiscussion List;
> ravensound at pilgrimsound.co.uk
> *Subject:* [cma-l] Ofcom and Tomorrow
>
> I think it's a little foolhardy to expect that either H M Government or
> the BBC itself will contemplate Community Radio completely taking over the
> position currently occupied by BBC Local Radio.
> The two can happily work together with BBC Local then taking a more
> umbrella approach with a reducing budget.
> As we've said often - BBC Local serves towns and villages - Community
> Radio serves streets and houses.
> From a content and technical viewpoint they can co-exist.
> The important next step is to formulate individual content and audience
> responsibility targets - which will inevitably be individually different.
> I don't do "team" or "committee" - but I'm happy to contribute from a
> very close association with 20% of the CR market -
> and indeed a valuable link with the DCMS.
>
> *Ian Hickling*
> Partner
>
> <http://www.transplanuk.com/>
> *Office: 01635 578435 (7am-11pm UK time)*
> *Carphone: 07530 980115 (only responds when driving)*
> *6 Horn Street**, Compton**, NEWBURY , RG20 6QS*
>
> ------------------------------
> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2015 08:20:17 +0000
> From: lockwood at btinternet.com
> To: cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk
> Subject: Re: [cma-l] Ofcom and Tomorrow
> Donald
>
>
> Keep the idea of 'fraction of the cost' quiet! BBC Local Radio spends
> over £200 million (last time I looked). We can provide a much better
> service.
>
>
>
> Tony: community media should encompass all forms of communication.
>
>
>
> To start with we need to create a small team - anyone willing please
> contact me.
>
>
>
> Then we can ask CMA Council if our project can work within the CMA.
> Then look at what grants/support/crowd funding is available to keep us in
> coffee and biscuits.
>
> Trevor Lockwood BSc FRSA
> Tel/mobile: 01394 27032801394 270328, 07746 47418067746 471486
> Call
> Send SMS
> Add to Skype
> You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Tony Bailey <ravensound at pilgrimsound.co.uk>
> *To:* cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk
> *Sent:* Tuesday, 30 June 2015, 14:27
> *Subject:* Re: [cma-l] Ofcom and Tomorrow
>
> One of the questions I've often asked is did we make a mistake back in
> the 80's in assuming that the only route for a truly local radio service
> was via the then IBA. Our original 1970's community radio project was
> formed as a group to provide programming on the BBC "local" station. The
> beeb of course had no intention of providing community radio (unless forced
> to by someone else doing it) and probably wouldn't have got involved in
> "local" radio either had it not been for the threat of ILR. Against this
> background it is easy to see why the commercial route was thought by most
> people to be the only one worth pursuing. It is something of a minor
> miracle that community radio exists at all when you look at the politics
> and vested interests that surround it. While we are on the subject of the
> statutory services, I feel it should be pointed out that the national tv
> networks don't do very well in "local" news provision either, the tv local
> news we now pay for (a couple of stories and the footy), if you can find it
> in the schedules, is pretty poor in my opinion.
>
> Tony Bailey
>
> On 30/06/15 11:41, Donald Mack wrote:
> Hear hear.
> We can demonstrate how CR benefits all sectors and all for a fraction of
> the License Fee or its future equivalent.
>
> Sign me up
>
>
>
>
>
> On 29 June 2015 at 14:39 Trevor Lockwood <lockwood at btinternet.com>
> <lockwood at btinternet.com> wrote:
> It's my belief that we should now develop a strategy for 2016 when the
> BBC Charter is up for renewal.
>
> It should present us for an excellent opportunity to argue our case to
> replace the present BBC local radio structure.
>
> We can present excellent arguments to support our case.
>
> I'd be happy to be part of a working party that put that strategy
> together.
>
> In the present and future climate within broadcasting this is the best
> opportunity we shall ever have to expand our range, and provide a truly
> local broadcasting network for this country.
>
>
> Trevor Lockwood BSc FRSA
> Tel/mobile: 01394 27032801394 270328, 07746 47418067746 471486
> www.debenradio.co.uk
>
> Call
> Send SMS
> Add to Skype
> You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype
>
>
>
>
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