[cma-l] DAB trial, PPL and PRS

[tlr at gairloch.co.uk]

Bruce
 
We all know that PPL is an aggressive operator that grossly overvalues its
repertoire for small radio stations, but I'm puzzled why you need to raise the
question now. This and other costs were well known ahead of applications for the
trial, and were one of the several reasons we decided it was financially too
costly and short-term an exercise for us to try - given that there is no
guarantee at all of a continuing licence at the end.
 
List members had identified this very problem in advance, and it was discussed
fully on the list a long time back. At that time I wrote:
 
"The DAB licence thing is of course another question. In my opinion there is no
justification for PPL to ask for extra money for a simulcast by DAB (nor by
Internet). If having the extra delivery method enhances the value of your
station then that will be reflected in increased revenues and they will get
their cut automatically under the existing NBR arrangements. I see no
justification for any additional charge simply because you are available on two
different types of radio."
 
Incidentally, for FM+DAB+stream, PPL charges community stations more in total
than it charges small commercial stations! Their charges are highly regressive
and have many illogicalities, but they rely on the fact that none of us has the
financial resources to mount a tribunal case against them, and the CMA has
proved very weak in negotiation with them (apologies to those involved, but it's
a fact).
 
Cheers

Alex
 
 
 

> On 17 July 2015 at 12:05 Bruce Rodger <bruce at celticmusicradio.net> wrote:
> 
>   
>   
>  (should we be thinking about setting up  separate forum for those of us
> involved in the small-scale DB trials?)
>   
>   
>  Has anyone had any discussion/negotiation regarding PPL and the small-scale
> DAB pilot?
>   
>  Shortly after the announcement, PRS contacted us saying that there would be
> no additional fees for the DAB pilot, assuming that the DAB service was a
> simulcast of our FM service. Good news.
>   
>  PPL, on the other hand, contacted us today saying there would be a £500+VAT
> license for the 9 month period.
>   
>  This is despite
>   
>      * the DAB service is a pilot
>      * the DAB service is a simulcast of our FM service
>      * the DAB service covers broadly the same area as our FM service
>      * The 500+VAT for 9 months for a pilot/development service is actually
> MORE than the equivalent fee for a production FM service! (159/quarter)
>   
>  Does anyone else have difficulty understanding how they justify this?
>   
>  Bruce.
>   
>   
>   
> 
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