[cma-l] Small Scale DAB

Alan Coote alan.coote at 5digital.co.uk
Fri Mar 6 12:04:14 GMT 2015 

We were approached a while ago by 2 content producers about teaming up and
sharing airtime on a multiplex.

After a lot of phone calls, Ofcom confirmed that DSPS licenses are required
by each service provider, even if they are sharing air time.

However, in our case the multiplex owner wanted a single contract with a
holding company rather than deal with individual DSPS holders. They felt it
gave them better security.

This highlighted several issues of working with other companies on a DAB
multiplex whose financial stability we had to rely on.
        
I¹d suggest that stations should carefully consider what happens if the
partner companies don¹t pay their way or go out of business.

And, it may be worth getting professional advise about setting up a limited
liability broadcast company to protect the underlying community station.

Kind Regards
Alan



From:  David Duffy <david at theradiopeople.co.uk>
Date:  Thursday, 5 March 2015 20:56
To:  Clive Glover <clivegloveruk at gmail.com>
Cc:  "cma-l at commedia.org.uk" <cma-l at commedia.org.uk>
Subject:  Re: [cma-l] Small Scale DAB

Hi Clive,

Now I get it! That¹s a very interesting proposition.

We are looking at creating/hosting a matchmaking service to introduce
content providers to multiplex operators - www.localDAB.co.uk/brokering
<http://www.localDAB.co.uk/brokering>  - where the additional content
providers pay their own way (DSPS licence and the two sets of copyright).
We are also working with speech-only content providers who have no copyright
responsibilities! Ah the holy grail - to be able to format a cost-effective
speech station.  It¹s not as far off as people might imagine and would
certainly set your application apart from the hefty competition for these
ten licences.

I¹d be interested in what Ofcom/PRS/PPL say - keep us posted.

David
www.localDAB.co.uk/faqs <http://www.localDAB.co.uk/faqs>



> On 5 Mar 2015, at 20:14, Clive Glover <clivegloveruk at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> David
> 
> Thank you. I realise I didn't perhaps explain my point very well. As part of
> the trial it is necessary to broadcast two services in a multiplex. If we
> created an additional service it would need its own  DSPS licence as well as
> our needing a DSPS licence for our existing FM service to be broadcast on DAB.
> So we would need two DSPS licenses plus two sets of copyright licenses.
> 
> So our thought - and question to OFCOM - was whether a time shifted version of
> our existing FM service would be considered as a different service or just as
> the same one so would not need a separate licence or copyright licenses.
> 
> The difference is cost is substantial!
> 
> Clive Glover
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
> On 5 Mar 2015, at 19:39, David Duffy <david at theradiopeople.co.uk> wrote:
> 
>> Hi Clive,
>> 
>> Unlike your current licence, which is for broadcasting on FM, a DSPS licence
>> allows your content to be broadcast (time-shifted or not) on a DAB platform.
>> So all content providers will require a DSPS licence if they don¹t have one.
>> Ofcom should have been able to answer that straight away.
>> 
>> The PRS and PPL fees (as they apply) are for each platform on which you
>> broadcast.  That¹s why, in their returns, they ask which platforms
>> (AM/FM/Internet) you use.
>> 
>> The cost of a DSPS licence is £250 .  The annual fee is £100. The DSPS
>> licence allows your service to be broadcast on a DAB multiplex (subject to
>> being accepted by the multiplex operators).  So it¹s value goes beyond this
>> trial and that¹s why Ofcom did¹t rescind the cost.
>> 
>> As you say Œthat¹s radio for you¹!
>> 
>> More info (including, shortly, an explanation of the 3 different equipment
>> configurations for the trial) can be found here www.localDAB.co.uk/faqs
>> <http://www.localdab.co.uk/faqs>
>> 
>> David
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> On 5 Mar 2015, at 18:33, Clive Glover <clivegloveruk at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> David
>>> 
>>> Being creative is part of CR of course. I have asked OFCOM (but not got  a
>>> response) if a + 1 hour service (i.e. our FM service time shifted) would
>>> need to have a separate DSPS licence  and the same question could be asked
>>> of the copyright people I suppose. Otherwise participants in this trial will
>>> need to spend a significant amount of money - over £1,000 - on DSPS licenses
>>> for two services and copyright while almost nothing on the technical
>>> equipment etc at the core of the trial. Seems barmy but that 's radio for
>>> you!
>>> 
>>> Clive Glover
>>> 
>>> Radio Verulam, St Albans
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 4 Mar 2015, at 22:49, David Duffy wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Hi All,
>>>> 
>>>> Just a quick update regarding PRS and PPL liabilities for content providers
>>>> on the Small Scale DAB trial multiplexes.
>>>> 
>>>> We spoke with PPL today and they advised us they are levying the full £500
>>>> annual fee, payable in advance. PRS are reviewing the fee and their payment
>>>> terms (which are usually quarterly in advance).  They advised a decision
>>>> would be forthcoming early next week.  We¹ll keep you posted.
>>>> 
>>>> There is also a great of uncertainty regarding which licences you might
>>>> need.  However, we are advised that content providers will need to hold a
>>>> DSPS or DAS licence (or be eligible to acquire one within 12 weeks of the
>>>> multiplex owner being awarded their WTA licence). That is a separate
>>>> application/licensing process to the Small Scale DAB trial initiative.
>>>> 
>>>> There is a list of questions answered here www.localDAB.co.uk/faqs
>>>> <http://www.localdab.co.uk/faqs>  and we are adding to them daily. There¹s
>>>> even a form for you to ask your own. Please do!
>>>> 
>>>> All the best,
>>>> 
>>>> David
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> On 2 Mar 2015, at 13:03, David Duffy <david at theradiopeople.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> I just want to share that we have teamed up with transplan UK to offer
>>>>> help and advice to any groups thinking of applying for the recently
>>>>> announced small scale DAB broadcasting trials.
>>>>> For those who may have missed it, following a consultation last year,
>>>>> Ofcom has announced plans for up to ten trials of small scale DAB across
>>>>> the UK allowing new digital radio services to broadcast to local areas,
>>>>> exploring how groups of radio stations can work together. The trials are
>>>>> expected to run for nine months and the deadline for applications is 3pm
>>>>> on 7 April 2015.
>>>>> As we all know, the cost of broadcasting on DAB radio is currently beyond
>>>>> the reach of many community radio stations. But this new initiative means
>>>>> that stations could start broadcasting on DAB radio for a fraction of
>>>>> current costs.
>>>>> For those who don¹t know, transplan UK is well respected for implementing
>>>>> small and large scale stations. The Radio People has a successful track
>>>>> record of winning licences on behalf of commercial and community
>>>>> broadcasters. By coming together we hope to have everything covered from
>>>>> the application through to implementation. Whilst Ofcom has invited
>>>>> applications from commercial, community and Internet broadcasters as well
>>>>> as new entrants to the sector, we want to make sure that community radio
>>>>> is well represented both as operators of the multiplex or as a content
>>>>> provider on a mux.
>>>>> If you have any questions whatsoever then you can email us on our joint
>>>>> email team at localDAB.co.uk  You can also follow the trials on Twitter
>>>>> @localDAB <http://www.twitter.com/localDAB>
>>>>> David
>>>>> The Radio People
>>>>> 
>>>>> Email:        david at theradiopeople.co.uk
>>>>> 
>>>>> Website:    www.theradiopeople.co.uk <http://theradiopeople.co.uk/>
>>>>> 
>>>>> Twitter:      @theradiopeople <http://www.twitter.com/theradiopeople>
>>>>> 
>>>>> Facebook: facebook.com/theradiopeopleuk
>>>>> <https://www.facebook.com/theradiopeopleuk>
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>> 
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