[cma-l] DAB trial

Sat Mar 7 15:41:40 GMT 2015

Hi Phil

I hear what you say. Towards the end you wrote 'as we invite other (competing) stations to come on our 'transmitter''. I believe what we need to be mindful of is that in a future that is 'localDAB' you may not own the multiplex. That's fine if you don't want to be on DAB or don't mind paying to be on someone else's mux. Without wishing to misattribute, I believe it was William Rogers of UKRD who first to signalled his concern that, with digital switchover, FM could become a neglected backwater for radio stations. He was highlighting the need for a digital future which embraces all broadcasters. And that should not be forgotten even though the vast majority of stations will not be participating in this trial.

It will be interesting to see the proportion of community to commercial broadcasters in the trial.

David
www.localDAB.co.uk 

On 7 Mar 2015, at 14:47, Fantasy Radio Office <office at fantasyradio.co.uk> wrote:

I agree with Alex and Andy.

I've tried - believe me I've tried, to understand the sense in this 37 page document - plus application forms.
We - and others, carrying out these technical tests on behalf of Ofcom, with no guarantee of acquiring full time DAB status?
It will cost us money and valuable time, gain no significant increase in listenership (nor income) as we invite other (competing) stations to come on our 'transmitter'

DAB is a poor alternative to our FM and online broadcasts. As they say on Dragon's Den, I think ... I'm out.

Phil Dawson
FANTASY RADIO 97FM

Devizes and Mid Wiltshire

> On 07/03/2015 14:32, cma-l-request at mailman.commedia.org.uk wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
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>    1. Re:  Small Scale DAB (Tony Bailey)
>    2. Re:  Small Scale DAB (David Duffy)
>    3. Re:  Small Scale DAB (Two Lochs Radio)
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> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 07 Mar 2015 10:25:45 +0000
> From: Tony Bailey <ravensound at pilgrimsound.co.uk>
> To: cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk
> Subject: Re: [cma-l] Small Scale DAB
> Message-ID: <54FAD229.9080709 at pilgrimsound.co.uk>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"; Format="flowed"
> 
> Actually, it can be turned off at any time if technical issues arise -
> having said that, we were in Sheffield when similar statements were made
> about Access Radio...
> 
> Tony Bailey
> 
> 
>> On 07/03/15 09:25, Andy -Bay FM Radio wrote:
>> I agree with Alex.
>> 
>> All this expense to drive your listeners to DAB for 9/12 months with
>> no future guarantees and then have it turned off ?
>> Sorry but, i don't think it's a good business plan.
>> 
>> Andy.
>> 
>> 
>> Sent from Samsung Mobile
>> 
>> 
>> -------- Original message --------
>> From: tlr at gairloch.co.uk
>> Date:06/03/2015 2:28 PM (GMT+00:00)
>> To: David Duffy ,Alan Coote
>> Cc: CMA-L
>> Subject: Re: [cma-l] Small Scale DAB
>> 
>> Also bear in mind the fact that these are time limited trials with a
>> 9-month *maximum* and explicitly no guarantee of continuation or
>> future relicensing. Isn't that the biggest business risk to any long
>> term agreements?
>> Alex
>>> On 06 March 2015 at 14:03 David Duffy <david at theradiopeople.co.uk>
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Great advice. I would further recommend that as a multiplex operator
>>> you should build your business plan on the assumption that any other
>>> services you carry may go bust and, if you are charging them for
>>> carriage, take payment monthly in advance. That's why we're creating
>>> a list of content providers/service www.localDAB.co.uk/brokering
>>> <http://www.localDAB.co.uk/brokering> that are DSPS-approved and
>>> ready, at a moment's notice, to replace any services that fail.
>>> Regards
>>> David
>>> 
>>>> On 6 Mar 2015, at 12:04, Alan Coote < alan.coote at 5digital.co.uk
>>>> <mailto:alan.coote at 5digital.co.uk>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> 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.
>>>> I'd suggest that stations should carefully consider what happens if
>>>> the partner companies don't 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
>> 
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