[cma-l] DAB trial

Sat Mar 7 17:39:03 GMT 2015

David, surely we already have 'local DAB' - there are local DAB multiplexes all
over the country (though none within 50 miles of me!). Isn't the new DAB pilot
supposed to be all about "low cost DAB" - ie in the reach of micro commercial
and community stations? The localness is incidental, except that only local
stations are likely to be especially interested in low power sytems.

If Ofcom is serious that there is no guarantee of the DAB service continuing
after 9 months, then the spectre of luring listeners onto DAB during the trial
and then having them decide 'not to bother' to revert to FM when the trial ends
is a serious one. A small station could spend a lot of time and effort on an
experiement whose upshot is to transfer a chunk of its audience to competitiors
on DAB.

For the DAB platform to become affordable to low-budget stations, and to remain
affordable, the multiplex is likely to have to be under the control of such a
station, or a third-party constituted with similar aims. Otherwise what will
differentiate it from the existing local DAB multiplexes?*

If the multiplex is not in social/public ownership Ofcom would have to control
commercial aspects of the market  in ways it has always seemed reluctant to do.
Otherwise there would be nothing to stop access and carriage charges becoming
unaffordable to small players as they have been until now. The current multiplex
fees are not closely related to the cost of the systems, they are charging 'what
the market will swallow'. It's not hard to imagine RadioCentre's likely reaction
if Ofcom were to invite applications for multiplex operator licences open only
to not-for-profit/community-owned applicants, or allowing them low-cost access
while denying it to 'big' stations.

I guess one feasible approach would be to open up licensing of a new tier of
multiplexes that have a strict low power limit, to make them less attractive to
big commercial stations. But that would just generate and propagate more of all
the angst and inconsistencies that have been generated by the present 25W
guideline limit for community radio.

Again, none of these crucial issues is addressed nor affected by the trial. They
should be under public discussion and consultation now, not waiting until after
the trial - we all know that the systems being trialled will work technically -
the trial will only provide information around the edges as to how well they
work and a little more information as to their limitations.

Alex

*Of course, unlike Band II FM, there also huge swathes of the UK where there is
no shortage of Band III frequencies for  DAB, and not likely to be any shortage
for decades. There is no reason why multiplexes as such should be mandated in
these areas anyway - the one station, one transmitter FM model would work
perfectly well in all the less densely populated parts of the UK, such as my own
in the Highlands. Indeed that was how the first licensed trial in Brighton
operated. Ofcom could have started legal and regulatory moves to licence these
areas with simple one station simulcasts already if it had a mind to do so, but
decided it would not consider licensing low-cost SDR-based DAB until it had also
extended and proved its ability to support single-frequency multiplex networks.

> On 07 March 2015 at 15:41 David Duffy <david at theradiopeople.co.uk> wrote:
>
>
> 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:
> >
> > 1. Re: Small Scale DAB (Tony Bailey)
> > 2. Re: Small Scale DAB (David Duffy)
> > 3. Re: Small Scale DAB (Two Lochs Radio)
> >
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > 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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