[cma-l] by the way

Wed Sep 2 18:02:12 BST 2015

Hey, Nick - I was alerted to this post by a tweet saying "the CMA email
list resident ranter is at it again". I didn't really need to guess who it
was. But hello!

There are no plans - at all - to turn off FM. I do wonder what the
incentive is for people to deliberately spread unattributed random fear and
uncertainty.

The plans are to move large stations (Radio 2, etc) over to digital only.
That benefits community radio, by the way - since the big stations coming
off FM mean less competition.

The bit of the criteria which isn't yet achieved is 50% of total listening
hours to be digital. Digital Radio UK currently project that this criteria
for FM switchover will be achieved in 2017. This is driven by RAJAR figures
- and, hey, almost no community stations are in RAJAR, so you're not
contributing to these figures, and I'd guarantee that if you were
participating you'd slow this process down.

Anyway, what happens then is that government go and make a decision about
switchover and when it'll happen. But in 2017 the Norwegians will be
starting their FM switchover. Theirs is the same as ours - large stations
(those with 95% of the total listening hours) will be forced off FM and
onto digital. Smaller stations, like small commercials and community
stations, remain on FM. There is no change. Anyway - since the Norwegians
are doing switchoff, if the government is sensible they'll wait and see how
Norway pans out. That kicks any decision to 2018 or later.

A decision will mean two years of preparation (if we follow Norway and
previously announced plans) so that means that BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 4
will be removed from FM in 2020. There will be much sadness and gnashing of
teeth at this prospect, since the majority of those listeners are still on
FM. And those listeners will want to punish the people in government who
made that decision.

Another thing happening in 2020 is the next General Election. This is an
event that allows the electorate to punish government for making bad
decisions.

DAB coverage is strongest in major urban conurbations, and works less well
in the countryside. We have a Conservative government. Tory MPs don't have
much support in major urban conurbations but enjoy considerable support in
the countryside. Oh. And - pure guesswork - but I would guess that the
majority of Radio 2 and Radio 4 listeners are Tory voters. Double Oh.

So, all this is to say that an FM switchoff won't happen; and an FM
switchover for the large stations will happen at the very earliest after
the next election.

I'm anti switchover. I'm pro DAB. Amazingly, this is a position which is
both possible and actually quite comfy. After all, over 50% of London
listening is already on digital radio. We're just waiting for the rest of
you to catch up...

James
I do a weekly newsletter which you should get - http://james.cridland.net
to get yours.

On Wed, 2 Sep 2015 17:20 Bill Best <bill.best at commedia.org.uk> wrote:

> Hi Nick
>
> There's little point in sending hearsay to the list without corroborating
> your sources.
>
> There are no plans for an FM switch-off and, in any case, there is
> currently no business case for repurposing the spectrum.
>
> But thank you for your email - I'm sure it will stir up some responses.
>
> I'm sure that this subject might come up in the 'Small-Scale DAB' breakout
> session led by Lawrie Hallett at the Community Media Conference on Saturday
> 12th September. If you have not got your tickets then there are only a
> handful left which may be purchased online here:
>
> http://community-media-conference-2015.eventbrite.co.uk/
>
> Best regards
>
> Bill
> --
> Operations Manager
> Community Media Association
> http://www.commedia.org.uk
> https://twitter.com/community_media
> https://facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation
>
> *Community Media Conference, 12th September, University of Bedfordshire*
> <http://www.commedia.org.uk/news/2015/07/community-media-conference-2015/>
>
> Canstream Internet Radio
> http://www.canstream.co.uk
> https://twitter.com/canstream
>
> On 2 September 2015 at 16:15, Canalside's The Thread <
> office at thethread.org.uk> wrote:
>
>> Oh by the way everyone whilst I am on ...... I was reading a few weeks ago
>> from a very good source (well two actually)   that another nudge nudge
>> wink
>> wink meeting had taken place regarding FM and Digital ..... apparently
>> digital from a broadcasting point of view   re:- the Country as a whole
>> is 6
>> times cheaper than running FM   ????     AND fm JUST MIGHT BE SWITCHED OFF
>> AS EARLY AS 2019
>>
>> I was looking through these reports and all and sundry were mentioned in
>> them ... I even think Uncle Tom Cobbley got a mention .... the kitchen
>> sink
>> was in there as well .........NOT ONE MENTION OF COMMUNITY RADIO !
>>
>> To me, it summed up how we are really viewed ... we need to change this
>> chaps / ladies and you'll only change it the hard way. We need to get
>> banging on about it.
>> If something needs saying ------- say it !    don't worry what folk might
>> think ...sometimes Boats need rocking.
>> The local MP's around here are very supportive (I think??) trouble is,
>> they've got ear ache in the process    LOL
>> Try to friendly persuade ... if that fails, then drag em kicking and
>> screaming   LOL
>>
>> Let them know that you are PASSIONATE ....... passion always excuses you
>> for
>> your eccentricities .... it's worked for me for 35 years   LOL
>>
>> Onwards and Upwards
>>
>> I'm just nipping out now as I am on Taxi service for 5 of our volunteers.
>> You see all of us have to multi-task ... Taxi Driver is another one added
>> to
>> the list ....      we wouldn't change it for the World would we ?
>>
>> Nick
>>
>>
>> ---
>> This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus
>> protection is active.
>> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> Reply - cma-l at commedia.org.uk
>>
>> The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community
>> Media Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk
>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/community_media
>> http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation
>> Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> Mailing list guidelines:
>> http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please
>> visit:
>> http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> Reply - cma-l at commedia.org.uk
>
> The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community
> Media Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk
> Twitter: http://twitter.com/community_media
> http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation
> Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/
> _______________________________________________
>
> Mailing list guidelines:
> http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/
> _______________________________________________
>
> To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please visit:
> http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l

-- 

http://james.cridland.net - get my weekly newsletter
https://media.info - the media information website

Tel: +44 7941 251474 | @jamescridland
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/pipermail/cma-l/attachments/20150902/0260b9d4/attachment.html>