[cma-l] by the way

Wed Sep 2 22:51:00 BST 2015

James said:

*"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..."*

Yes I agree it is incredibly comfy for the incumbents - however to
simulcast like that and only utilise that FM spectrum 50% or less is a
terrible waste and actually counter to Ofcom's remit to maximise the social
value of the spectrum it manages.

Until recently I would have agreed that there is limited scope for
auctioning the FM band -  no big financial incentive to do that (unless the
"Internet of Things" takes off as predicted).     However there are an
awful lot of existing and would-be community broadcasters who could use
that wasted FM spectrum at 100% utilisation to either boost their signal,
or be permitted to start new services in areas that currently have "no
available frequencies" (because they are being used to simulcast DAB
stations) - arguably greater social value than simulcasting DAB services.

I favour partial or gradual switch-over.  The BBC is in the best position
to lead the way - after their current DAB infill rollout their DAB coverage
will probably match FM.  They also need to save money - another reason for
them to vacate FM.   If your rural vs city hunch is correct, they could
even clear cities first to protect the rural voters.  Leave FM for
commercial stations to see-out their licences, for community stations with
a little greater coverage, and possibly a new teir of commercial city-wide
stations that must be local and not networked.  ie: a multi-platform radio
future, but not with the same services duplicated on all the platforms.

IMHO

Glyn

-- 
Glyn Roylance - Principal Consultant
Associated Broadcast Consultants <http://www.a-bc.co.uk/>

PS: actually I quite enjoy Nick's rants - as long as they are not too
long!  Often I think he expressing opinions that many people agree with.
It would be very boring if all posts could only contain verifiable facts
and be approved by the administrator!

On 2 September 2015 at 18:02, James Cridland <james at cridland.net> wrote:

> 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
>>>
>>>
>>> ---
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> --
>
> http://james.cridland.net - get my weekly newsletter
> https://media.info - the media information website
>
> Tel: +44 7941 251474 | @jamescridland
>
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>
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