[cma-l] Confession

[Dave Richardson]

Hi Ian

 

I think this is the first post to CMA Forum.

 

YMCA Radio Barnsley was successful in July 2014 in gaining an AM licence.

 

In July 2015 we had to hand back the licence. 


The cost for getting on air £100k! (mast/equipment/field rent/porta
cabin/fencing/security/studio link/insurance/yearly mast inspection and
power supply to a field). Never mind 5 years on costs!

 

The lottery after checking our application for funds said that looking at
other bids of a similar nature; we would not meet our outcomes!

 

So we had to hand it back. We tried but it was unrealistic.

 

Now then, “how’s small scale doing”   ?

 

Dave Richardson

YMCA Radio Barnsley.

 

From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
[mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of Ian Hickling
Sent: 14 September 2015 11:47
To: cma-l
Subject: [cma-l] Confession

 

I've just had to do something I really hate - admit failure.

This morning I've written to a sincere hard-working young man in Bradford to
tell him that we can't offer him a feasible AM transmission system so he can
comply with his hard-won Community Radio Licence.

Not just us - but it's a joint decision including advice from another Ofcom
transmission provision company and also from our AM specialist friends at
the BBC.
I've copied in several relevant people at Ofcom too so that are aware of the
real difficulties that trying to put in an AM system where they say there is
no FM can bring.
Two weeks ago I sent them what I believe is a fair and honest price
comparison produced in good faith for a potential CR Applicant on the
outskirts of London that showed AM costing over five times that of an
equivalent-performance FM system.
This isn't some form of organised aggressive anti-AM campaign - I'm just
trying to get the fairest deal for our Clients and for Community Radio as a
whole.

Ian Hickling

Partner

 <http://www.transplanuk.com/> 

Office: 01635 578435  (7am-11pm UK time)

Carphone: 07530 980115 (only responds when driving)

6 Horn Street, Compton, NEWBURY, RG20 6QS

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