[cma-l] Ofcom: 10th March, DCMS: 11th March

Tue Mar 8 14:44:32 GMT 2016

That's unfair Fred.They're not objection to the extension - just the way it's been done - with no consideration for those who for some unknown reason were turned down and consequently are now left so far behind.
Ian HicklingPartnerOffice: 016 3557 8435  (07:00 to 22:00 GTS)Car: 075 3098 0115 (will only respond when driving)6 Horn Street, Compton, NEWBURY, RG20 6QS

From: fred.marden at fredmarden.com
To: cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk
Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2016 13:56:02 +0000
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Ofcom: 10th March, DCMS: 11th March

Absolutely exasperated seeing some of these postings.

As James Cridland says, who could seriously be against an extension of broadcasting choice?

Kind of worrying sometimes, that the minds that are currently engaged in community radio are, in fact, pretty closed.

On 8 Mar 2016, 13:52, James Cridland <james at cridland.net> wrote:

>Much of the qualifying criteria were technical and designed so that Ofcom could gain empirical data, therefore it’s a technical trial.<

I think you misunderstand. It was a 9 month technical trial. I am now arguing that it is no longer a technical trial, and that Ofcom are just letting these muxes continue on-air while they work out what to do next. Good for listeners. Good for those people
 who gambled successfully to run those muxes. I can't see the downside.

But, this being the community radio list, don't let me stand in the way of more gripes and moans about Ofcom and how desperately unfair life is in general. We haven't heard how much PRS and PPL are going to charge yet! A rich seam!

In separate news, I'm really impressed at the quality of radio from the community radio sector here in Australia. I visited Bay FM in Byron Bay a few weeks ago, who had massively impressive news gathering, and 4ZZZ in Brisbane also has tremendous and unexpected
 programming (a fascinating computer games news show the other day). 4ZZZ appears to directly feed the local ABC with staff, and similarly many of the local ABC staff are also involved with 4ZZZ too. I've yet to hear anyone moan about ACMA, much less whine
 about the general unfairness of everything. Seems that people just get on and make great radio, with the same lack of resource as the UK manages on, by the way.

On Tue, 8 Mar 2016, 20:48 Alan Coote <alan.coote at 5digital.co.uk> wrote:

Hi James,

Much of the qualifying criteria were technical and designed so that Ofcom could gain empirical data, therefore it’s a technical trial.

If it were a business feasibility study that would be structured very differently and it could be 90% completed without the need for a trial.

It's perfectly acceptable to run a trial and then have an assessment period to analyse the data. It’s also fully understandable to allow the existing services to continue; we wouldn’t expect anything less of course.

However, if your conjecture regarding plurality is right then the only reason for extending the trial is to stress test the stations and multiplex operators. Putting it bluntly, the actual reason for the trial is to find out how many will go bust.

Kind Regards
Alan

Alan Coote

Email - alan.coote at MonogramMedia.co.uk
Phone - 0800 949 6655
Mobile - 07801 518858

Twitter - @TheAlanCoote 

Twitter - @LTBShow
Web - http://www.LetsTalkBusinessOnline.com

From: <cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk> on behalf of James Cridland <james at cridland.net>

Reply-To: "cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk" <cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk>

Date: Tuesday, 8 March 2016 at 02:26

To: "martin at martinsteers.co.uk" <martin at martinsteers.co.uk>, "cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk"
 <cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk>

Subject: Re: [cma-l] Ofcom: 10th March, DCMS: 11th March

In a stakeholder meeting, I asked (when these were first advertised) whether they'd really be pulled off after nine months, denying audiences the additional choice they may have become accustomed to. Ofcom wriggled a bit in their answer, but
 seemed to say "we'll look at that when the time comes". There was a clue there.

>As this is a technical feasibility trial how is extending it to 3 years going to give a significantly better outcome?<

It isn't. The actual technical feasibility trial is over; at least, without making a few changes to the multiplexes, Ofcom won't learn more over the next two years. That's not the point really.

It's worthwhile examining why Ofcom exists. 
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/about/what-is-ofcom/statutory-duties-and-regulatory-principles/ - it is there to ensure a wide range of services and a plurality of providers. Turning off services while men in suits look at broadcast law and at broadcast field strengths
 is against Ofcom's statutory duty. More to the point, it is also unnecessary.

So, Ofcom has elected not to remove the additional choice to listeners that these small-scale multiplexes offer. They now have two years to look at the results of the data and then at the legislation. It's the right choice for the listener, and
 I'm surprised that anyone would want anything else.

J

On Tue, 8 Mar 2016, 3:51 AM Martin Steers <martin at martinsteers.co.uk> wrote:

Hiya all,

Going in everyone concerned knew and expected it to be a 9 month trial.

If anything this extension could be seen as a testament as to possible success and the future off it. The government is already considering the longer term implementation and don't want those current stations / multiplex holders to stop and have to restart.

At the stakeholder meeting I pushed the DCMS for an understanding of the timescales involved before legislation is in place to enable others to take advantage of the opportunity of small scale DAB. Whilst they wouldn't be held to a deadline or timeframe
 at that time, they confirmed to me that they / the government are keen to make it as quick as feasible. But we all know that these things can take as long as they take.

This is a matter that the CMA will be taking up and pressing the DCMS & Ofcom for a timetable, as well as consulting with members for the best outcome for the community media sector. I can confirm that the CMA has already started conversations both with
 PPL and PRS in regard to the music licenses for small scale DAB.

They are extending it by 2 years (so max would be 2 years 9 months), I assume (note I) because they believe they can get the legislation in place before then. They see it akin to the pilot project for community radio, which I believe the CR order was in
 place before the trial licenses expired? (a bit before my time).

Its worth mentioning most of this is in relation to the legislation involved with licenses multiplexes NOT services (eg stations), again if you have a small scale or even local / regional DAB service in your area or where you would like to broadcast you
 can already consider applying for that (if there is space).

On 7 March 2016 at 14:48, Alan Coote <alan.coote at 5digital.co.uk> wrote:

Martin, et al,

This decision affects the whole radio industry. 

Firstly, small scale DAB operations based their business model on a 9 month trial. The calculation of ROI over nearly 3 years is very different from 9 months. 

The delay puts the licensing of small scale DAB very close to a potential round 4. So unless community licensing is concurrent with small scale DAB, stations will have to choose their platform without full knowledge of the other.

There are a number of commercial analogue stations which would love to have an affordable DAB solution. This delay is costing them audience share and revenue.   

Finally, what were they thinking! As this is a technical feasibility trial how is extending it to 3 years going to give a significantly better outcome? There’s only 5 things you can do in project management; hire more people, reduce the quality, alter
 the scope, find another way to achieve the same result or extend the time. 

Anyone of the other options I believe is preferable to extending the deadline. 

Kind Regards
Alan

Alan Coote
Twitter - @TheAlanCoote 
Twitter - @LTBShow
Web - http://www.LetsTalkBusinessOnline.com

From: <cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk> on behalf of "martin at martinsteers.co.uk"
 <martin at martinsteers.co.uk>

Reply-To: "martin at martinsteers.co.uk" <martin at martinsteers.co.uk>, "cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk"
 <cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk>

Date: Monday, 7 March 2016 at 09:30

To: "cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk" <cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk>

Subject: Re: [cma-l] Ofcom: 10th March, DCMS: 11th March

Hi Ray,

I completely understand (and agree to an extent).

At its inception it was a 9month trail, and its DCMS who have decided to extend it for an additional 2 years.

This is more so that the current stations dont fall off the trail whilst the government puts the legislation together to enable Small Scale DAB to happen.

No new multiplex licenses will be issued until that time, HOWEVER new services (stations) can appear on multiplexes if they have the space.

I was recently at the Digital Radio stakeholder meeting representing the CMA and put some of these questions direct to the DCMS.

Martin

On 4 March 2016 at 10:26, Ray Godby <ray.godby at hcrfm.co.uk> wrote:

Just the fact that if we had known that the trial for DAB was going on for 2 year and 9 months we would have applied. It makes the costing more reasonable for us and i am sure many other stations and do they think that its working due to extending
 the trial. And is it really right that just a few stations will have nearly three years to the exclusion of others.

On 3 Mar 2016 19:02, "CMA-L" <cma-l at commedia.org.uk> wrote:

The Community Media Association is meeting with Ofcom on Thursday 10th March 2016. Please detail any specific issues that you would like the CMA to raise with Ofcom using the form below:

http://bit.ly/cmaOfcom

As well as the extension to the small-scale DAB trial, the CMA will also discuss training and education initiatives with Ofcom on key commitments as mentioned in their

statement issued today:

If the sector thinks that there are benefits from standardised record-keeping beyond what is currently required by Ofcom, it remains possible for the sector to organise this, perhaps via an umbrella organisation such as the
 CMA. We welcome the suggestion from the CMA to contribute to the development of a number of training and education initiatives around record-keeping under the new Key Commitments, and will explore this further with the CMA as part of our regular engagement
 programme with them.

And on Friday 11th March 2016 the CMA is meeting with the Department of Culture Media & Sport . Please detail any specific issues that you would like the CMA to raise with DCMS here.

http://bit.ly/cmaDCMS

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