[cma-l] update DAB

Mon Jul 17 16:15:17 BST 2017

Nick

There most definitely are 'small' (indeed super-micro) commercial stations
that are also community broadcasters. We are one of them! 

Community radio in the UK started out in the Highlands and Islands of
Scotland long before the Radio Authority developed community radio licensing
as such, and so we all had no option but to go for full commercial licences.
Despite being commercially licensed, we are constituted not for profit,
volunteer staffed, and operating solely for community benefit, and all are
wholly local, independent of any larger radio groupings.

I think there are a number of small actually commercial stations that are
independent and locally-based, that could make perfectly acceptable partners
in an SSDAB multiplex.

Alex

PS There is also another potential partner here in the northwest - the BBC!
In Scotland the BBC's multiplexes do not have sufficient capacity even for
their own national services (bear in mind we have six BBC national services
here, not four). In more urban areas they get around this by renting
additional capacity on the commercial multiplexes, but there are no
commercial multiplexes in the less populated areas, so we do not get all the
BBC services on DAB. Renting out capacity to the (non-profit) BBC could
significantly improve the viability of SSDAB in remote areas, just as in
some other areas sharing with small independent commercial stations could.

From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
[mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of Canalside
Community Radio Ltd
Sent: 17 July 2017 10:19
To: 'The Community Media Association Discussion List'
<cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk>
Subject: [cma-l] update DAB

Dear All (FAO - Mike / Nigel / David

I have found the section that aroused the 'been thinking'

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________

This study finally considers the possible extension of small scale small
scale DAB to the whole of the UK. Our approach has been to group existing
analogue Community radio and small commercial radio services by area, with a
view to examining the technical feasibility of developing a frequency plan
which would allow them to be carried on small scale DAB

I was clearly somewhat confused by the           '''and small commercial
radio services'''       ?               I didn't write this, Ofcom did.

The thinking was the same as it has always been --- either one is a
Community Broadcaster or a Commercial Broadcaster (you can't be both)
if Small Scale DAB was Community Radio FM/AM/Internet      then I just took
it as read. No need to go scrolling through Bills or listening to debates.

As I put in one of my posts, I did ask a question to which there was no
reply or answer. The question was :-     I don't think there are any (as
such) small Commercial FM Stations ?  they don't exist. I use the analogy
because in the case of selective memory loss, this was one of the original
arguments in relation to restrictions. Commercial Stations claiming that
they were '''small'''    '''tiny''''      and that their commercial
viability was threatened. This was happening even though many of them were
part of larger groups. These numbers have changed dramatically over the
years, with nearly ALL Commercial Stations now part of bigger conglomerates.

So in a Nutshell and in relation to this whole debate, there are no small
Commercial Stations, they may claim to be, but that's a matter of opinion.

Sorry to everyone for appearing to be argumentative, but I felt
clarification was needed as I thought Small Scale DAB was for Small Scale
FM/AM     ie:- Community Radio              I saw it as 'foot in the door'
.. possibly the back door 

Here endeth the debate, I'll go and sit in the naughty boys corner again and
get on with some work as the Students have just arrived. Also, when you have
a dug a big hole for yourself, as the saying says ''stop digging''    sadly
I don't feel I am in a hole, anything but.

Let's have the discussion again in 12 months time and see how the land lies,
there are only two options, it will either be all hunky dory in the garden
or it will have gone slightly off-piste .. Trouble is it will be too late to
get it back on-piste.

Onwards and Upwards.

Nick

Canalside Community Radio Ltd.

Canal 2B, 

Clarence Mill, 

Bollington,

Cheshire,

SK10 5JZ

01625 576689

 <mailto:office at canalsideradio.net> office at canalsideradio.net

 <http://www.canalsideradio.net/> www.canalsideradio.net

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