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This is yet another example of the uninformed misleading the unaware.<BR>
There is no "Digital Switchover" for radio.<BR>
There is no need for "Digital Switchover" for radio.<BR>
There is little demand from smaller operators for "Digital Switchover" for radio.<BR>
<BR>
Why don't these people talk to those in the know before they sound off?<BR>
<BR>
Ian Hickling<BR>
Partner<BR>
transplan UK<BR>
<BR>
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<BR>> From: cma-l@commedia.org.uk<BR>> Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:28:52 +0000<BR>> To: cma-l@commedia.org.uk; comradio-l@commedia.org.uk<BR>> Subject: [cma-l] Local radio stations frozen out of digital switchover debate, says MP<BR>> <BR>> Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jan/13/local-radio-digital-switchover<BR>> <BR>> John Plunkett, Wednesday 13 January 2010<BR>> <BR>> Future of more than 100 local stations uncertain, claims Liberal<BR>> Democrats' Alistair Carmichael<BR>> <BR>> Local radio stations fear they are being frozen out of the digital<BR>> radio switchover debate, with the future of more than 100 of them<BR>> still uncertain, an MP has warned.<BR>> <BR>> Alistair Carmichael, the Liberal Democrat spokesman on Scotland and<BR>> Northern Ireland, led a debate about the government's plans for the<BR>> future of local radio in Westminster Hall in the House of Commons<BR>> yesterday.<BR>> <BR>> "There are a lot of radio providers who feel there voice hasn't been<BR>> heard yet," he told MediaGuardian.co.uk.<BR>> <BR>> "There has to be some sort of mechanic for getting people rounding the<BR>> table and letting them have their say. That's not to say that we can<BR>> always give them what they want – the nature of government is that you<BR>> have to make hard choices and you can't please everyone – but it's<BR>> important for people to feel that their views are being heard."<BR>> <BR>> Carmichael said there was "widespread concern" from small independent<BR>> stations that the digital economy bill would leave them facing an<BR>> uneven playing field.<BR>> <BR>> "Over 100 local stations still do not have a clear digital migration<BR>> path and are likely to be consigned to an uncertain future on the<BR>> analogue spectrum once digital switchover has occurred. It is<BR>> important the government addresses this matter before committing to<BR>> analogue switch-off."<BR>> <BR>> Carmichael said he had been inundated with responses from the industry<BR>> which he said was split into two opposing camps on the issue, and<BR>> warned that small radio operators still felt that their voices were<BR>> not being heard.<BR>> <BR>> "The response I got was absolutely fascinating," he said.<BR>> <BR>> "I have had about an inch of briefings from different radio companies<BR>> and pressure groups from around the country. They are all either<BR>> telling me that this is a pointless debate and everything is hunky<BR>> dory, or they are saying that this is the end of local radio as we<BR>> know it. There doesn't seem to be an awful lot in between."<BR>> <BR>> According to proposals in the digital economy bill currently going<BR>> through parliament, the radio switchover process could begin as early<BR>> as 2015. But the two-year timetable will only begin when digital<BR>> accounts for more than 50% of all radio listening. It currently<BR>> accounts for 21.1%, with the majority on digital audio broadcasting<BR>> (DAB) radio.<BR>> <BR>> The radio industry is divided over how quickly it should switch to<BR>> digital. Its industry body, the RadioCentre, and Global Radio, which<BR>> owns Heart and Classic FM, reacted positively to the mooted 2015 date,<BR>> assuming listening targets are met. TalkSport, which split with the<BR>> RadioCentre over the issue, has said the 2015 target is a non-starter.<BR>> <BR>> "My main concern is how you actually roll out DAB provision in a way<BR>> that gets to all those hard to reach parts of the country," Carmichael<BR>> added.<BR>> <BR>> "What is the government doing about moving to DAB+, and will the<BR>> market be structured in such a way that you can maintain proper local<BR>> radio which is not concentrated in the hands of two big players<BR>> [Global Radio and Bauer Media]?<BR>> <BR>> "Local radio has a real role to play in providing and maintaining a<BR>> focus and identity for local communities."<BR>> <BR>> There is currently no DAB multiplex in Carmichael's constituency of<BR>> Orkney and Shetland, which has two commercial radio stations, although<BR>> Orkney has been included on a list of regions which may get it, he<BR>> said.<BR>> <BR>> \\<BR>> <BR>> Community Media Association<BR>> -- <BR>> http://www.commedia.org.uk/<BR>> http://twitter.com/community_media<BR>> http://photo365.commedia.org.uk<BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> <BR>> cma-l mailing list - cma-l@commedia.org.uk<BR>> <BR>> Community Media Association - www.commedia.org.uk<BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> <BR>> To manage your mailing list subscription please visit:<BR>> http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l<BR> </body>
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