<html><body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><blockquote type="cite"><br>CMA has played a key role in the development of local TV opportunities for<br>the UK over the past few years. We have talked long and often with DCMS and<br>Ofcom and in other key forums making the case for community led and owned<br>local TV. With Jeremy Hunt we have for the first time a Minister who has<br>enthusiasm for the idea - and has carried the culture portfolio long enough<br>(first in opposition and now in government) to act. Hunt has come up with<br>firm proposals for a dedicated digital local channel on Freeview enhanced<br>by utilising other available interleaved spectrum. His model for delivering<br>local TV involves creating a network affiliate spine service onto which<br>local opt outs can be attached. He sees the spine service as being<br>commercially run and funded by advertising. We are sceptical about this<br>and would much prefer to see a licensing regime closer to the community<br>radio model, where a consortium of local interests could come together to<br>apply for spectrum without needing to go through a network spine. However<br>this is not an ideal world, and we are keen to work with what we have in the<br>way of an opportunity.<br><br>Jeremy Hunt has invited expressions of interest to run the network spine to<br>be with him by the end of this month. We know there will be bids<br>forthcoming from at least one existing national broadcaster as well as from<br>other parties, including some with whom we believe CMA could successfully<br>work, were the opportunity to be presented. There is much commercial<br>confidentiality around this process inevitably so for the avoidance of doubt<br>let's be clear that CMA will not be submitting its own EOI for the spine<br>service. It would not be appropriate for us to do so given that we are<br>aware that there are various member group and individuals who are - or might<br>be - involved with bids with whom we would then be in competition. What we<br>are doing however is to submit a paper expressing clearly our commitment to<br>community owned and led local TV, with a critique of the dangers of the<br>commercially led spine. In a spirit of constructive criticism, we will<br>advocate instead that Hunt looks closely at the viability of not-for-profit<br>local consortia, several of which we know of going forward. We know also<br>that at least one bidder will be naming CMA as potential partners in<br>delivery. Bear in mind Hunt is calling at this stage only for EOIs, and<br>that fully fledged bidding will follow later. Not too much later however,<br>as he hopes to have local on air by summer 2012.<br><br>It would be most helpful for us at Staff and Council to know who among the<br>membership might be part of any bids going forward - we assume there is a<br>way you could let us know this without compromising any partnership<br>confidentiality - and more significantly we would like to know who would be<br>interested in putting together a proposal for local programming opt-outs<br>once the spine is in place. Please let us know in the early part of next<br>week (w/b 21 February) if you are interested.</blockquote></span><br>Phil Shepherd<div>Somerset Film</div><div>Chair, UK Community Media Association</div></div>
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