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<body class='hmmessage'><div dir='ltr'>I'm sure Ofcom would be delighted to "get out of the game of regulating stations' internal operations".<BR>But, as was recently pointed out in the DAB presentation, Ofcom is not empowered to change legislation - that's our job.<BR>
It's just doing as instructed by H M Government.<BR>
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<DIV>> From: alan.coote@5digital.co.uk<BR>> To: cma-l@commedia.org.uk<BR>> Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2014 14:24:02 +0000<BR>> Subject: Re: [cma-l] OFCOM Consultation<BR>> <BR>> Surely the solution is that those who want to operate as an effectively<BR>> small scale commercial stations should be allowed. The only reason there is<BR>> a Community Radio sector at all is because Ofcom were between a rock and a<BR>> hard place of the public interest on one side and commercial radio on the<BR>> other. <BR>> <BR>> As I have said here and elsewhere it’s a bugger muddle! I have long<BR>> advocated (since the last first consultation on Access Radio) that we have<BR>> radio wrong in this country and the arbitrary limits should be removed. In<BR>> my view it's quite simple; there should be National, Regional and Local<BR>> radio and that's it. <BR>> <BR>> CR is hampered by ownership rules, an enforce business model, coverage and<BR>> many other ridiculous criteria. I accept that there needs to be some<BR>> controls on the finite spectrum but these should be managed through simple<BR>> criterion based on plurality and ownership. <BR>> <BR>> Ofcom should get out of the game of regulating stations internal<BR>> operation's. <BR>> <BR>> Kind Regards<BR>> Alan<BR>> <BR>> Alan Coote<BR>> Managing Director<BR>> 5 Digital Limited<BR>> <BR>> Hear Alan Every Week on Let’s Talk Business The UK’s Premier Radio Programme<BR>> For Current and Future Entrepreneurs - Now Broadcast To 4 Million People <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> -----Original Message-----<BR>> From: cma-l-bounces@mailman.commedia.org.uk<BR>> [mailto:cma-l-bounces@mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of Clive Glover<BR>> Sent: 14 February 2014 12:20<BR>> To: CMA Discussion List List<BR>> Subject: [cma-l] OFCOM Consultation<BR>> <BR>> I agree with those who say we should demand the removal of the ban on<BR>> advertising for those CR stations who have been restricted in this way. How<BR>> many commercial stations have closed down because of the competition from a<BR>> nearby CR station? Show us the evidence OFCOM! If there is none then the<BR>> restriction should be dropped.<BR>> <BR>> However I am less certain about removing the 50% rule for everyone else. It<BR>> is unnecessary in terms of protecting local commercial stations - obviously.<BR>> But it does ensure that CR stations do need to be creative and active in<BR>> their community in seeking a variety of sources of income rather than just<BR>> advertising and commercial sponsorship. Not that the latter is an easy<BR>> option.<BR>> <BR>> As has been said by others, there are many such other sources including<BR>> grants, fund-raising (and profile raising) events and donations, membership<BR>> etc. And any commercial income from things other than on-air ads or<BR>> sponsorship do not count towards the 50% - so ads on websites or sponsorship<BR>> of new studio equipment or an OB van or lots of other things do not count.<BR>> <BR>> Even when you do count you can offset volunteer time against the actual on<BR>> air commercial revenue and, as all CR stations rely on lots of volunteers<BR>> giving their time, this makes a significant difference.<BR>> <BR>> And this is before any ideas for setting up separate commercial companies<BR>> and charities and allocating income between them or similar schemes.<BR>> <BR>> So, my conclusion is that the existence of the 50% rule is unlikely to be a<BR>> real practical problem for the vast majority of CR stations although I<BR>> recognise there are a few for whom it may be.<BR>> <BR>> Finally, I find it really odd that a question on whether licenses should be<BR>> extended for a further 5 years is just dropped into the Consultation along<BR>> with all the rest of the questions about funding. Of course all CR licenses<BR>> should be renewed not just once but every five years as long as the station<BR>> is meeting its Key Commitments as demonstrated in its Annual Reports to<BR>> OFCOM!<BR>> <BR>> regards,<BR>> <BR>> Clive Glover<BR>> <BR>> Radio Verulam, St Albans<BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> <BR>> Reply - cma-l@commedia.org.uk<BR>> <BR>> The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community Media<BR>> Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk<BR>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/community_media<BR>> http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation<BR>> Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/<BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> <BR>> Mailing list guidelines:<BR>> http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/<BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> <BR>> To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please visit:<BR>> http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> -----<BR>> No virus found in this message.<BR>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com<BR>> Version: 2014.0.4335 / Virus Database: 3705/7091 - Release Date: 02/13/14<BR>> <BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> <BR>> Reply - cma-l@commedia.org.uk<BR>> <BR>> The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community Media Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk<BR>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/community_media<BR>> http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation<BR>> Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/<BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> <BR>> Mailing list guidelines: http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/<BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> <BR>> To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please visit:<BR>> http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l<BR></DIV> </div></body>
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