[comradio-l] Community Radio using Medium Wave?
Jaqui Devereux
jaqui.devereux at commedia.org.uk
Fri Jul 4 15:03:51 BST 2008
Dear Ian
I would not agree that we as the CMA are accepting "this madcap
migration" to digital. Really only the major commercials want it sooner
rather than later. I agree entirely that the major networks should
migrate to digital radio (hopefully not on DAB) only once suitable
receivers are available. Interestingly, the analogy with the railways
has come up in the DRWG more than once.
The reality of what the report is saying is that various criteria have
to be met before HMG would even begin to consider planning for the major
players to migrate and they are "hopeful" that these might be met by
2015 (although personally I doubt this start date could be met). Even
if the big boys then did migrate by, say, 2020, FM will remain as part
of the radio ecology for many years after that.
However the main work for the CMA over the next 6 months on this is to
make sure that the "criteria" for the big players are robust and will
satisfy the needs in terms of FM etc for the community radio sector, but
also for all of us as citizens, to ensure that we are not ripped off,
either in technology terms nor in quality programming and content.
Hope this helps - keep this debate going!
Best wishes
Jaqui
Ian Hickling wrote:
> Jacqui
> Why are we all seemingly accepting this madcap migration to digital?
> Should the UK alone cease to use the FM band, what does HMG intend to do
> with it, considering that most other countries have no plans to cease
> its use?
> Why are we wanting to throw away a perfectly feasible system which works
> reliably and has done so for some 50 years?
> I see a parallel here with the railways.
>
> Agreed that there is a need for better and cheaper technology which will
> offer radio receivers which provide FM and digital reception, but there
> are already commercial units out there in the car market at least.
> The problem we have to face is that we made a mistake - not in
> pioneering DAB, but in pushing it too strongly and not anticipating the
> need for change.
> The sensible future as I see it is that major networks migrate to DAB
> only, once suitable receivers are available.
> Everyone else stays very comfortably on FM with more spectrum now
> available..
> In parallel, we need to agree standards internationally what the next
> generation of terrestrial digital radio and ensure that receivers can
> accept LW/MW/FM/DAB and the new regime.
> It really doesn't require rocket science to achieve that.
> Ian Hickling
> Transmission Director
> transplan UK
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Jaqui Devereux <mailto:jaqui.devereux at commedia.org.uk>
> *To:* Alan Coote <mailto:alan.coote at btinternet.com>
> *Cc:* 'CMA-L' <mailto:cma-l at commedia.org.uk> ;
> comradio-l at commedia.org.uk <mailto:comradio-l at commedia.org.uk>
> *Sent:* 04 July 2008 09:43
> *Subject:* Re: [cma-l] [comradio-l] Community radio using medium wave
>
> Dear all
>
> Re the BBC and planned migration, this still not firmly decided and
> there will be more DRWG work on this in the autumn, presumably our
> favoured position would be that it does migrate all its national
> services at the same time as national and large regional commercial
> services?
>
> There is not really a "digital dividend" as with the UHF spectrum.
> However, as things stand today, using DAB as the platform (rather than
> more advanced Eureka 147 platforms) there is not enough room on the
> multiplexes for all existing radio broadcasters (compression and all
> that). We must assume (and fight for?) that more advanced technologies
> will eventually be adopted, in theory then making it possible for all
> services including the community radio sector to migrate. However,
> there is still the question of AM Long Wave - in times of crisis (war,
> floods etc) there would still need to be some form of emergency
> broadcasting, so LW or solar powered digital?
>
> The DRWG is already discussing at length with manufacturers on
> producing
> hybrid multi chip digital radios including FM as well. This is
> necessary so that the listener can "seamlessly" travel between digital
> channels and FM channels. Also, as there is no agreed European
> standard, radios need to be Euro proof, both in car radio and portable.
> There is also the possibility that in some more remote parts of the
> UK, DAB will never be rolled out (bit like the last mile broadband
> issue) so the BBC would continue to use FM in those places to maintain
> universal reach?
>
> That is how things stand at the moment. The CMA welcomes any views you
> have on these or any other parts of the Interim Report (or anything
> else
> for that matter), so keep the debate rolling... The Final Report will
> be produced late November.
>
> Best wishes
>
> Jaqui
>
> Jaqui Devereux
>
> Director
> Community Media Association
>
>
> Alan Coote wrote:
> > Jaqui, et al,
> >
> > At the Radio Festival this week a question was raised about the BBC
> > migrating its stations to DAB only in the same timeframe as
> proposed for the
> > large commercial stations. This idea was dismissed by the BBC
> representative
> > as doing so would cause a public outcry.
> >
> > Q1: Is it the case that post 2020 there will be only moderate
> amount more FM
> > spectrum available as all BBC, small commercial and Community
> Radio will
> > still be on FM?
> >
> > Q2: Is it true that without switching the small commercial and
> community
> > radio stations off there will be no digital dividend?
> >
> > Q3: For those stations remaining on FM, to what extend are the DRWG
> > considering ensuring manufactures include receivers for digital
> analogue
> > hybrid technologies such as HD radio and DRM+ which would then permit
> > community radio to also become digital stations?
> >
> > I'd appreciate your thoughts
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Alan
> > Alan Coote
> > Managing Director
> > The Bay Radio
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
> <mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk>
> > [mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of Jaqui
> Devereux
> > Sent: 03 July 2008 12:56
> > To: 'CMA-L'; comradio-l at commedia.org.uk
> <mailto:comradio-l at commedia.org.uk>
> > Subject: Re: [cma-l] [comradio-l] Community radio using medium wave
> >
> > Dear all
> >
> > The idea is (at present) that any stations on AM Medium Wave will
> get
> > first refusal for freed up FM in their areas, regardless of BBC
> needs.
> > On the other hand the DRWG might suggest that AM Medium Wave is NOT
> > switched off. It is not clear yet re Long Wave. Re longer term,
> IF the
> > criteria for setting a road map for the migration of all national
> and
> > large regional stations are met, then for a significant amount of
> time
> > FM would be retained for small local commercial and community radio
> > stations, until the plan for their migration was completed. That
> is the
> > state of play at the moment in the DRWG.
> >
> > We at the CMA would welcome your views on this and other aspects
> of the
> > interim report as we will be representing your views in the
> second phase
> > of DRWG work, starting in August. This will be the major
> opportunity to
> > ensure the needs and views of the sector are included in the
> Final Report.
> >
> > I look forward to hearing from you.
> >
> > With best wishes
> >
> > Jaqui
> >
>
>
> --
> Jaqui Devereux
>
> Director
> Community Media Association
>
> 15 Paternoster Row
> Sheffield
> S1 2BX
>
> +44 114 279 5219
>
>
> Join the CMA now for discounts, networking,
> workshops, streaming, information, support
> and a voice for community media
>
> www.commedia.org.uk <http://www.commedia.org.uk>
>
> Access to the media for people and communities
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> cma-l mailing list - cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> <mailto:cma-l at commedia.org.uk>
>
> Community Media Association - www.commedia.org.uk
> <http://www.commedia.org.uk>
> _______________________________________________
>
> To manage your mailing list subscription please visit:
> http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l
--
Jaqui Devereux
Director
Community Media Association
15 Paternoster Row
Sheffield
S1 2BX
+44 114 279 5219
Join the CMA now for discounts, networking,
workshops, streaming, information, support
and a voice for community media
www.commedia.org.uk
Access to the media for people and communities
More information about the comradio-l
mailing list