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Hasn't Jacqui recently reminded us all that Ofcom has said publicly that there are no plans at all for the cessation of FM broadcasting in the UK?<BR>
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So what is all this about?<BR>
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Yet more uninformed media hype?<BR>
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Ian Hickling<BR>
Partner<BR>
transplan UK<BR>
<BR>
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<BR>> From: cma-l@commedia.org.uk<BR>> Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:27:29 +0100<BR>> To: cma-l@commedia.org.uk; comradio-l@commedia.org.uk<BR>> Subject: [cma-l] Digital switchover needs greater clarity, say Lords - The Guardian 29/03/10<BR>> <BR>> The government needs to put in place an FM radio scrappage scheme and<BR>> a fund to help poorer people switch to digital radio or face a public<BR>> backlash over its plans for the national switchover in 2015, according<BR>> to an influential committee of peers.<BR>> <BR>> The Lords communications committee said there was "public confusion<BR>> and industry uncertainty" over the switchover. Consumers are still<BR>> buying analogue radios owing to the lack of public information about<BR>> the government's plans for digital radio. Car manufacturers are still<BR>> fitting vehicles with FM radios despite the fact that in a few years'<BR>> time they will only be able to receive local and community radio.<BR>> <BR>> "We recommend an early and extensive information campaign to publicise<BR>> the government's digital radio policy, its rationale and its<BR>> implications for listeners," says the report on the digital switchover<BR>> of radio and TV, published today.<BR>> <BR>> The government's plans for the digital switchover of radio are working<BR>> their way through parliament as part of the digital economy bill,<BR>> which looks likely to become law in the pre-election wash-up.<BR>> <BR>> The committee reckons there will be as many as 100m radios that are no<BR>> longer required once digital switchover has occurred – though many<BR>> people may decide to hold onto their old radios to listen to the local<BR>> and community FM stations that will spring up once the national<BR>> stations have moved to digital.<BR>> <BR>> The committee warned that many consumers face having to buy a new<BR>> radio and are likely to be very annoyed when told they will have to<BR>> dump a perfectly serviceable FM set.<BR>> <BR>> "First, the government must ensure that advice goes to retailers and<BR>> the public that when purchasing radios, consumers should purchase sets<BR>> that include a digital tuner. This will prevent the problem getting<BR>> worse," the report stressed. "Second, the government should encourage<BR>> the industry to devise a sensible scrappage scheme, recognising that<BR>> the industry, manufacturers and retailers, will benefit heavily from<BR>> the new sales generated by digital switchover."<BR>> <BR>> The committee wants poorer radio listeners to be given financial<BR>> assistance to help them get new digital sets with funding from the<BR>> scheme from general taxation rather than the BBC licence fee, which<BR>> has been used to fund a similar help scheme for digital TV. "Virtually<BR>> all the witnesses who gave evidence to the Committee spoke of the need<BR>> for greater clarity of policy in digital radio switchover," said the<BR>> committee's chairman Lord Fowler.<BR>> <BR>> "In particular the public are not being told what radio switchover<BR>> will mean for them. Millions of FM/analogue radios will become largely<BR>> redundant. Millions of car owners will have to fit converters to<BR>> receive a digital service. It is urgent that the government now settle<BR>> policy and in addition step up their efforts to inform the public.<BR>> There is a danger of a public backlash if this is not done."<BR>> <BR>> Last year, about 90% of the UK population listened to radio every week<BR>> with average listening running at 22 hours, according to regulator<BR>> Ofcom. Almost two-thirds of listening takes place at home with 18% in<BR>> cars – where the vast majority of listening is analogue and most of it<BR>> is of FM stations.<BR>> <BR>> Last year, 66% of all listening was analogue, 21% digital – half on<BR>> DAB and half through PCs - and 13% unspecified. In the digital Britain<BR>> report the government admitted that at current levels of take-up, only<BR>> half the radio enjoying public are likely to be digital listener by<BR>> 2013. Based on recent growth, however, the House of Lords thinks not<BR>> even that figure will be reached.<BR>> <BR>> The peers noted that so far the switchover to digital TV "is running<BR>> to time" – though only one major urban area has so far been switched.<BR>> <BR>> The report was welcomed by Scott Taunton, managing director of UTV<BR>> Media which runs 13 local radio stations, as well as talkSPORT. "The<BR>> peers have identified the very serious ongoing obstacles to digital<BR>> radio switchover in the UK.<BR>> <BR>> "Next week, the government plans to force through legislation that<BR>> would set the switchover in motion as early as 2015. However, today's<BR>> report shows that the consumer case for switchover has still not been<BR>> made and that the plans could have a significant adverse impact on<BR>> local radio stations."<BR>> <BR>> "Before passing the Digital Economy Bill, it is crucial that the<BR>> government acts to ensure that digital radio switchover will not occur<BR>> unless it is driven by the listener, and that local commercial radio<BR>> stations remaining on FM will not be left to wither on the vine."<BR>> <BR>> Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/mar/29/digital-radio-switchover-scrappage<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>> Facebook Fans: http://bit.ly/cog8n5<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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