[comtv-l] [cma-l] Fwd: TAYSIDE & FIFE LOCAL TV GROUP CALLS ON OFCOM TO BACK LOCAL TV IN SCOTLAND

[Peter Reid]

Hello.

Re: "... it is vital the UK regulator responds to public demands for local TV ..."

I recently carried out a small survey into public interest in LCTV myself.  Though it was just a relatively small sample, the response was overwhelmingly positive and gave a valuable snapshot of public opinion.  No surprise there then.

Has anyone within the sector considered producing our own opinion polling?  I have no doubt there is greater public interest than Ofcom will admit, once the idea is introduced to people.  

A decent poll would be a very persuasive, and potentially dramatic weapon with which to counter their indifference and their highly questionable interpretations and methods of their own research.

It would also be a useful tool for all those supporters in Parliament and elsewhere.

If anybody out there has access to the wherewithal to carry out or commission a poll I would suggest it could be money well spent and would urge haste. 

All best,

Peter.




----------------------------------------
> Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:51:51 +0100
> From: local.tv at virgin.net
> To: cma-l at commedia.org.uk; comtv-l at commedia.org.uk
> Subject: [cma-l] Fwd: TAYSIDE & FIFE LOCAL TV GROUP CALLS ON OFCOM TO BACK LOCAL TV IN SCOTLAND
> 
> Fwd:
> 
> News Release:
> 
> TAYSIDE & FIFE LOCAL TV GROUP CALLS ON OFCOM TO BACK LOCAL TV IN SCOTLAND
> 
> Fife and Tayside Local TV Working Group – a consortium developing local 
> TV in Angus, Dundee, Fife and Perth and Kinross has responded to a 
> recent Ofcom consultation to allocate spectrum for local TV across Fife 
> and Tayside as well as throughout Scotland.
> 
> Responding to Ofcom's consultation on the spectrum suitable for local 
> television Cllr Fraser Macpherson, Planning & Transport Convener on 
> Dundee City Council and supporter of the local TV initiative, said. "We 
> are fortunate here in Scotland to have airwaves to spare and it is vital 
> the UK regulator responds to public demands for local TV in Scotland to 
> be made available for all.
> 
> "Digital switchover offers a once in a life-time opportunity for 
> Scotland to have local television coverage. We expect Ofcom to ensure 
> the allocation of these airwaves in the most  efficient way and for 
> local television to deliver local public purpose by involving local 
> people in broadcasting in ways that bigger media has proved unable to do."
> 
> Cllr Macpherson continued “The Fife and Tayside Local TV Working Group 
> is one of many representing all areas of Scotland and calls upon Ofcom 
> to allocate Scotland’s spectrum to allow for a seventh multiplex of 
> channels. This 'seventh mux' would be able to carry five additional 
> channels suitable for local TV as well as support a new Scottish channel 
> if this were required."
> 
> The spectrum identified by the UK regulator Ofcom is unique to Scotland 
> and would allow local TV to reach 98% of the population.
> Ofcom has been consulting on geographic interleaved spectrum as well as 
> seventh multiplex spectrum, while the former would provide much lesser 
> coverage of around 25-50%.
> 
> DigitalUK's early response to Ofcom's consultation strongly suggests 
> that spectrum planning for Digital Television Switchover in Scotland 
> actually ended on 12th August – nine days before the consultation 
> deadline invited local TV's response on 21st August.
> 
> Dave Rushton, Director of the Edinburgh based Institute of Local 
> Television, added: "There are serious concerns the regulator has made a 
> commitment to DigitalUK ahead of the consultation closing, decisions 
> that would remove from Scotland five separate digital TV channels – 
> channels that offer tremendous capacity for a variety of new services 
> that can be made more relevant to Scottish audiences and local areas 
> than many of the digital channels emanating from London."
> 
> FOR FURTHER INFORMATION :
> 
> Julie Craik on behalf the Fife and Tayside Local TV Working Group - 
> 01382 432483
> 
> Dave Rushton, Institute of Local Television - 0131 466 3021
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