CMA � Festival of Community Media 2004

The following represents my personal, partial (and rather belated) perspective, on the Community Media Association �Festival of Community Media�, held at the Sheffield Showroom Cinema (Saturday May 15th).

LOCAL TELEVISION

It was stressed that the community media sector cannot afford to �wait to do local television�, subsequent to the Community Radio process running its course (the latter being a position first mooted within debates around the Communications Bill, and reiterated by OfCom at the CMA AGM last November). Currently a local television working group is being developed, via the CMA, with a view to: forming a coherent set of policy proposals; asking OfCom for a review of provision and spectrum planning; and pressing the DCMS for a �Local Television Order� as soon as possible. The lack of a clear migration pattern, from analogue to digital, is the key dilemma being currently faced by the sector, a particularly iniquitous situation as local �Restricted Service Licence� television is already something of a financial risk, so with no conceivable existence post-2008 funding will be even harder to secure.

Many delegates were surprised that no action had been taken in response to iTC research, which had noted both the desire for news, and a high dissatisfaction with current local (i.e. regional) news provision � a finding also noted within the first stage of OfCom�s PSB review. It was also suggested that more outlets are required, to showcase the diverse material(s) being produced by local independent film makers, particularly publicly funded output. It was noted that the Community Channel would be happy to screen a diverse range of local material, providing at least a national outlet for local production. It was also suggested that local media making can be tied into local government �Implementing Local Government� statements, particularly apropos the promotion of dialogue through new communications technologies. Overall there was the feeling that between OfCom and the DCMS no one grouping, within either organisation, was taking charge, the former waiting for the legislation to work with, the latter positioning local television services as a low priority.

COMMUNITY RADIO (CR)

Stuart Brand (DCMS) suggested that the CR order will be ready by June, and will provide a more flexible foundation for the CR sector than primary legislation. There were however certain issues to be resolved regarding sponsorship limits � the 50% ceiling was unpopular with both the CMA, who wanted no restrictions, and the commercial lobby, who want to protect their revenues. Moreover, the commercial lobby have suggested that a system is required whereby CR stations are unable to carry advertising in small markets, with a progressive loosening of restrictions for larger areas. Stuart suggests that this is a compromise proposal ministers might be comfortable with, however it was met with hostility from CMA members, who would rather live with stricter controls on sources of funding, rather than any calculations based upon profitability. In terms of �social gain� requirements, licence holders should perhaps be compelled to sign up to more than one �goal�, perhaps within a two tiered list categorising �requirements�, and �desirable elements�. Also the general view was that there should be a limit of one station per owner.

Soo Williams (OfCom) explains that the consultation on CR, undertaken in conjunction with the draft order, will be assessed along with forthcoming audience research, and will feed into OfCom�s planning, and ultimately the composition of the CR application forms/process. There have been three main lines of feedback, the argument that OfCom cannot be soft on community groups regarding social gain � a position taken by both commercial and community groups; secondly, that the distinctiveness of the sector should be seen as of key importance; thirdly, that OfCom should have a clear list of sanctions and not be afraid to apply them. The suggestion that existing ILR (independent local radio) can lobby OfCom if it believes a potential CR station will �encroach� was not liked by any group, as neither small ILRs, nor CR stations, would have the resources to get involved within a potentially lengthy process.

In the question and answer session a number of topics were broached. A central observation was that small ILR stations do rely upon local advertising, and CR would cut into this market, seemingly unfairly, as ILR would not have the same access to public funding. However it was also suggested, firstly, that advertising would be harder to come by for CR stations who would have no pre-existing Rajar ratings, as well as not necessarily comprising of the key demographics advertisers were seeking; secondly, that spot advertising, sponsorship, and public funding should be treated as different sources by OfCom (and only the first of these would be considered as together �one source� when upper limits are set). It was stressed repeatedly that they key feature of the sector should be editorial independence and diversity, so it isn�t allowed to simply turn into �public information radio�. Additionally, there needs to be a �social basis� to CR, more clearly enunciated, as full commercial viability is not something that should necessarily be aimed for in the first instance, concomitantly a diversity of income streams is vitally important (see also Anthony Everitt�s �New Voices� reports).