OfcomWatch received this comment from Stuart Minchin on the Plymouth radio issue we’ve blogged about:

“Yes, from a parochially British point of view this could be a tad disturbing. From a parochially British point of view.

Introductions - I’ve spent nearly 23 years closely working in and researching the Australian radio industry, I’m a third generation Australian citizen (from the Hampshire Minchin family branch) and I profess a certain “inside knowledge” as to the way Diamond will go about their business. First, some backgrounder:

* Australia has had commercial radio for many more decades than Britain;

* Australia has had dedicated “rock FM” radio (as opposed to “Radio 1″ style pop-rock) for more years than Britain (particularly with the Triple J and Triple M networks, by the way Diamond will probably draw much influence from the latter);

* Australian rock radio holds its own to a large degree in highly competitive markets (the Triple M networks & 96 FM Perth are in our “Top Five” media markets, and on many many occasions they’ve topped the surveys, although this has been admittedly largely due to most of the competition not being allowed to convert from AM or AM-FM simulcast);

* Australian rock radio is often refreshingly diverse (yes, its core content is “pub banger” bands like AC-DC, INXS and Bon Jovi but the diversity can frequently skew as wide as Talking Heads, David Bowie, Melissa Etheridge and the Manics) with Triple M Brisbane even broadcasting regular REAL ESTATE BUYING GUIDANCE AND SPORTS TALK / TALKBACK PROGRAMMING!; and

* Australians PASSIONATELY BELIEVE IN LOCALLY DRIVEN AND DETERMINED MEDIA, ALMOST TO A MAN / WOMAN (while you’ll find Macquarie owns this station that will probably be the start of a British MRW portfolio - they call their stations down here Macquarie Radio Works, or MRW) and you may find they even actively canvass Plymouth locals for most, if not all, the positions at the station. You don’t need me to tell you that when it comes to “drop’n’drag” network feed relayed radio, those uppity colonials aren’t exactly Robinson Crusoe - WE also try and keep it “live and local” (a popular and almost always apt Australian radio marketing phrase! But it was a little brusque for the Mac to skimp on some of that prep research, it is courteous to put in some sort of effort there!)

I also believe there may be “favourable racist” treatment going on here - if the ownership had been 100% French, or Italian, or even maybe American, then the application wouldn’t have probably stood a hope in hell of getting approved. Due to the strong racial and cultural bonds, Australians are often treated as a “special case” in your land (and vice versa). There’s a saying down here: “Put up or shut up.” I believe that when Diamond PUTS UP what will be a bloody tightly run and listenable product after the most proficient and well-established Australian professional media style, most of the detractors at all levels of the industry will SHUT UP - so “put up AND shut up”, as it were.

Anyway, you have very widespread digital radio there (and just on that, eternal credit to Ofcom and all other parties involved), and I really hope that ALL THE OTHER THREE APPLICANTS manage to make it onto that band one day - and soon - should there be no more FM spectrum space left in the Plymouth area! If these applicants TRULY BELIEVE in their product and can obtain solid long-term backing, this service provision is, for mine, inevitable.

Thanks for your time, I invite cordial virus-free replies from ANYWHERE and TOOHEYS CHEERS FROM STU (its a beer thing, had to include that or they’ll rip up my passport)!!!”