In November 2009, after public consultation, Ofcom reported to the Secretary of State (Culture, Media and Sport) on the review of the media ownership rules, as required by statute. One of Ofcom’s recommendations was to significantly liberalise the local cross media ownership rules. Government now intends to implement this liberalisation.

Once this liberalisation is implemented the only prohibition on local cross media ownership will be that one person cannot own in a local radio coverage area:

• a local analogue radio licence; and
• a regional Channel 3 licence whose potential audience includes at least 50% of that radio stations potential audience; and
• one or more local newspapers which have a local market share of 50% or more in the coverage area ( the Remaining Rule).

The Secretary of State (Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport) has now asked Ofcom to look at the feasibility and implications of removing the Remaining Rule. The Secretary of State is required by statute to consult with the Regulator before making any changes to the media ownership rules which Ofcom has not already recommended.

In considering this request, Ofcom has updated the evidence for changes since the November 2009 recommendation. In summary, there are two relevant developments.

Firstly, the evidence shows a significant deterioration in the revenues available for local / regional newspapers between 2008 and 2009, accompanied by continued structural pressure on television and radio as the internet increases its share in a total advertising market that has been under pressure from broader economic circumstances. While there are signs of a recovery in the general advertising market this year, as noted in the original report, these structural challenges are unlikely to ease.

Secondly, Ofcom notes that Government policy in relation to local media has changed significantly since the  original recommendations were published. Government has placed emphasis on local media, in particular making proposals for local television, which have the potential to have a positive impact on both the diversity and plurality of news and information at the local level. Although this remains in development, and is therefore speculative at this stage, it is clearly a relevant development.

The issue that Ofcom highlighted in earlier advice was that a combined ownership of the channel 3 television licence, a local commercial radio station and the main local newspaper(s) may deliver too much control over the local news agenda into the hands of one person or company. Limited plurality of news and opinion in a local area could restrict local debate and accountability. This remains a serious consideration which needs to be weighed against the arguments for further relaxation.

As Ofcom’s report notes, the cornerstone of plurality in this context is the combination of the BBC and the commercial sector. With a BBC service (television at the regional level, radio and web based services more locally) there is a guarantee of a minimum of at least two providers of local news.

It is also important to note that competition policy may be relevant to the extent that competition authorities prevent concentrations in local media through the merger regime. The Secretary of State (Business, Innovation and Skills) also has the right to intervene in cross media mergers where he considers that it raises public interest considerations, including considerations of the need for there to be sufficient plurality.

All three of these factors exist as safeguards in addition to the residual restriction on cross ownership of local commercial media.

Ultimately, whether the remaining rule should be removed is of course a matter of judgement and one which is rightly made by Government and Parliament.

In making this judgement the risk of the concentration of control over local commercial news provision needs to be balanced against the arguments and factors which tend towards removal:

• Local media is facing significant economic pressure which the most recent evidence suggests is becoming more acute removing the remaining rule could allow local media greater options to consolidate to respond to these pressures.
• While only a limited group of consumers (5%) consider the internet their main source of local news, there is a growing diversity of local news available through non-traditional media. There are therefore increasingly alternative sources of plurality.
• As noted, there are protections for plurality which would continue to operate the combination of the BBC and the commercial sector, the public interest test operated by the Secretary of State and the merger regime would all continue to operate in parallel.

In addition, there are the potential benefits to diversity and plurality that may emerge in the coming years from the Governments policy on local television.

Finally, it is also worth noting that there is probably a reasonably low risk of the kind of consolidation that the remaining rule protects against actually occurring even if the rule was removed. At present the evidence suggests there is very limited interest in this form of consolidation.

The Secretary of State has also asked Ofcom to look at possible regulatory barriers to entry in local media. In summary, Ofcom does not consider that there are significant regulatory barriers to entry to the local media market (within Ofcom’s remit).

This paper is structured into four sections:

• Section 1 Context: in this section we set out why we are undertaking this further analysis of the local cross media ownership rules and what we recommended to the Secretary of State in 2009.
• Section 2 Updating the evidence: in this section we set out the evidence on which our 2009 recommendation was based. We also update our analysis for changes to the local media landscape since our 2009 recommendation.
• Section 3 Advice to the Secretary of State: in this section we set out the factors to be taken into account in considering removal of the Remaining Rule.
• Section 4 Wider regulatory issues: in this section we look at possible regulatory barriers to entry to local media, within our remit.

The full document is available here [PDF].

Source.

This is a practical, do-it-yourself guide for leaders and facilitators wishing to strengthen their work through introducing a rights-based approach to participatory video. Compact and beautifully laid out with illustrations and dynamic links to videos and photostories this toolkit is eminently practical; full of exercises and techniques, facilitator checklists, case-studies, templates, resource lists and copies of key human rights instruments.

The publication of ’Rights-Based Approach to Participatory Video: toolkit’ was supported by funds from the UNDP Global Human Rights Strengthening Programme (GHRSP) through the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) implemented by the UNDP on behalf of the GEF partnership of agencies.

InsightShare’s ‘Introduction to Participatory Video’ courses continue for the 6th consecutive year with the next round scheduled for the 20th – 24th September 2010 and 14th – 17th June 2011.  The new and very popular 2-day ‘Editing for Participatory Video’ course on the weekend is scheduled to immediately follow the introductory course (25th & 26th September 2010 / 18th & 19th June 2011).  Download a course brochure and booking form here.

Finally….why not join the Google Group?
InsightShare have started a Google Group for all those who are interested in exchanging ideas, challenges and learning about participatory video. The page is at: http://groups.google.co.uk/group/insightshare-followers

An Early Day Motion on local television was tabled by Austin Mitchell MP
on Wednesday 26th May.  Please contact your local MP and get them to
sign it.  This campaign feeds into the ongoing campaign to raise the profile
for the community media sector as a whole which can only be a good thing!

EDM 88

LOCAL TELEVISION
26.05.2010

Mitchell, Austin

That this House notes that Ofcom has described community radio as `one
of the best things…that we have done…far more successful than
anybody anticipated’; recognises the opportunity now exists to enable
communities to develop their own free-to-air television stations as a
platform for news, information, discussion, entertainment and
advertising; believes it is important to avoid creating spectrum
gatekeepers able to abuse their market power in the supply of spectrum
suitable for community-based television services; and calls on the
Government and Ofcom to co-operate to implement a licensing regime so
that Freeview and cable carriage is secured for the roll-out of a new
tier of local television across the UK with priority on the electronic
programme guide.

http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=41003&SESSION=905

Local television on Freeview for the Highlands & Islands

2nd June 2010
10.30-4.00pm

LECTURE THEATRE G2 INVERNESS COLLEGE LONGMAN CAMPUS 3 LONGMAN ROAD IV1 1SA

To register, email names of delegates and organisation to local.tv@virgin.net
register early – limited places.

10.30 Registration and Showreel of Local TV in UK and Europe

WELCOME

• John Spencer, Principal and Chief Executive, Inverness College, UHI

REFLECTING LOCAL IDENTITY

• Chair Antonia Swinson, Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition

11.00 Opening Address

• Fiona Hyslop MSP, Minister for Culture & External Affairs (tbc)

11.15 News for the Scottish nation, regions and localities

• A BBC Scotland view – Ian Small
• A future for the Scottish News Consortium – Tom Thomson
• A local election news experiment – Graeme Campbell, MiMAC-RUSHES
• Broadband & beyond – Steve Bone, Inverness TV
• Q&A

12.00 Legislation, regulation and spectrum

• A Scottish Parliamentary view – Ted Brocklebank MSP – via video link
• Spectrum management and access – Ofcom (Contributor tbc)
• Scotland’s Local Digital Multiplex – Dave Rushton, Institute of Local Television
• Q&A

1.00 Lunch
SERVING LOCAL PUBLIC PURPOSE

• Chair Brian Weaver – HISEZ

1.45 Local & community TV across Europe

• Pieter de Wit, Community Media Forum Europe

2.15 Local public service television

• Marilyn Hyndman – NvTv, Belfast
• Q&A

2.45 Tea

3.00 Investment, enterprise and partnership

• Local TV Business Planning – Alexander Stuart, ex Edinburgh Television
• Not for loss TV – Chris Cook
• Underwriting the local production sector – Amanda Millen, H & I Enterprise

3.45 Q&A and Round-up

4.00 Close

4.00-5.00 Highlands & Islands Local TV Working Group

• Chair Lindsay Dunbar – HISEZ

Please indicate when registering if you are interested in attending the working
group to secure local TV on Freeview in the Highlands and Islands

2010 FORUM FLYER

With the General Election taking place on Thursday 6th May, now is the time for CMA members
and our supporters to call on the major political parties to commit to increasing the Community
Radio Fund from its current level to the levels recommended in the Everitt Report that set the
framework for community radio legislation and was accepted by Government at that time.

Supporters of community media can contact their local prospective Parliamentary
candidates (PPCs) using the methods outlined below for the four major parties in England and
Wales – we do not currently have contact details available for the SNP, Ulster Unionists and others.

At this stage of election campaigning, PPCs will be more likely to read and take note of letters
sent to them from individual constituents than a national lobby effort from the CMA – our
overall message will therefore be more likely to get through to them via our grassroots
membership.  Furthermore, if you do establish a connection with a candidate who becomes
elected then they will be more likely to be receptive towards you later as your elected
representative.

So, please find your candidate here:

Conservative:
Step 1: Visit
http://www.conservatives.com/People/Prospective_Parliamentary_Candidates.aspx

Step 2: Find your local candidate by choosing “List by name” or
“List by constituency”.

Step 3: Choose from A to Z to locate the name or constituency for
which you are looking.

Step 4: Click on your local candidate’s name to see their contact details.

Labour:
Step 1: Visit http://www.labour.org.uk/ppc

Step 2: If you know the surname of your local PPC choose from A to
Z and then select your local PPC to see their contact details.

If you do not know the surname of your local PPC, click on browse
by parliamentary constituency to search by constituency and then
select your constituency to see your local PPC’s contact details.

Liberal Democrats:
Step 1: Visit http://www.libdems.org.uk/parliamentary_candidates.aspx

Step 2: Use one of the two search fields to search by postcode or
constituency name to be taken straight to your local PPC’s contact
details.

Plaid Cymru:
Step 1: Visit http://www.plaidcymru.org/content.php?nID=564;lID=1

Step 2: Please click on a constituency in the left-hand column to read more about your candidate.

Step 3: Email the candidate using the email address given.

Remember that PPCs will include those selected to replace a sitting MP
where they are retiring, as a large number are.  With boundary changes
taking effect at the election, look out for the changed names and
boundaries of some constituencies. Also, there are some completely new
constituencies whilst some will disappear altogether.

We have drafted a pro forma letter below, which you are free to edit as you
see fit, that calls for increased support for community media.  Please send
your version of the letter to your PPC and please contact the
CMA_L mailing list with any feedback received.

\\\

Dear XXXXXX (Election Candidate’s name)

I am writing to ask that you pledge your support for the
sustainability and growth of community media in the UK through a
substantial increase in the resources and scope of the current
Community Radio Fund, to include both licensed community radio and the
wider community media sector including community and local television.

The growth of community radio has been described by Ofcom as “one of
the great UK broadcasting success stories in the last few years”, yet
this new sector still remains economically very precarious.  Existing
community and local television stations are under threat through lack
of access to a proper digital distribution system e.g. on Freeview and
cable.  The UK is one of the very few nations in Europe not to support
local television, as a true provider of local news, information and
local debate.

The growth of the licensed community radio sector, from 14 stations in
2004 to more than 200 today, broadcasting to an estimated audience of
around 2 million citizens, demonstrates daily the appetite of people
in local communities for local news, voices and broadcasting in
community languages.  Its success could easily be emulated if the
growth of community television were to be facilitated by an incoming
government in the way that community radio has been since 2004.

As defined in the Community Radio Order 2004, community radio stations
are licensed with the following social gain objectives:

(a) the delivery of services provided by local authorities and other
services of a social nature and the increasing, and wider
dissemination, of knowledge about those services and about local
amenities;

(b) the promotion of economic development and of social enterprises;

(c) the promotion of employment;

(d) the provision of opportunities for the gaining of work experience;

(e) the promotion of social inclusion;

(f) the promotion of cultural and linguistic diversity;

(g) the promotion of civic participation and volunteering.

Regulation of the sector by Ofcom ensures that the above social gain
objectives of all broadcasting community radio stations are met or
exceeded.

But despite the plaudits and awards for community radio, the UK
financial settlement compares poorly with our European neighbouring
countries. France, for example, provides around Euro 25 million per
annum for around 600 community stations, the Netherlands Euro 8
million for around 340 community stations. Community radio groups and
their supporters are calling on the Government to give a higher
priority to community radio with its real social and economic benefits
by substantially increasing the Government’s contribution to the
Community Radio Fund.

The Community Radio Order 2004 restricts community radio to a maximum
50 per cent of revenue from advertising and sponsorship and, in some
locations, advertising is prohibited entirely.

This arrangement was intended to be complemented, in part, by a
sizeable Community Radio Fund. The Government’s own impact assessment,
in line with the recommendations of the Everitt Report, suggested the
Fund would require £3-4 million per annum.

In its first year £500,000 was provided. Since then, annual spending
commitments to the Fund have not increased, while the number of
community radio licensees has grown from 14 to over 200.

A new Government must commit to a substantial increase in the
Community Radio Fund to support the long term sustainability and
success of community radio, in delivering real choice and community
benefit in some of the most deprived communities in the UK.

As a constituent, I would like to know that you and your Party are
committed to an increase in the size of the Community Radio Fund,
including extending its remit to other truly local broadcasting
services should your Party have sufficient influence in the next
Government.

I would also like to see your party publicly commit to support for
funding of local and community television projects on a similar basis
to community radio funding.

I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely

Community_Media_General_Election – Letter.rtf

Community_Media_General_Election – Letter.txt

Ofcom publishes a number of guidelines about community radio broadcasting in the run-up to the General Election and a number of local council elections on Thursday 6th May.

During election periods special impartiality rules apply. They are set out in Section Six of Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code which can be accessed via the following link:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/codes/bcode/elections/

Ofcom also provides Guidance Notes to explain the requirements:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/guidance/bguidance/guidance6.pdf

At all times there are rules which apply to broadcasters concerning ‘due impartiality’ and ‘due accuracy’ and ‘undue prominence of views and opinions on matters of political or industrial controversy and matters relating to current public policy’. These rules are included in Section Five of the Broadcasting Code available via this link:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/codes/bcode/undue/

Guidance Notes to help explain the Section Five requirements may be found at:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/guidance/bguidance/guidance5.pdf

The House of Lords Select Committee on Communications has announced a short inquiry into the progress of, and prospects for, digital switchover of both television and radio in the United Kingdom.

The Digital Switchover Programme will replace the UK’s existing analogue television network with a fully digital television network, region by region, between 2008 and 2012.  As the programme reaches its half way point, the inquiry will make a brief interim assessment of:

• the strengths and weaknesses of the switchover process as they have emerged in the regions which have already switched over;
• the effectiveness of the Digital Switchover Help Scheme and the public communications campaign.

The Digital Switchover Programme applies only to television.  The arrangements for radio are still being developed. The Government does not yet have a timetable, though it has said that the switchover date will be announced two years in advance.  The inquiry will consider the issues to be resolved, including:

• the current state of the Government’s plans for switchover to digital radio;
• the outstanding technical issues, including the appropriateness of DAB as the digital radio standard;
• the views of UK broadcasters, consumers, and radio interest groups.

The Committee would welcome written evidence on any of these issues.

GUIDANCE FOR THOSE SUBMITTING WRITTEN EVIDENCE

Submissions should be sent to:

Ralph Publicover
Select Committee on Communications
House of Lords
London SW1A 0PW

Tel 020 7219 8662
Fax 020 7219 4931

and preferably also as an email attachment to: holcommunications@parliament.uk

The deadline for submitting written evidence is 1 February 2010.

Please ensure that you include relevant contact details. Evidence should be attributed and dated, with a note of your name and position, and should state whether it is submitted on an individual or corporate basis.

Short submissions of 6 pages or fewer are preferred; longer submissions should include a summary. Evidence sent as hard copy should be clearly printed or typed on single sides of A4 paper, unstapled.  Paragraphs should be numbered.  If drawings or charts are included, we ask that these are black-and-white and of camera-ready quality.

Evidence becomes the property of the Committee, and may be printed or circulated by the Committee. You may publish your evidence yourself, but in doing so you should indicate that it was prepared for the Committee.
The Committee may invite some of those who submit written evidence to give oral evidence, usually in public at Westminster. Transcripts will be published.

You can follow the inquiry via the Committee web pages, accessed from:

http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/communications.cfm

This is a public call for evidence. Please bring it to the attention of other groups and individuals who may not have received a copy direct.

Ofcom has published its revised 2009 Broadcasting Code (“the 2009
Code”) which sets rules for TV and radio broadcasts.

Ofcom has also published its new internal procedures for the
handling of standards and licence-related cases, fairness and privacy
complaints, and statutory sanctions in broadcasting.

The full Code can be found here:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/codes/bcode/

And the new internal procedures are here:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/guidance/

The local broadcasting ecology in England continues to change rapidly; the new tier of community radio is steadily increasing (more than two hundred stations have been licensed since 2005 and more than one hundred and sixty are on air as at October 2009).  There also opportunities for increased community media presence, including video and multi media content, on the web.

The growth of broadband has revolutionised the accessibility and supply of local information and the debate about local television is ongoing.  A multi media community presence is emerging as a vibrant addition to local democracy.

In parallel with this, increasing numbers of community media organisations are engaging with the BBC on a variety of levels.  Working with CMA members has already helped the BBC to move closer to its diversity targets on and off air, improve its connectivity at a local level with audiences and boosted its creative talent base.

We hope that this updated Memorandum of Understanding will help to support current and future working arrangements between community media groups and the BBC in England to ensure that these happen in the best way with the best outcomes, delivering a richer experience for listeners, viewers and online users.

PDF Download.

Ofcom has published its draft annual plan 2010/11 and is holding a
series of public meetings across the UK to hear your views.

The meetings will provide an opportunity for everyone with an interest
in the regulation of the communications industries to discuss Ofcom’s
approach to television, radio, telecoms and wireless communications
services. Each meeting will begin with a brief presentation, after
which there will be an opportunity to comment and ask questions.

All meetings, which include a panel of Ofcom experts, are open and
free of charge. If you would like to attend an event, please click on
the link below for details in your region:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/draftannplan1011/event/

Ofcom’s Draft Annual Plan 2010/11 can be found at:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/draftannplan1011/