Open letter to Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP

(The template of this letter was provided by Phil Shepherd, Chair of the Community Media Association and Director of Somerset Film & Video)

To:

Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP
Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport
Department for Culture Media & Sport
2-4 Cockspur Street
London SW1Y 5DH

Dear Mr Burnham

I write on behalf of Firstborn Creatives, a community based media education organisation in Bristol, in support of the United for Local Television (ULTV) proposals advocating the universal availability of public service local television.

We are aware that the future shape of public service broadcasting (PSB) in Britain is now at a crucial stage and that a local television network, on seventh mux spectrum in Scotland and on  Channel 6 on Freeview in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is now being seriously considered as a PSB provider.  We welcome this idea reservedly.

We recognise that a universally accessible service is not something that can be achieved now or in the foreseeable future on broadband alone.  An accessible terrestrial Local TV network of 50-80 + stations will be truly local and universal and will create hundreds of jobs all over the country. We are after all one of the few countries in Europe not to already have such a network in place.

ULTV have identified a number of  ‘models’ for running each local public service broadcasting station, dependent on local preferences and funding. Some will involve local authorities; some may not.  The business models exist to make this work.

 We are aware that the future shape of public service broadcasting (PSB) in Britain is now at a crucial stage and that a local television network, on seventh mux spectrum in Scotland and on  Channel 6 on Freeview in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is now being seriously considered as a PSB provider.  We welcome this idea reservedly.

 We recognise that a universally accessible service is not something that can be achieved now or in the foreseeable future on broadband alone.  An accessible terrestrial Local TV network of 50-80 + stations will be truly local and universal and will create hundreds of jobs all over the country. We are after all one of the few countries in Europe not to already have such a network in place.

ULTV have identified a number of  ‘models’ for running each local public service broadcasting station, dependent on local preferences and funding. Some will involve local authorities; some may not.  The business models exist to make this work.

 All over the UK numerous community media groups make engaging, popular programmes for which there are almost no broadcast outlets, particularly since the demise of regional ITV.  Local TV would change that frustrating scenario which does so much to hold back creativity, community empowerment and mutual understanding.

Local TV can offer:
*  creative content from diverse marginalised and hard to reach communities
*  extensive access to content from the voluntary sector through local partnership working
*  a grass roots shop-window to promote government initiatives
*  access for viewers to a network of participation and engagement
*  signposts for viewers to informal learning opportunities

We understand that spectrum could be released for a Local TV network, that technically it is entirely feasible. We support ULTV¹s assertion that the opportunity cost that might be seen as “lost” by gifting spectrum to Local TV, would be more than compensated for by the social gains to be generated from such a service.  The Public Voice coalition has evidenced this claim in some detail.

We know that ULTV have held positive talks with local newspaper groups and with the BBC.  We believe that Local TV can play a vital role in a new, strategic pattern for regional media, indeed that Local TV can be a key player in local public service broadcasting.

We believe in summary that building on the great success of community radio, Local TV is vital to the future of local democracy.

We thank you for your support for Local TV to date and would urge you to seize this opportunity to bring it to reality, as an all win for the future health of our nations and regions.

Yours sincerely

Shawn Sobers 

Firstborn Creatives
Easton Community Centre
Brstol, BS5 6AW
www.firstborn-creatives.co.uk

TV Digital Switchover – DCMS Response

Yesterday morning I received a reply from my local MP regarding a campaign to get MP’s to sign the early day motion on ring-fencing a channel on Freeview for local/community programming, anticipating the digital switch over.

With her response she enclosed a letter from the DCMS regarding my request. I don’t know if the DCMS letter is a standard one that they send out to everyone. It’s one and a half sides of A4, but the last paragraph sums it up totally.

“In their report on Public Service Content, published on 15 November, the Culture, Media and Sports Select Committee said that while they see some value in local content, they are not convinced of the need to intervene to support local TV, particularly by giving away spectrum for broadcasting on digital terrestrial television. I hope this information is useful to you. Best Wishes, Andy Burnham”

I found it perversely reassuring to see the battle lines so clearly laid out in black & white.   Thanks a bunch Andy for making that so clear.

Basically what the DCMS are saying is that a community tv station will have to bid for a channel alongside other commercial bidders such as shopping channels and music stations.  When the digital switchover happens local programming will pretty much disappear, except maybe for news.  BBC, ITV, C4 and C5 are already saying that come the switch over they will be an unfair disadvantage as none of the other digital channel have to have a public service remit.  ITV are already backing away from confirming they will continue their public service agenda.  Without the DCMS and Ofcom supporting community and local programming by ringfencing a channel on Freeview, the fight for community television broadcasting will be over.  Costs to run a digital channel are hugely expensive and competing against commercial stations will be near impossible.  The Community Channel would be the obvious answer, but unfortunately that channel is a huge missed opportunity and nothing but an advert channel for charities. 

The DCMS and Ofcom are saying that the future of local and community programming lies in broadband, which is unfortunately missing the point as for much of the target audience for local community programming, (i.e. the elderly, those disenfranchised, etc), many will be on the wrong side of the digital divide, and won’t have computers let alone broadband access at home.

If you are passionate about the future of local and community television then visit the campaign at the Community Media Association (CMA) and ask you local MP to sign the early days motion.  Full text for communication to your MP can be found at the site.

http://www.commedia.org.uk/policy-and-campaigns/take-action/edm-1013-local-public-service-television/

Shawn