Wednesday, 23 April 2008

Christopher England wrote:
:
: And hasn't some other country just scrapped their licence fee system?

Another thing, I've TOLD them several times there is no TV set on my premises, yet they still keep sending me letters demanding access for an inspector to check. Are they calling me a liar and if so is it actionable in a court for libel I wonder?

Nico said:

From today the Dutch 828 kHz-transmitter is in use by Arrow Classic Rock
Radio for testtransmittions on behalf of its new radiostation Arrow Talk
Radio. Greetings of Nico from Gouda, the Netherlands.

Yes it's just like pre June 2003 days with Arrow back on 828. Signal is just about bearable anorak quality here (Newmarket) and the co-channel nonsense from Luton easily nullable. I imagine a little further east say towards Bury St Edmunds, Arrow would be blasting in. Not quite a strong as I remember it here but the old memory plays tricks once you get to my age. Currently simulcasting FM output on 828. I'll make the most of it before the 'Arrow Talk' starts.

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/smoothfmformat/statement/

Eric Tesug <...> said:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/smoothfmformat/statement/

It shouldn't be the job of govenment departments to dictate the programme format of commercial radio.

Those decisions should be taken by the companies themselves based on the demand for different programme formats and their commercial viability.

I think it is crazy that licence holders should be lumbered with a programme format that just does not work just because the original licence applicant gave undertaking to broadcast a set number of hours of x,y or z.

gloworm558 . <...> said:

Yes it's just like pre June 2003 days with Arrow back on 828. Signal is
just about bearable anorak quality here (Newmarket) and the co-channel
nonsense from Luton easily nullable. I imagine a little further east say
towards Bury St Edmunds, Arrow would be blasting in. Not quite a strong
as I remember it here but the old memory plays tricks once you get to my
age. Currently simulcasting FM output on 828. I'll make the most of it
before the 'Arrow Talk' starts.

Concur with that Giles.The Heinenoord spud field coming in loud and clear here in Kent,as previously.Night time is seriously wafty though.Word has it that this tx site has a ground deflector, reducing signal output to the West;however this bit of kit has not functioned properly for some time,thus enabling the engineer to monitor the output from his home;which is not in the Netherlands,but definitly West of it!Link with photo of site is here,click on 828, 1 foto: http://www.radiowereld.nl/fmtv/
Does anybody know of Mr Ossendrijver's e-mail ... appears to fail now... Much e-mail communication from us here,pleased to have the AM band again graced with Classic Rock,may just change his mind over 'Talk Radio'.. It's worth a try...
Also any idea as to how the AM 828 khz transmission is approx 15–20 seconds AHEAD of the FM/Net transmission-I'm puzzled.Is it because the national feed is on a delay,with the 828 taking signal straight from the playback computer? If I could e-mail Ad I'd ask him...might ring later.
Tx is on and off at the moment...
Best regards,
Jim.

In article <681e1cf11cd872b19378a3ce765b8996@jiglu-wc>, ... (Neil Gates) wrote:

Eric Tesug <...> said:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/smoothfmformat/statement/

It shouldn't be the job of govenment departments to dictate the
programme format of commercial radio.

Those decisions should be taken by the companies themselves based
on the demand for different programme formats and their commercial
viability.

I think it is crazy that licence holders should be lumbered with a
programme format that just does not work just because the original
licence applicant gave undertaking to broadcast a set number of
hours of x,y or z.

So what may well happen is that a whole bunch of services would be very limited or no longer exist – Jazz is not, for what ever reason, a winner on radio. Rock isn't either. So what you would end up with is nothing but the same on all frequencies, just my view.
If you were starting a radio station from scratch the best way to do that in commercial terms would be to go ask the agencies with the most money what the clients want and then play music to suit audience of those clients. So then you would find out that in addition to country and jazz that country is another non-starter.
However, if the station has to come up with something creative and extend listener choice then that makes a big difference – something that extends listener choice, or where ever possible retains listener choice has to be a good thing in my view.

Eric

2008/4/23 Neil Gates <...>:

It shouldn't be the job of govenment departments to dictate the programme
format of commercial radio.

It's not dictated. The format of the station is what the station
states it will broadcast when they apply for the licence as you
mention below.

I think it is crazy that licence holders should be lumbered with a programme
format that just does not work just because the original licence applicant
gave undertaking to broadcast a set number of hours of x,y or z.

Sorry Neil, I totally disagree. If that were the case then all the commercial stations would be broadcasting exactly the same format and there'd be no variety. It's bad enough now, Ofcom bend over backwards to let stations do what they want. Far too much IMHO. Smooth knew what the format was when they bought Jazz and it is their own fault. What they should do is hand back the licence and apply for a new one with their own format and see if they get it based on what they want
to do.

This is one of the rare occasions that I agree with Ofcom's ruling !

—
Regards,

Geoff

Jim D. shorewayradio <...> said:

The reflector to the west has been restored to its original state after the transmitter closed in 2003. At night the 5 kW is omnidirectional.

Also any idea as to how the AM 828 khz transmission is approx 15–20
seconds AHEAD of the FM/Net transmission-I'm puzzled.Is it because the
national feed is on a delay,with the 828 taking signal straight from the
playback computer?

Yesterday FM and AM were exactly synchronized.

Quoting a previous Steve Leyland contribution:-

Another thing, I've TOLD them several times there is no TV set on my
premises, yet they still keep sending me letters demanding access for an
inspector to check. Are they calling me a liar and if so is it
actionable in a court for libel I wonder?

I had an address with no TV. It was an address used to store stuff really, not lived in. It had no TV licence. Every time I arrived there, 90% of the paperwork pushed through the letterbox was this aggressively worded shite about how I might be risking a fine for not letting them enter to check etc., etc., etc.

One day I snapped and rang them and got some poor ordinary tele-worker on line. I asked for his supervisor. Once I got him I started on about how I was from the RIS and wanted access to his premises to check his 'radio transmitter' because I noted that he didn't have a broadcasting licence. He protested he had no radio transmitter, and I said that I needed him to prove it. This went back and forth for a while, then he volunteered that he 'got my point' and would pass it to his superiors that the system seemed big brotherish.

It should be up to them to prove you have a TV. Not up to you to prove you haven't.

And, by the way, even if the inspector knocks, don't let him in unless he has a properly issued warrant for your specific address, which he won't.
--
* Christopher England just said that *

Quoting a previous Geoff contribution:-

all the
commercial stations would be broadcasting exactly the same format and
there'd be no variety.

Indeed, it's actually illegal for Ofcom to license identical services in the same TSA! The law states they must license them to 'complement' not 'compete'.

However, of course, the stations get round that by putting all the 'centre-ground' music that crosses over from one format to another on for daytime so they all sound the same anyway. The off-peak hours when nobody's listening are where they then burn out the commitment to the 'complementary' programming. Something needs to be done about that, surely?

Smooth knew what the
format was when they bought Jazz and it is their own fault. What they
should do is hand back the licence and apply for a new one with their
own format and see if they get it based on what they want
to do.

Cor blimey, remember the whole absolute disgrace with 'Easy Radio'. Sunrise bought it and ran its format for a whole earth year with minimum of effort, tokenistic sales people, and absolutely no commitment to the 'country' format. Then, when the year was up they whinged that they couldn't make it work and could they please put Asian-oriented talk programming on instead.

Disgustingly Ofcom agreed, when really they should have handed the licence back and let Ofcom re-advertise it. That was one of Ofcom's worst decisions, showing them up for the pointless body they are. So, it's good to see them stand-up against the might of the Borg for once, this time.

—
* Christopher England just said that *

Hallo everyone. Next week Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Radio Seagull and Radio Waddenzee will both become really off-shore radio stations, broadcasting from the Dutch Waddensea near the bird-island "Griend". The transmitter on its schip "Janni Baynton" will then be used and will be better received in England than its land-transmitter at Pietersbierum. For more details about this you can read http://www.radioseagull.com/news.htm Greetings of Nico from Gouda, the Netherlands.

Q_1_2_3_4_5_6 <...> said:
Hallo everyone. Next week Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Radio Seagull
and Radio Waddenzee will both become really off-shore radio stations,
broadcasting from the Dutch Waddensea near the bird-island "Griend". The
transmitter on its schip "Janni Baynton" will then be used and will be
better received in England than its land-transmitter at Pietersbierum.
For more details about this you can read
http://www.radioseagull.com/news.htm
Greetings of Nico from Gouda, the Netherlands.

You can also read several newsitems about this on http://www.herrykuipers.nl/Actueel%20nieuws/Wad%20%27n%20Krant%21.html but all this newsitems on this website are in the Dutch language and I can NOT good translate this newsitems in the English language for you all. Greetings of Nico from Gouda, the Netherlands.

Q_1_2_3_4_5_6 <...> said:
Hallo everyone. Next week Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Radio Seagull
and Radio Waddenzee will both become really off-shore radio stations,
broadcasting from the Dutch Waddensea near the bird-island "Griend". The
transmitter on its schip "Janni Baynton" will then be used and will be
better received in England than its land-transmitter at Pietersbierum.
For more details about this you can read
http://www.radioseagull.com/news.htm
Greetings of Nico from Gouda, the Netherlands.

You can also read several newsitems about this on http://www.herrykuipers.nl/Actueel%20nieuws/Wad%20%27n%20Krant%21.html but all this newsitems on this website are in the Dutch language and I can NOT good translate this newsitems in the English language for you all. Greetings of Nico from Gouda, the Netherlands.

Q_1_2_3_4_5_6 <...> said:
From today the Dutch 828 kHz-transmitter is in use by Arrow Classic Rock
Radio for testtransmittions on behalf of its new radiostation Arrow Talk
Radio. Greetings of Nico from Gouda, the Netherlands.

Read also the press-release on http://www.radiofreak.nl/nieuws.php?id=7175 about the used power of the 828 kHz-transmitter (in the Dutch language). Greetings of Nico from Gouda, the Netherlands.

Christopher England wrote:

And, by the way, even if the inspector knocks, don't let him in unless he
has a properly issued warrant for your specific address, which he won't.<

Don't they also have to be accompanied by a police officer if they are holding a warrant?

Quite cunning these old tele inspectors now, when they've compiled enough addresses in one particular area without licences, they pay home visits....on Sunday afternoons! Used to be around 6pm in the evening on weekdays, they assumed everybody was in doors and watching the news, or one of those antipodean soap thingies.

I personally think it is time the BBC generated their own funds by whatever other method apart from this ludicrous licence fee; PPV, or advertising. My car insurance is now cheaper than this damn fee! I drive my car every day, but I cant remember the last time I watched anything on a BBC TV channel, I'm being diddled! However, I would be willing to pay the 6 or 7 quid or whatever it is that comes out of the TV fee to pay for BBC radio, I do listen to that on a daily basis.

Andy