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Dublin niche music service Public hearings - Observations!

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Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 1,054 ✭✭✭SimonMaher


    Expunge,

    There was an interesting interview with Martin Block in the Sunday Business Post this week. He was talking about tailoring a business model to suit the potential revenue available. So, if the station is going to have 30,000 listeners and bring in (for example) 500k a year then obviously the business model can't have costs of more than 499,999! He cites the UK example of Town licences which were advertised by OFCOM in the UK back in 2008/2009 which worked on a similar basis.

    The figures in the Country application look reasonable to me, but let's be honest, they are just projections and only the real market will show them to be viable or not. The logic of the model is good though and yes, I believe that it offers a good template for niche broadcasting that does not rely on the support of another major media player.

    Soc160 makes the understandable point about further subdividing an already subdivided market but to be honest I don't see a huge risk here. Stations that make no money are propped up by their owners for competitive reasons (as they are elsewhere) and this will continue to be the case. If we decide not to licence niche stations then the slow trickle of listeners away from terrestrial (music broadcasters in particular) radio will only increase as they head to streaming sources or away from radio altogether. Take a look at what's happening in the US, or indeed to audiences 15-24 here for evidence.

    Still important to emphasise again that I'm just using the Sunshine/Country thing as an example. I think Sunshine do a good job and should be allowed to continue, I just also believe that Country should be licenced too - perhaps not in this round (I understand the logistics!) but in a future round of niche licencing along with others. The hearings just spurred on the debate!

    Simon


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,921 ✭✭✭Expunge


    Thank you, Simon.
    I must dig out that Business Post interview with Martin Block.
    Yeah, it is just an example and I'd agree with you that Sunshine does it's own thing quite well.

    A round of niche licencing would be the way to go, but it does raise the prospect that there may not be enough FM spectrum available in Dublin city and county.
    Would this not be a better prospect, maybe with some financial incentives such as BAI fee waivers to get more specialist providers on DAB in the main cities?

    @Jason, Yes in Country FM application, they say that they'll ensure listeners will be able to listen via services "such as" Sky, Saorview and UPC.
    I'd say the carriage costs on those are tasty enough, too.


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