Dublin College Radio Cooperative

PlanetPob

Below I have posted all the agendas and other notes from the meetings of the Dublin College Radio Stations last year (brought up in the other thread). There is a bit, so sorry about that. But I do hope that it can be of help to anyone with a bit of energy to do something with it. It was a passion of mine last year, so I am more than happy to help with anything at all.

I have noted in the other thread that in order for this Dublin College Radio to succeed as a cooperative, its functionality has to be proven. I believe if you provide the college radio stations with a service, such as increased broadcasting coverage, then you are onto a winner. This will ensure that the cooperative is forced each year to reconvene and run itself.

I have also thought that it may be an idea to have USIT, a community station, CRAOL, or some other independent group run this. I know that it takes a lot for the colleges of Dublin to cooperate without an important figure backing it.

PlanetPob

DCRC Forum 4th November 2004

AGENDA


It is envisioned that in this meeting those involved will discuss the current state of college radio. It is hoped, by drawing on the talents of students and organisers, that the co-operation between Dublin college radio stations may be strengthened.

This forum should be regarded as a completely open event and the public should be encouraged to attend. Those in attendance will have time to present their ideas in what will be a brainstorming session. Everyone’s views will be entertained.

The long-term goal of such a cooperative will be to ensure that the developments of one year be forwarded to the next. The nature of this forum will encourage any new ideas that anyone may have, so please prepare any ideas that you wish to present.

I will temporarily chair this forum in order to facilitate a structured meeting.

Proposed Structure:

• Introduction - Discussion of present state of individual college radio stations


• Presentation of Ideas


• Ideas will be addressed


• Proposed establishment of committee and organisation


• Proposed Nominations


Summary and contacts exchange




INTRODUCTION




College Radio in Ireland is relatively new compared to the history of American College Radio (ARC). Unlike ARC, college radio in Ireland has rarely been perceived as an effective and viable medium. It has, instead, been considered more of a learning institution. The benefits of which are only made clear after the volunteer has left the station and has begun working for someone else. Unfortunately, Irish College Radio is often perceived as a useful but never an integral attribute of a university’s make-up.

Irish College Radio has, however, developed a keen community of volunteers who manage to produce broadcasts of great quality each year. These often surpass the output of other stations in Ireland, including the National Broadcaster’s. Irish College Radio is in the advantageous position of being run by the most important demographic. These are people who are fortunate to know what it is the audience really wants to listen to. The energy and enthusiasm that is clearly abundant in Dublin’s Colleges can obviously equal the eagerness that is evident amongst the Pirate and Community Radio volunteers.

It is when the positives of Irish College Radio become clear when one wonders why it has not been developed further. What is the true potential of this powerful form of communication? And how can this potential be realised? How can you avoid the pitfalls of failure?

It is envisioned that this forum may be able to address the current state of Dublin College Radio. By understanding each organisation and its structures, ideas and doubts, a development plan may be put into place, ensuring that one year’s progress is forwarded to the next. The establishment of a committee and a co-operative name will structure this process and hopefully commence a new forward looking outlook for College Radio Stations in Dublin, and perhaps nationally.



DUBLIN COLLEGE RADIO COOPERATIVE

The development of a cooperative and the establishment of a committee will be integral to the progress of Dublin College Radio. Ideas discussed in today’s forum and in the future will be further studied and implemented in an environment of collaboration. It is important for this cooperative to be permanent and to have members of one year be involved in the next.
With the establishment of a cooperative, a mission statement and future plan must be created. Following this forum, those who have attended and others who may wish to be involved may consider the views aired. After a number of weeks, the forum can reconvene and elect a committee. The precise structure of this group may be determined at today’s forum.






BENEFITS

It is clear that in order to truly see a change in the future for College Radio, a major shift must be implemented. The biggest task, which has been mentioned before, is forwarding the developments of one year to the next. However, a structured cooperative with a professional viewpoint will ensure that this is realised. Obviously, it must be remembered that it is a voluntary organisation. A voluntary organisation is often defined by the enthusiasm of its volunteers. The ideals that college radio has been founded on must be preserved to see it progress further.
The Cooperative can act as a hub for communication. The qualities of each station may be noted and dispersed amongst the members. For example, it is evident that stations within colleges with Media courses are often lauded for descriptive and highly researched broadcasts. On the other hand, other stations are known for entertaining and well-produced music shows. A general standard can be reached by all stations, paving the way for a city-wide Student Radio Station.




PASSING ON THE BATON

Currently, colleges are in a position where it is feasible to broadcast for up to 30 days. On a rolling basis it is possible, with an increase in broadcasting time from the BCI, that Dublin Student Radio be broadcasted constantly throughout the College year. This can be compared to a broadcasting relay, where one college passes on the opportunity to broadcast to the next. The benefits are as follows:

1. Shared promotion of station and, most importantly, frequency.
2. More opportunities for station sponsorship with a dedicated audience. The potential here is immense with a listenership of a million within range.
3. A shared name will increase station identity.
4. The production of a shared website managed by all College Stations.



THE FUTURE

College Radio has a great future. It is obvious considering, first of all, the power of the medium of radio, and then the energy of the volunteers who make it. It has also been proven to be successful in other countries, especially the United States.
I, personally, am looking forward to sharing ideas that may ultimately result in something that Colleges will be very proud. College Radio Stations can then become a pivotal asset rather than a burden.

PlanetPob

DCRC Forum 4th November 2004 - Minutes


Dublin College Radio Forum
4th November 2004

Minutes


Representatives from the five colleges listed below attended a forum in Trinity College Dublin. An informative discussion between the stations took place in which each spoke about their current situations, including the equipment being used, production techniques and programme content. The following points concerning the future of college radio in Dublin were discussed:

• An alternative future for college radio in Dublin is possible.
• Communication between colleges must be strengthened.
• It is possible for the college radio stations to deliver fulltime broadcasting to Dublin city.
• The overall quality of output must be standardized.
• A generic guide concerning broadcasting can be produced.
• An official Co-Operative was proposed and agreed upon.
• A committee with permanent members should be established.
• Shared promotion of college radio and the 97.3fm frequency is essential.
• A website can be produced to act as a portal and virtual headquarters.
• The possibility of sharing the UCD antenna was discussed.
• The definition of college radio by the BCI of being ‘low key’ was questioned.
• A citywide survey could be beneficial.
• In order to have college radio broadcasting throughout the college term, it may be required that some colleges increase their allocated broadcasting schedule.

College Radio Stations involved:

Belfield FM (UCD)
Trinity FM
DCU FM
DIT FM
Griff FM (Griffith College)


Paul McAvinchey
Belfield FM
087 7463159

PlanetPob

DCRC Forum 2nd March


Dublin College Radio Forum
Trinity College Dublin
2nd March 2004




Agenda


It is anticipated that representatives from each college radio station will attend. Recent broadcasts will be discussed. More urgently, developments regarding Dublin College Radio will need to be addressed. This proposed agenda may be followed:


• Discussion about recent broadcasts / matters concerning stations.

• Views on future:

1. Formal approach to BCI to regulate college radio.

2. Methods to encourage co-operation.

3. Methods to share frequency:

i. Marketing.
ii. Standardisation of quality.
iii. Week On/Week off / Shared feed.

4. Streamed central transmission via Belfield FM/UCD.




Paul McAvinchey
Belfield FM
087 7463159





Requirements for a successful Co-Operative


Using the facilities already at hand, Dublin College Radio stations can deliver a fulltime term-time broadcast. The BCI are willing to help in regulating this co-operative. The following steps must be made in order for this venture to succeed:



• All stations must broadcast on the same frequency.

• Increased broadcasting strength.

• The co-operative must be effective as a forum:

i. To standardize the quality of output.
ii. To share in the promotion of the frequency.
iii. To share marketing opportunities.






Benefits


Despite the relatively small changes that need to be made, the benefits of a city wide College Radio broadcast are very significant. They are as follows:


• Profits will be made by selling an important demographic to advertisers.
• College radio will have a genuine listenership.
• The quality of broadcasts will improve with feedback through the Co-Operative.
• Stations will share jingles and other production content.



Correspondence



The BCI are keen to meet with the Dublin College Radio Co-Operative. Below is correspondence I have received from Mr. Joe Lynch.



”We must meet in order to see what direction you’re going and/or could be going.
I wouldn't spend too much meeting time on the technical point of using UCD antenna.
This is a possibility but I was more or less thinking of using it as a fed point to beam the signal up to another more elevated site that could provide a larger coverage area.
This would still require "wiring" all programmes to ucd, to the water tower and then up to the actual tx site.

At the moment we need to meet and work on this as there will be certain licensing issues that need to be covered.”<br>






”Could you see if your group would be available to meet with us next thursday 10th of March? Morning or afternoon?
We would like to hear what you want to do and then we will try to propose ways of getting to that goal.

I don't see that you would be able to do full-time broadcasting in the short term. We need to give you a full-time broadcasting licence. We could do this as we have done with Wired FM in Limerick or Flirt FM in Galway. these student stations are actually community of interest stations and not temporary stations. They have company structures etc. It's not as complicated as it sounds but has the benefit of full-time broadcasting.

We can go through these options with you. In the interim between going down that road we could look at a way of facilitating the broadcasting needs of all of the colleges under some umbrella group.”<

PlanetPob

DCRC Forum 2nd March - Minutes


Dublin College Radio Forum
Trinity College Dublin
2nd March 2005


This meeting was mainly seen as a preparation for the forthcoming meeting with the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI).

Following the meeting, the following proposal was prepared for the BCI:



Dublin College Radio Co-Operative (DCRC)

History

The DCRC was established to encourage the co-operation between the college radio stations in Dublin. It was recognised that each station was helping to deliver a significant amount of broadcasting time to the city. It is hoped that the DCRC can realise an almost full-time, term-time citywide broadcast by organizing the facilities that are already at hand.

Members

Currently there are six members of the DCRC:

Belfield FM
Trinity FM
DCU FM
DIT FM
Griff FM
ITT FM

Potential Status

• Full-time term-time broadcast.

i) Separate from temporary broadcast licensing procedures.

• Increased broadcasting strength.

• Current set-up and facilities with added support from BCI.

i) Stable frequency for College Radio.
ii) Controlled dates for broadcast.
iii) Annual management guidelines.



Outline of proposal

Frequency

• A permanent college radio station frequency will benefit as follows:

i) Strengthening of a dedicated audience and demographic
ii) Marketing and promotional purposes – tackle high cost of broadcast.

Franchise

• The co-promotion of Dublin College Radio (DCR) stations as a single entity.

• Branding of DCR.

i) Marketing.
ii) Website.
iii) Promotions in colleges and city.

• Generic DCR sponsorship pack.


Regulation by the BCI

1) Supporting the facilities already available as follows:

• An approach to that is licensing more suitable to DCR than the temporary licence available today.

• Providing management guidelines and support annually to new station management.

• Providing support for DCRC by acknowledging its validity and purpose.

2) Control of broadcasting dates.

• ‘Passing the Baton’ – in conjunction with the DCRC, the BCI regulates broadcasting dates so that DCR can operate as a broadcasting relay, where one college passes on the opportunity to broadcast to the next.

• Develop illusion of DCR full-time broadcasting.


3) Supporting growth of college radio.
• Helping DCR develop relationships with other Irish college radio stations. It may also be advantageous to contact organisations in other countries that are developing college radio.
• Encouraging broadcasting quality by providing training / courses for incoming management.


Current Broadcast Set-up


Operating with a Temporary Licence

• Benefits training of individuals.

• Very poor listenership assumed.

• Low broadcasting strength achieving very little audience penetration.

• Enthusiasm, manpower and talent available but difficult to maintain due to poor listenership.


Technology

• Each station equipped with adequate equipment.

• Evident movement towards radio automation software.

• Broadcasting strength allows for limited audience catchment area.


Management Structures

1) Radio societies:

• Trinity FM

• DCU FM

• ITT FM


2) Incorporated with college course:

• DIT FM

• Griff FM

3) Students Union:

• Belfield FM

PlanetPob

BCI / DCRC Meeting 10th March 2005


BCI – Dublin College Radio Forum
Notes of Meeting 10th March 2005


Dublin College Radio Co-Op. Attendees (DCRC):- Paul McAvinchey – UCD,
Christine Bowen – TCD,
Sarah Dunne – DCU,
Pat Proctor – Griffith College.

Apologies- Pat Hannon – DIT

BCI Attendees:- Joe Lynch,
Declan McLoughlin,
Patricia Kelly.

Purpose of Meeting:

The meeting was set-up to establish formal contact between the BCI and the Dublin College Radio Co-operative (DCRC).

Dublin College Radio Proposal:

A brief overview of Dublin College Radio and DCRC was presented. A number of key issues were identified including:

1. Improved broadcasting coverage quality and area for college stations.
2. The possibility of common branding of both frequency and student radio in general.
3. Training and development input from the BCI to improve temporary license applications and processes.

BCI Response to Proposal:

1. The BCI could in theory allocate the same frequency to all student stations if there was co-ordination between the stations regarding on-air dates and there was a sufficient lead in time to all applications.

The BCI proposed that the out-going station manager from each service could submit the temporary application for the next years broadcast and work to co-ordinate broadcast dates in this manner.

However, it should be noted that no station is guaranteed any frequency and frequencies are subject to change depending on the demand at a given time. Consideration of the need to provide for diversity for listeners will also impact on frequency use and allocation.

The locations of the current transmitter stations are the limiting factor on the current coverage levels for most stations. A potential solution to this problem would involve each station agreeing to locate a single transmitter station at the foothills or the top of Three Rock Mountain, together with the appropriate linking mechanism.

DCRC could function to ensure that all its members get similar coverage by sharing linking infrastructure with this transmitter site An example of using the UCD water tower as the primary linking location was suggested. Alternatively, stations could individually work to submit their own linking mechanisms to improved sites not confined in dense urban areas in the city centre.

2. The BCI stressed the limits of Section 8.1 temporary sound broadcasting contracts. While co-operation between colleges was seen as a welcome development, the branding of the individual college services under one identity e.g. Dublin College Radio would effectively amount to full-time broadcasting by default. As this would not be in the spirit of the intended purpose of Section 8.1 licensing, the Commission could not accept such a proposal.

The Commission representatives noted that a full-time broadcasting license may be the best means to achieving the aims of the DCRC. The Commission has already granted three colleges community of interest licences (Cork, Limerick, Galway). The DCRC and concept of ‘Dublin College Radio’ could be used to promote college radio across the different educational institutes and in other media outlets and would be a useful vehicle for developing the wider concept of a college radio service for Dublin city.

The licensing process for community services was explained:- The BCI invites Expressions of Interest through the print media. Depending on the response to the Expressions of Interest, an advertisement for a full time licence may be placed in the print media. Any interested groups may apply at this stage irrespective of whether they submitted earlier interest.

3. Currently, the BCI does not provide training and development for temporary services. CRAOL (the Community Radio Network) receives funding from the BCI for the training and development of community radio services. CRAOL plays a role in fostering and developing aspirant community radio services and the Commission recommended that DCRC contact CRAOL as a relationship between the two organisations would be beneficial.

No additional meetings were proposed but the BCI extended their offer to assist DCRC where possible within the current legislative framework. Commission representatives agreed to forward contact details for CRAOL.