The Future of Radio Foreword

CommunicationsForeword Reform White Paper: The Future of Radio Response from the Student Radio Association. This is an exciting time for Student Radio. recognising and adopting it as a form of content delivery as far as a year in advance In 1968, University Radio York became the of many commercial stations. UK’s first legal independent radio station, today they continue to broadcast to For 40 years, student radio has shown a students across the University of York strong resilience, finding cost-effective campus on 1350am. In many respects, the solutions to overcome a variety of fundamentals of student radio have not challenges; accordingly it seems fitting that changed over this period – as a community on the eve of this anniversary we are our commitment has always been to gazing into the future. provide targeted local content for students, whilst providing an opportunity for new The industry need not worry, Student Radio talent to flourish and develop. However in is in a very strong position at present, and terms of the way stations deliver that we have no intention of being left behind; service, a lot has changed against a the commercial sector in particular can rest backdrop of rapidly developing broadcast assured that Student Radio will continue to technology. provide an essential training ground for up- and-coming creative professionals. For example, student radio stations were amongst the early pioneers of podcasting, Document prepared by: Matthew Hurst Student Radio Association Development Officer June 2007 Student Radio Association C/o Surge Southampton University Students’ Union Highfield Southampton SO17 1BJ Tel: 023 80 598852 Email: [email protected] Web: www.studentradio.org.uk 1 Introduction The Student Radio Association is a non- Despite this, long-term LPAM/FM services profit making body that works to further are still very widely used, with the OfCom the interests of the Student Radio website listing 58 student radio services Community in the UK. Approximately three currently broadcasting on them1. quarters of all University radio stations are members of the SRA, and they are being The LPAM system was introduced in 1999 joined by an increasing number of college after successful trials at three University stations. We estimate that there are sites (Lancaster, Hull and Essex) and allows currently over 120 stations in the UK which all-year round free-radiating broadcast on meet the definition of a Student Radio the AM band. In remote parts of the Station, defined in our constitution as: country (North Wales, certain areas of Scotland and North-West and South-West “A radio station based at, or linked to, a England) where spectrum is more widely place or places of education. The station available, broadcasting on FM all-year can be broadcasting by any means, off-air round is allowed. Under the terms of the or in the process of setting up.” license, stations are restricted to only broadcasting to the campus they are based Our member stations currently utilise a on – and there should be no recognition of wide variety of broadcasting platforms. At any potential listeners outside of the the simplest level, these include hard-wired defined site. services providing entertainment to a communal area of a college or university, Feedback from stations suggests that for example Student’s Union bars or providing a ‘traditional’ licensed broadcast common rooms. service (whether long or short term) gives a station some degree of credibility; after Alternatively, they may undertake Ofcom all, it is now possible for almost anyone to licensed transmissions; taking advantage of start their own internet radio station! ‘Restricted Service Licenses’ whether year- Further to this, we believe that analogue round long-term LPAM/FM or short term transmission remains the most accessible FM. Additionally, at present a handful of broadcast platform for student listeners, stations maintain induction-loop services. especially when on the move. Where operating costs have made it As OfCom begins to consider alternative impossible for some student radio stations potential uses for spectrum currently used to broadcast traditional analogue services, by analogue broadcast services, we stations have adopted internet streaming as consider this an ideal opportunity to explore an alternative. Other stations have the long-term solutions for the ongoing complimented their analogue service by security of student radio in an industry simulcasting on the internet. As a result, which is developing technologically at an online digital broadcasting is the most incredible pace. As a result we have made a common platform for student radio number of recommendations, presented on broadcasting today, and it is speculated the following pages, which will feel are that this platform takes the highest share of relevant to the current consultation. student radio listening; especially when live listening is combined with ‘listen again’ and podcasted content. 1 Ofcom (2007), List of long term RSLs, .http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/rsls/lon gterm_rsls.htm", [accessed 15 Jun 2007] 2 Recommendations 1. That spectrum currently being used 2. That the terms of Long-term by licensed analogue radio services is Restricted Service Licenses be preserved for as long as there are amended, to allow stations to broadcasters who are unable to make acknowledge listeners outside of a the transition to digital. strictly defined site, and to allow an increase in transmission power where The Student Radio Association notes possible to enable student radio OfCom’s admission that “For small-scale stations to better serve students at commercial stations and community their institution. stations, […] DAB does not currently offer them a transition path to digital”2 We As noted in the introduction, Ofcom welcome this admission, however request currently offers Long-term LPAM/FM that along with other holders of restricted restricted service licenses for services service licenses, student radio is in future “provided within a clearly-defined single given consideration in this respect. site occupied by an establishment such as a university, hospital, military barracks, For the foreseeable future; student radio marina or shopping center”3 While this services will be prohibited from solution is still largely applicable to hospital broadcasting via DAB due to the associated and garrison radio services, anecdotal cost. Similarly although DRM technology is evidence suggests that student still in the very early stages of accommodation is increasingly dispersed implementation, with the first UK trial and thus poorly served by student radio barely underway; it is unlikely to offer a services. realistically priced solution for student and community broadcasters within the This change is partly due to the fairly large timescale currently being considered. number of institutions which have been awarded university status within the past Whilst we note that OfCom is unable to 10 years; often in cities already served by a guarantee a transition path to digital for all ‘traditional’ University. A lack of available existing broadcasters, we strongly believe space means that these ‘new’ universities that as a result of this, they should tend to be more spread out, and as such continue to license analogue services for student accommodation is not necessarily community and RSL broadcasters grouped together in one big complex. indefinitely. Additionally, even traditional campus-based universities have run out of room to expand, and as a result it is increasingly unlikely that student accommodation will all be based on one site. Couple this with legislation currently being considered by MPs to reduce the density of Houses of Multiple Occupation (which applies to most private-rented student properties) in University cities and 3 Ofcom (2007), Restricted Service Licenses – Notes 2 Ofcom (2007), The Future of Radio for Applicants 3 Recommendations (cont.) it is clear that student radio services 4. That it is made easier for Student broadcasting to a defined site are no longer Radio Stations to obtain community as effective as they once were. radio licenses – through a simplification of the application With this in mind, the Student Radio process, and a reduction of revenue Association calls for Ofcom to amend the restrictions. licensing terms to permit student radio stations to acknowledge student listeners Many student radio stations currently meet outside of a pre-defined site. Additionally, the characteristics of a community radio we request that in cases where there is service as laid out in the Community Radio proven demand, and where spectrum Order 2004. availability permits it, that student radio stations broadcasting on long-term They exist primarily for the good of a restricted service licenses be allowed to specific community of people who all increase their transmission power in order undergo education in a particular area (in to maximise the student population they some cases a community of as many as reach. 60,000 students). They offer training and development opportunities to the target community as part and parcel of their 3. That as VHF Band II (FM) spectrum existence, and due to the way in which is released by commercial and BBC many have associations with Students’ stations moving to digital, it is made Unions, are entirely accountable to the available for an increased number of student body for their actions. community and long term LPFM RSL stations. A small handful of Student Radio Stations have applied for and successfully obtained It seems increasingly likely that as the community radio licenses, however it is ownership of DAB radio sets increases, a perhaps surprising that many more have greater number of commercial radio not, when you consider that much of the services will wish to reduce their operating infrastructure and momentum already costs by broadcasting solely on digital exists. platforms. We believe that this probably won’t take place for a considerable period In many cases, it appears that the reason of time, and that when it does it will take for the slow and limited uptake of place inconsistently across the country.

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