Report to Tynwald of the Committee of Enquiry into 'Manx Radio'

.2k

October 1974 To

His Excellency

Sir John Warburton Paul, G.C.M.G., 0.B.E.,M.C.,

Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man,

the Honourable the Members of the Council,

Deemster and Keys

in Tynwald assembled. CONTENTS

Section I Introduction Page 1 - 3

II History and Current Programming Page 4 - 12

11 III Technical and Frequency Aspects and Development of Premises Page 13 - 19

11 IV Finance, Administration, Advertising, Staff Relations, Station Management and Salaries Page 20 - 38

V Station Promotion. Page 39 - 40

VI Audience Research Page 41 - 66

VII Summary of Opinion and Pro- posals to the Committee Page 67 - 70

VIII Programme Recommendations Page 71 - 76

si IX Conclusions and General Recommendations Page 77 - 80

X Appendices Page 81 onwards REPORT OF TUE COMMITTEE OF ENQUIRY INTO MANX RADIO

INTRODUCTION

As a result of a resolution put before Tynwald on

December 11th 1973 by Mr. John Clucas MHK, His

Excellency the Lieutenant Governor set about the

appointment of a 3-man Committee of Enquiry in

'January 1974. Specifically this Committee was

required to: " carry out an enquiry on the

management and general principles governing Manx

Radio as a medium of communication, particularly

in relation to the presentation of information

on current affairs to the Manx publiC, and report

to Tynwald with recommendations within six months

of its appointment". The appointments were announced

on the 6th March, and the Committee held its first

meeting on April 11th. Its members are:

Mr. Mark White (Chairman)

Mr. Cyril Wilkinson

Mr. Nicholas Wilson

Tim Gudgin, the Government's Public

Relations Officer, is the Secretary

After some discussion about their terms of reference;

about the main objective of the Tynwald resolution;

and abcut their priorities, the Committee drew up

a list of people it wished to interview, and documents

It wished to examine. The Secretary was instructed

to make the necessary arrangements for future meetings.

The Committee decided to give a high priority to

Audience Research which, it discovered, had not been .

undertaken for over eight years.

Since then, the Committee has met on ten occasions,

has interviewed many people, and received much written • evidence from interested parties (See Section VII and Appendices 1).F .G.& H). At only its second

meeting it became clear that the subject was such a large one, that, if its deadline as requested by the Lieutenant Governor were to be met, members of the Committee would have to split the necessary research between them. It was therefore decided that they would make themselves responsible as follows:

Cyril Wilkinson: Technical aspects, including trans-

mitter power; frequencies; coverage; relations with Minister of Posts and

Telecommunications (later the Home

Office). Operational facilities (see

Chief Engineer's Report).

Advertising as a source of revenue.

Nicholas Wilson: Audience Research, including the

preparation and carrying out of a

survey among Islanders and Tourists.

Finance and Administration.

Staff Relations.

Mark White: Programmes, including an assessment

'of.the present schedules, and

recommendations for the future.

Staff Salaries.

Station Promotion.

The Secretary was charged with summarising the history of the Station in the past, and with

Cont./ preparing a summary of the views of interested

parties, expecially those who had submitted reports

and recommendations to the Committee. Also with the

preparation of the charts and Appendices to this

- Report. II i) HISTORY

In 1959 the Lieutenant Governor took steps

to establish a company capable of acting as a

programme contracting company for any Commercial

Radio Station which might at some future time be

set up in the Isle of• Man. Thus 'Radio Manx' came

into being.

The main purpose of the station would be

to foster a very important section of the Manx

economy - the tourist trade - and to bring in

additional revenue by selling air-time to British

and other advertisers and also to provide an

entertaining listening alternative to. BBC Radio,

and Radio Luxembourg at a strength capable of

reception throughout Britain.

However some seven years previously on the

29th October 1952, by agreement with Tynwald,

the U.K. Wireless Telegraphy and Telecommunications

Act 1949 had been extended to the Isle of Man

by Order in Council. One of the provisions of

this Act was that only the Postmaster-General

could issue licences for broadcast transmissions

from the Island. The Home Office lost no time

in making it clear to the Manx Government that no

licence for a high-power station could be granted,

but that a licence could be issued for an

island station provided its power was such that

it could not be heard regularly.on the mainland.

Seifrom visions of a spectacular extra revenue

earner the spectrum was at once narrowed to that

of a purely local station serving the island and

Cont./ its summer tourists - a prospect which threw into doubt its commercial viability. So much so that no further action was taken for some time - until the effectiveness of the offshore pirate station

Radio Caroline (North), anchored off the island,

.spurred the Island authorities to re-examine the position.

•

Eventually a V.H.F. licence was issued by the Post Office in June 1964 and in October of that year a licence for 188 m. medium wave. In

November Richard L. Meyer and Pye Limited joining together as the IOM Broadcasting Co. Limited., were approved and appointed as concessionaires by

Tynwald, and in the following October a further licence to operate at 1 kW. on 232m. during daylight hours was issued by the Post Office.

Experimental broadcasts on VHF began in the summer of 1964, the first programme coming from a studio in a caravan, temporarily sited near the TT Grandstand at Onchan. In fact the first programme was a commentary on the TT race of June 5th. For four hours a day thereafter music programmes were broadcast on VHF, with a theoretical possible coverage of about half of the population - but in fact only about 10% being able to hear them

(the remaining 90% of set owners not having VHF sets).

•

Programme hours gradually increased as more needletime and medium wave transmissions were allowed, until by the end of 1965 they amounted to twelve hours a day. The caravan studio had

Cont./ been replaced in May 1965 by specially built

studios on Douglas Promenade. These improved

facilities; the better coverage obtained from

the medium wave broadcasts on 232 m and 188m; plus

the establishment that same year by Tynwald of

the Isle of Man Broadcasting Commission (to

oversee the whole field of broadcasting, both

in radio and TV, in the Island) all served to

. further the impression that here was something

that was to be of great benefit to Man.

However, this feeling of euphoria was soon

to be stifled by protracted and eventually

fruitless discussions at the Home Office between

successive delegations from the Island and ever-

changing representatives of the U.K. Government and the

Post Office overproposals to increase what the

Broadcasting Commission (and the Island's population

zenerally) felt was the quite inadequate power of

the Station. It simply did not cover the island -

let alone any further objectives. The discussions

had opened in earnest in July 1965 when Mr. George

Thomas1 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State,

Home Office, received.a delegation from the Island

which included the Lieutenant Governor. At the

meeting the publicity value of Radio Caroline to

the Island was pointed out, together with the

inadequacy of the power of Manx Radio to cover

-the whole island. Mr. Thomas said the views

of the delegation would be brought to the attention

of the Home Secretary. Nothing further was heard

until July 1966 when Tynwald was informed that

a Bill to ban pirate radio stations had been

introduced into the U.K. Parliament, and it was Cont./ - 7 intended to extend it to the Isle of Man. On

11th April 1967 this intention was confirmed in

a notification from Home Office that the

U.K. Government intended to extend the provisions

of the Bill to the Isle of Man by order in Council.

This led to Tynwald voting on 19th April to

Petition H.M. the Queen about the Bill. In

turn on 5th June a Tynwald deputation met .a . Committee of the Privy Council about the petition

to the Queen and asked that Manx Radio should

be given sufficient power to do what Radio Caroline

was doing - to advertise the Island.' Additionally

the members pointed out that the U.K. Government

was in a position to allow such an increase of

strength without contravening any International

agreements. The then Postmaster General confirmed

that the operation of Manx Radio was mainly a

matter of domestic policy and not international

agreement - and at a further meeting a fortnight

later, on 20th June 1967, his Technical representative

.14r. Dilworth, questioned as to what strength of

transmission would be required adequately'to

cover the Island from one transmitter, gave it

as his opinion that it might be achieved with

5 kw. but he believed it would take 10 kw. to

do the job properly. He did suggest two alternatives

1) the provision of a low-powered relay station

for the North of the island or 2) a longer

'medium wavelength. The Post Office offered to

exPlore both possibilities if desired. The Manx

deputation ruled out (1) on the ground of

expense and difficulty of maintenance, especially

11. as a better answer could be served by one

suitably-sited transmitter.

Cont./ They asked for a licence to operate at 5 kw.

and that a reply should be received in time

for the last Tynwald sitting before the summer

recess. This reply, dated 12th July 1967 came

in a letter from the P.M.G. to the Lieutenant

Governor: "As to the proposal that the power

of Minx Radio's transmissions should be increased,

the effect would be the iritroductiOn into• the

. • U.K. of commercial radio on a considerable scale

under the authority of a licence granted by me".

It was further explained that it was not the

policy of Her Majesty's Government to.introduce

commercial radio, and they were therefore bound

to adhere to the policy of successive governments

that the service of Manx Radio should not be

receiveable on any regular basis on the mainland.

He suggested the allocation of a longer medium

wavelength, saying that technical studies by

his advisers would take a little time, but that

as soon as they had any information they would

convey it to the Broadcasting Commission. That

was July 1967; such information is still awaited 7 years later. Also in 1967 ownership of the Station changed. On the advice of the Broadcasting

Commission following negotiations by the Finance

Board with Messrs. Pye of Cambridge Limited,

the purchase by Government of the share capital

of the Isle of Man Broadcasting Company Limited,

. _ was approved by Tynwald. A caretaker board of .

directors consisting of three prominent local

professional men was appointed to run the station

on behalf of the Government. Under this management

over a period of approximately three years the new

studios at Douglas Head were set up and the

* Cont./ accounts Moved into the black, although power

was still as restricted as ever. However following

a difference of opinion between the Board and the

Commission, the directors resigned and the

Commission assumed direct responsibility for the

'running of the station. During and since that

time more delegations have come and gone; Lord

Stonham's Joint Working Party, set up by

agreement with Tynwald has met, discussed and

disbanded without tangible result. Always the

object has been the same - more power to achieve

adequate coverage - always the requests have

been countered with alternative, far more costly,

proposals for achieving the same result 4and now

nine years have elapsed and commercial radio in

that time has become well-established on the

mainland. Some stations have a licence to

operate at up to, and in some cases in excess of,

a strength of 5 kW.

The U.K. case for continuing stringent control

and restriction of Manx Radio's power seems to have

long since evaporated. Only one argument remains

to be disposed of in the Committee's view -

that advance by the then Minister of Post and

Telecommunications during one of. the multitudinous

meetings - that of the 8th March 1972.- when he

said that change of U.K. Government policy on

commercial radio did not alter the Constitutional

position, as broadcasts from Manx Radio were

not subject to control by an authority answerable

to Parliament as regards programme content.

'For this reason there could be no change under the

Cont• ,/ • • • . - 10-

• present licensing arrangements by which Manx

Radio could broadcast to part of the UK as well as the Isle of Man'.

•

■ II ii) CURRENT PROGRAMME SCHEDULES

At present, Manx Radio is, apart front News

Summaries and Sports coverage, a basic music

station. It operates two schedules: Winter

(October to April), and Summer (May to' September).

There is not a great deal of difference, but

such as there is can be described as follows:

a) Music Policy during the Winter is "Radio lig

i.e. the squarest end of Radio 1 (The

Carpenters, Gilbert O'Sullivan etc., plus

the sharper end of Radio 2 (Frank Sinatra,

Petula Clark, Johnny Mathis etc.)).

b) During the Winter, the Station does present

some non-music programmes (see Schedule,

especially weekends). Most of these features

are dropped in the Summer to allow for more

music, and, it is hoped, more commercials.

c) During the Summer, the music policy is closer

to Radio 1, i.e. a mixture of chart material,

climbers and album tracks, although this

'Summer the inclusion of rather more Radio 2

material has been noted. There is no

play-list in the American "Top 1t0" sense

of the word, and the DJ's are given a very

free hand in the selection of their music

within the basic brief, be it Winter or

Summer.

Two things emerge from this. Even in terms of

music, the Station is behaving schizophrenically.

Cont./ •

The change to a more "pop" format during the summer

is supposed to attract (a) commercials, (b) tourist

listeners. It is doubtful if it does 'either,

since BBC Radios I and 2 provide a continuous diet

of their separate kinds of music all the year round,

and this change in format probably only serves

to irritate the Station's residential listeners

(see Audience Research survey for listening

preferences). Again, the Audience Research survey

shows that the overwhelming majority of the Station's

listeners clearly want a service that gives them

(a) a local "feel", and (b) more local News and

Current Affairs. It should not, therefore, change

its musical policy in the summer. It is also

- important to note the extent to which the DJs

choose their own records and build their own

programmes. No commercial station, and even more

. - particularly a successful one, permits this freedom.

It produces too many individual anomalies of

programming, and means that a station has no

cohesive "feel" about it. A good Programme Director

is vital for this purpose.

0

•

111 TECHNICAL AND FREQUENCY ASPECTS

1) A recommendation for improved Medium Wave coverage of the Isle of Man

The field intensity on the Island is below

the 1 MV/M level north of a line from Laxey to

Kirk Michael, this signal being of no value

as a dependable service. The answer is to

increase the transmitter power but . the

governing factors on field strength for the

Island are political, not technical.

The British authorities have never committed

to writing what they consider to be a tolerable

signal on their coast; however, from information

recorded by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications

in May, 1972 and obviously considered acceptable,

one can deduce that the British authorities will

tolerate signal levels in excess of 1 MV/M. It is

perhaps worth noting at this stage that coverage

of the Island by lccal radio stations Blackburn

and Merseyside is superior to that of Manx Radio.

If similar power were given to signals from

Manx Radio as that given to local stations in

Britain, a reasonable improvement could be expected

on the Island. The following table indicates the

field intensity anticipated on 232 M at transmitter

powers of 1, 5 and 10 kW into the directional aerial

system. Note the 5 kW level will only just begin

to provide a usable signal in Ramsey. 1.kW directional 5 kW directional 10 kW (now in use) directional Douglas 2.0 MV/M 3.8 MV/M 5.4. MV/M

Peel 2.0 3.8 5.4 Port Erin 3.5 6.9 9.7

Kirk Michael 0.8 1.5 2.0

Cont./ • • • 1 kW directional 5 kW directional 10 kW (now in use) directional Laxey 0.7 1.4 1.9 1.0 Ramsey 0.5 1.5

The Island requires a mw channel free from

restrictive broadcast times. At present, the

Island is the minor operator on the MW channel

of 232 M, the major operator being the BBC's

European service from Crowborough. This transmitter

operates at 600 kW, rendering a night sky wave

field intensity on the Island far in excess

of Manx Radio's signal, so preventing the Island

from broadcasting on MW during the hours of

darkness.

The UK have found it impossible to offer

the Island a satisfactory MW channel, implying

that none was available. This statement is not

entirely true for a number of MW channels have

now been found for use by the IBA and BBC loGal

broadcasting services.

It should be within the capability of the

Broadcasting Frequency Planning Department, Home

Office to select a channel for the Island suitably

removed from any other user so as to cause no

interference to the service areas of each operator.

. The difficulties are further eased with the

announced planned reduction in the total number

of local commercial stations to be opened in the

UK - none is now expected on the adjacent coasts

of Cumbria and Lancashire. One MW channel which

merits investigation is 301M allocated to Nottingham.

Nottingham is situated 170 miles South East of the

Cont./ • • • Isle of Man and would be in the low power sector

of the directional pattern. With 10 kW into the

present directional aerial system, only 2 kW would

be radiated in the direction of. Nottingham.

The Committee therefore recommends that an

appi-oach should be made to the Home Office asking

for a change in frequency to 301 m., and for

permission to operate Manx Radio on a power

equivalent to that of both BBC and IBA local

radio stations. The alternative i.e. the

achievement of adequate Island coverage by the

provision of a series of low-power boosters is

not recommended. In the Committee's view the

cost would be prohibitive in terms of both staff

and equipment.

Furthermore, without the provision of

additional frequencies for such boosters, phase

distortion in the areas of overlap would render the

Station unlistenable in many parts of the Island.

111 ii) An outline for improved VHF FM coverage of the Isle of Man

Justification for improvement of the VHF FM

service is substantiated by the sales of VHF radios

and the demand for stereo. From our own enquiries,

approximately 90% of all radios sold are capable

of receiving VHF signals.

. A good VHF FM service also has the advantage

of providing a service during day and night. This

is not the case on M\1; even if Manx Radio were to

Cont,/ . . . • secure another M1 frequency at higher power it would still be subject to some night-time interference.

The transmissions from the Snaefell transmitter are grossly inadequate. Undoubtedly, the largest area of the Isle of Man is served from this site, but not necessarily the largest number of people.

The signal is below the CCIR recommended level for rural areas in Port Erin, Peel and Peel Valley,

Douglas and Ramsey, and has not sufficient strength to permit stereo broadcasting. Stereo broadcasting is being encouraged and developed in most European countries, and is currently broadca!A by BBC, IBA and Radio Eireann.

The overall situation is further aggravated by the BBC signals from the Douglas Carnane transmitter. A clear argument exists for the pursuit of transmitter site and power equality with the BBC Douglas service. There is, in places, a 50 db difference in signal between BBC and Manx Radio, and with only 600 KHz separation between the two stations, severe blocking is experienced on many domestic receivers.

As a first step for an improved VHF FM service, approval in principle has been granted to Manx Radio by the BBC for the provision of facilities at the BBC transmitting station,

Carnane, Douglas. Aerial design information has yet to be submitted to the BBC for the necessary loading calculations, and Manx Radio would be required to house its equipment in a self-contained building. It is proposed that this BBC site be Cont./ . used for Manx Radio's main master VHF transmitting station; this would programme minor relay transmitters or translators located around the Island. A brief description of all-Island coverage follows:-

(a) BBC Carnane Site, Douglas

Coverage from this transmitting site

should include Port Erin, Port St. Mary,

Castletown, Peel Valley from Douglas to

St. Johns, Douglas, Onchan, Baldrine and a

major part of Laxey.

Two new transmitters would be installed

running inp3ralleI_ to reduce the risk of losing

the main service. This is because all other

transmitting sites will be dependent upon

programmes from this main service.

(b) Snaefell

A translator would be installed at Snaefell

to receive and relay programmes from Douglas

to Pride. This site would also serve the

lower parts of Laxey.

(c) Bride . This transmitting site would be dependent

on the relay on Snaefell. Coverage would

include the whole northern plateau of the

Island, and Ramsey, Maughold and Ballaugh.

It would probably be more economical over the long term to install a new translator

Cont./ . . . -10 -

at this site and to use an existing transmitter for standby.

(d) St. Johns IBA Beary or Corrins Hill, Peel

If agreement could be reached to share

the IBA site on Beary Mountain, coverage

should include Peel, Patrick, Kirk Michael and

St. Johns.

An alternative site to cover a similar

area would be Corrins Hill, Peel.

The fezilities of a propagation planning service must be employed to approve this suggested

Plan. This would also advise on alternative transmitter location, aerial design, transmitter power and would predict the coverage of each station. This survey must be conducted before any part of the plan is acted upon because

Manx Radio's intentions have to be considered by the BBC in conjunction with the IBA, who are also to share the Carnane site for UHF TV.

Budgetary costs for this survey are £1,500 and money should be made available immediately.

The Snaefell transmitter has now been in continuous operation for ten years. Maintenance has been minimal with no standby unit to switch to.

The location renders it vulnerable during bad weather, with frequent loss of mains electricity and the difficulty of travelling to the. site. It would be a brave prediction to guarantee this installation for a further ten years. - 19 -

111 (iii) DEVELOPM2NT OF PPEMISES

The existing building affords considerable potential

for expansion of the studio and administrative

facilities of Manx Radio. Without any major

structural alterations the usable floor area could

be more than doubled.

Provisional sketch plans have been prepared by the

architects, Davidson, Marsh and Company, and these

are attached, together with an estimate for the

various proposals, though their original estimates

(See Appendix A) are almost certainly now out of date.

The sketch plans provide for one floor to be devoted

entirely to administration and another to studio and

engineering facilities.

Included in the proposed studio facilities would be

a studio large enough to permit a small audience.

This is regarded by the Committee as a most useful

facility as it enables the broadcasting of discussion

programmes, panel games and the like.

The Committee is of the opinion that to fully implement

the proposals would be an unjustifiable expense in the

face of the numerous other more essential items that

must be dealt with. It is recommended, however, that,

in addition to the urgent repairs mentioned in another

section, steps be taken to improve the entrance to the

Manx Radio Building. At present the entrance is unimposing,

inconvenient and gives a most unfavourable impression.

It is believed that improvements could be made at

relatively little cost.

The Committee also recommends that as and when funds

can be made available the facilities be expanded in

accordance with the proposals outlined in Davidson,

Marsh and Company's sketches. - 20 - 1V (i) FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION.

1. The Accounts

An examination of the accounts of Manx Radio

over the past few years reveals that the

financial recovery that began when the Broadcasting

Commission took over in 1971 has not been maintained.

The Broadcasting Commission acquired the assets

of the Isle of Man Broadcasting Company Ltd.

on 27th April, 1971. After a profit for the

year ended 31st March, 1972, of £2,628 as

opposed to a loss of £1,974 in the previous year,

the situation has deteriorated steadily with the

latest accounts for the year ewied 31st March,

1974, showing a loss of £5,174, or £4,012 if

account is taken of an exceptional receipt in

respect of V.A.T. (See Appendix B, Statement of

Accounts for the year ended 31st March, 1974,

page 3, note 5). •

- The attached graphs show that the principal cause

of this deterioration has been steadily increasing

costs against a background of falling advertising

revenue.

Various points arose on examination of the accounts

and in discussions with the auditors. These are

listed below.

(a) An examination of the books of

Prime Entry would indicate that

provision for doubtful debts was

inadequate and consequently the

current assets statement misleading.

It is appreciated that the nature Cont./ . . •- 21. -

of.Manx Radio's business renders

it inadvisable to adopt "strong arm"

techniques in the collection of debts.

However, £13,800 of uncollected debts

against an annual gross revenue of only

£48,836 is clearly disproportionate.

Steps should be taken to establish more

realistically the extent of the irretrievable

debts, to adopt a rigid system of monthly

statements and sequence of demand notes,

and consequently to reduce (a) the number

and extent of bad debts, and (b) make a

more realistic provision for those debts

that are obviously irrecoverable.

(b.) At the present time Manx Radio pays 8%

of 85% of its gross advertising revenue

to both the Performing Rights Society and

Phonographic Performance Ltd. The reason

for this arrangement is to be found in an

Agreement between Manx Radio and the above

mentioned bodies that expired in 1971. At

the present time no•such Agreement, or

similar Agreement, is in existence and

. the only basis for the present arrangement

is the implication that exists in the fact

that one party offers the 8% and the other

party accepts it. It should be pointed out

that this arrangement could be the subject

of renegotiation at any time the Performing

Rights Society or Phonographic Performance

■ Ltd. required it.

Cont./ •• • - 22 -

(c) As far as the Manx Radio Accounts Department

is concerned there would appear to be a certain

amount of scope for increasing its effectiveness

and efficiency, and consequently reducing the

costs of the accountancy and auditing fees,

in addition to the more obvious savings that

result from a more efficiently controlled

financial operation. It is understood that one

of the recommendations made by the Committee under

the heading of "Staff Relations", has already been

implemented. This recommendation was to utilise_

the Telephonist, who had previous accounting

experience, in the Accounts Department. With this

'increased assistance it may be possible for the

Accounts Department, with the help of the General

Manager, to prepare the annual accounts in draft

and consequently avoid the expense of having

outside Accountants performing this.task. It is

also considered that by placing the responsibility

for the preparation of the accounts on the Radio

Station it would increase the awareness of the

Management of the financial position as it

developed.

2. Government's involvement in the Finance of Manx Radio.

The various recommendationtof the Committee as

regards the ways and means of improving the

profitability of Manx Radio and reducing the cost

to Government are dealt with elsewhere in

Cont./ . . - 23 - the Report. One point that should be made at this stage is the real cost of Manx Radio to Government at the present time, and the likely cost in the future.

In effect the Isle of Man Government has made an investment on which it is currently receiving a negative return. This investment amounts to • approximately £64,000 represented by the £40,000 used initially to acquire Manx Radio and a further £24,000 provided for a new transmitter.

The reasonable assumption that 12Wirepresents a fair return on an investment can be made. This is in fact the return that the Manx Government could currently obtain in various risk-free investments. Loss of revenue on the Government investment in Manx Radio can, therefore, be regarded in two parts, (a) the annual operational loss, and (b) the loss of return on the capital invested.

The loss for the year ended 31st March, 1974, was

£4,012 and the loss of interest on Government capital investment amounts to approximately £8,000. The realistic cost to Government can, therefore, be regarded as the sum of these two figures, or approximately

L12,000 per annum.

Present indications are that the running expenses will increase during the current year, particularly if reasonable salary increased are implemented.

".■■•••••

A fair estimate of the loss for the year to

31st March, 1975, assuming that no major changes

Cont/ . . • - 24 -

are implemented, would be £10,000. This added

to the loss of interest element amounting to

£8,000 would produce an annual net cost to Government

• of £18,000. This would go a long way towards

providing the subsidy necessary for News and Current

Affairs programmes referred to elsewhere in this

report. Unless action is taken there is every indication

that the situation will continue to deteriorate

and at is present rate of deterioration the total

annual cost to Government could'amount to over

£50,000 after a further five years.

3. Suggested Corporate Restructuring of Manx Radio.

It is becoming apparent that the administration

of Manx Radio is a full-time task. The Broadcasting

Commission being a part-time body have clearly

and understandably been unable to devote the

attention necessary to the effective and efficient

administration of Manx Radio, which is a task for

a team of full-time professional and experienced

broadcasters. Although the General Manager has

performed his duties to the best of his abilities, his

powers have been greatly restricted and the Committee

considers that certain fundamental administrative

changed should be implemented.

The Committee would like to make the following

recommendation:-

Manx Radio's assets currently owned by the Broadcasting

Commission should be transferred to a holding compnay

named, for instance, 'Manx Radio Holdings Ltd., the

shareholders of this Company to be civil servants.

Tynwald should be asked to vote sufficient funds

necessary to ciccli- the current liabilities, and to put

the Station into acceptable order as regards amenities and equipment in Cont./ • • - 25 -

accordance with the various recommendations

contained in the Report.

The holding company should then lease out the

Manx Radio franchise to private enterprise at an annual rent, retaining ownership of Transmitting equipment, but selling all studio equipment, other

than the building, to thes operator.. The holding company would have to obtain the services of a qualified

engineer to maintain the Transmitting equipment.

Tynwald would then be asked to pay an annual subsidy

to the holding company, to cover the cost of providing

a clearly defined news and current affairs service.

The operating company would pay in addition to the rental, 10%I say, of its net profits or a smaller

percentage of its gross advertising revenue.

The holding company would acquire a minority share

holding in the operating company, and would be

entitled to nominate one Director whose principal duties would be to supervise the current affairs programming.

The Committee's recommendation that the Station be put into good order as regards amenities and equipment is going to involve Government in further expenditure, the extent of which will not be known until estimates have been received.

Unlliss this is done and the Station is updated to make it capable of all-Island coverage it will not be

a very easily-marketable asset. In the interests of

consistency a further investment in Manx Radio must also

be considered in the light Cont./ . . . . of its annual cost to Government.

The clear advantage here is that private enterprise

is going to carry the risk of incurring further

deficits on the revenue account, and that Government's financial involvement will be clearly defined and

consequently limited. The stake in the possible future profitability in the Station would be ensured,'

albeit to a reduced extent, and the rental received

from the operating company would assist in defraying

the net annual cost. TYNWALD

FUNDS (Current Affairs and News)

MANX RADIO HOLDINGS (Civil Servant Shareholders)

FUNDS (Current Affairs and News)

OPERATING COMPANY (Private Shareholders)

'''' •• •• • • . • . .,±.." : ; ' - • . ::... :.. - - . .- - • - ..... • . • ...' • - ..._ • - ;•• . I . ' . . . GROSS REVENUE '7 -- . ,— — "--'-'-,'.:.•- ••.._.:..:-. .': ';_ . . - .• : .. . . 1, .: ,. ,t• s . t • .... . . !:' . 'I. • .. : • • . . - • .. ,-..- ...... ...... „..,_ ..__.• . . ..• .. • • . •

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34

• 71 72 .73 74 - 30 -

ANNUAL SURPLUS OR DEFICIT , • 1- . .• :

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•

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1:, X3000. tE2000._

I I 1000 : • • • ••• •

:1 . • - • 1-••

3000) '• • '••• ■ . . .

'1 '01000)

(5000) ... . •

••••;:(6000)

• I ' r 1; - 31-

1V ii) ADVERTISING

The Committee is of the opinion that there is

considerable scope for increasing advertising

revenue locally. It would also appear that a

certain amount of scope existed for selling

advertising on the Mainland. At the present time

a number of important areas are not served by

local Commercial Radio :- (see Appendix .C.1. • •

a report by Messrs Stow3and Bowden Limited on the

potential for extending the listenership of

Manx Radio. The Committee is in agreement with

A the opinions expressed in the report and

considers that it should be made available to any

future operator of Manx Radio. Their report

was endorsed by opinions offered quite independently

of the above document to the Chairman by Messrs.

Saward Baker's Advertising Agency in London,

specialists in the TV and Radio advertising

market, who expressed a willingness to undertake

more detailed research if desired at a later

date, and who the Committee also wish to thank

for the provision of such professional opinion

and evidence at no cost to Government.)

The total estimated population of these areas

amounts to over a million. If Manx Radio could

be directly transmitted to these areas there would

be a vast increase,in potential listenership and

consequently considerable scope for increasing

-- advertising revenue. The larger listenership and

the improved image of the Station would justify

increased advertising rates and possibly the

introduction of a three-tiered scale of rates:

national, semi-national and local.

•

Cont./ • • • 1- 32

The commercial viability of the Station depends

on sufficient power being used to make the Station competitive in volume and quality of reception, and easily tunable on the whole Island, and in this event the cost for a 30 second spot could be around £10 - £15, 4F with a 10% increase at the peak listening hours and a suitable adjustment for off-peak hours. At this extremely low cost it should immediately become viable, and if extra power is allowed there is no reason why we should not envisage the coverage of the

Solway Firth, the Cumbrian Coast, Barrow and the West

Lancashire Coast from Maryport down to Southport. With

the abandonment of the Blackburn IBA Station, it should

be quite practicable to come to an arrangement with

the IBA, and if the Manx Authorities were in agreement also, to get quite an influx of advertising from the

West Lancashire and Cumbrian areas which would substantiate the development of Manx Radio as a worthwhile advertising

medium for the North Irish Sea area. It may also be

possible to draw participating financial support from certain influential groups in these areas if this were thought to be desirable. Since writing this section of the Report the Committee has received a reply to its

preliminary approach to Lord Aylestone of the IBA (see

Appendix Al..). This letter while taking a discouraging ' attitude, does not close the door on some kind of

IBA/Manx Radio co-operation. The Committee recommend that further approaches to the IBA should be made, but always with the caveat that any agreement must safeguard the advantages that Manx Radio already has over the existing IBA Stations. With the development of stereo for the evening programmes on VHF, it is easy to see quite a ,substantial body of music lovers listening in

Cont./ . . • - 33 - the evening to programmes of quality, and this should make quite an impact in advertising value for this type of person. There is also one aspect of Manx Radio which none of the IBA stations has, that is the opportunity to put over sponsored programmes. There is no reason why any manufacturer or sales organisation cannot make their own programme and put in their own advertising matter, providing it does not contravene any code of practice set up by the watchdog organisations. It is essential, however, that this Station has adequate power for K people to be able to tune'in to it without heavy background noises, and should be easy to listen to. ,

The Committee met Mr. Dore of the "Examiner" Group of newspapers and he outlined his ideas for taking over the responsibility for the advertising side of the Station and guaranteeing Manx Radio against any loss of Revenue.

Though this arrangement appeared better than the present system, we could not see it being suitable for the future development of the Station. IV iii) STAFF DELATIONS AND STATION MANAGEMENT

The Committee carried out a thorough investigation

into staff relations at Manx Radio. Frank and con-

fidential interviews were held with almost every

member of both the Administrative and Broadcasting

Staff.

The impression gleaned from these interviews indicated

a great sense of loyalty to Manx Radio amongst nearly

all the staff. Apart from the understandable dissatis-

faction with salary levels, morale was reasonably good,

although it was apparent that the staff were counting

on the Committee to recommend changes that would not only

result in more equitable remuneration but that would

also give a greater sense of permanency to the Station.

The appointment of the CoMmittee had obviously raised

hopes and the impression was that unless the Report of

the Committee resulted in tangible changes, morale

would sink to new lows and the future of the Station

could be threatened. Your Committee, having met the

ABS, feel that they must recommend urgent action to

avoid militance on the part of the Union - which is

at present in a co-operative mood. The only source

of noticeable friction and strained relations was the

Sales Department. This subsequently resolved itself

with the departure of the Sales Manager. His departUre,

and the temporary promotion of Mrs. McCabe to this

position has resulted in a noticeable increase of

business. To date this amounts to sixteen new local

-- customers and five new national customers. There

were several complaints amongst both the

Broadcasting and Administrative Staff concerning

the lack of communication between Management and

Staff. The Broadcasting Staff felt that insufficient

Cont./ . 411: 0 directive was coming from Management. Closer questioning on this point revealed that

the accepted reason for this was the General

Manager's difficult position in relation to

the Broadcasting Commission.

•

The lack of adequate training facilities for new announcers was mentioned. The guidance of a more

experienced announcer was not at present available.

Programme planning was thought to be haphazard

and the absence of a good record library was

deplored by all. The Broadcasting Staff were,

on the whole, enthusiastic and full of ideas.

The Management needs to be more receptive and give

the guidance necessary and channel the enthusiasm

in the right direction.

On the Administrative side there were complaints

about the methods adopted, particularly in the

Accounts Department. This problem is dealt with in

more detail under Finance and Administration.

One curious point arose in that the Accounting

Clerk complained of being over-worked and the

Telephonist complained of having too little to

do. It transpired that the Telephonist had

previous experience in accounting in the Law

Society Cash Office. It would appear therefore,

a fairly simple task to combine the duties of

Telephonist with that of Assistance Accounting

Clerk, thus overcoming boredom on the one hand and

over-work on the other. This sort of situation

could be prevented by an effort on the part of

Management to become more approachable, and to

Cont./. . • - 36-

pay more attention to the detailed administration.

A large organisation can delegate through a chain

of command. In the case of Manx Radio the General

Manager is directly supervising all employees and

'he should make an effort to do so. - 37- IV SALARIES

iv) Comparisons with BBC and IBA Salaries show considerable under-payment by Manx Radio,

particularly at the higher end of the scale. In

the area of clerks, secretaries, receptionists

etc., the difference is not so marked, particularly allowing for the difference in the Manx tax structure. The Manager of a Local Radio station,

BBC or IBAs would receive a salary of between

£4,500 - 5,500, while the equivalent of Manx Radio's Chief Engineer would probably

receive approximately £3,600. These estimates

are based on existing salary scales, before any increases in salaries due in October this year

are implemented. It will be noted that these

are somewhat at variance with the suggested .salaries set out by the ABS in their paper to the Committee (see Appendix 7B ). This is accounted

for by the difference in interpretation of the various posts vis-a-vis Manx Radio and mainland Local Radio. Frequently the duties are by no . means equivalent. In any event, due to the

Nanx tax structure, the Committee recommends that

in general terms Manx Radio salaries payable should be 15% - 20% lower than current Mainland .J salaries.

It is worth noting that even the smallest BBC Local Radio station has a staff of about 27, and an equivalent IBA one probably 20. This, . of course, takes into account involvement in News and Current Affairs, despite the fact that they get their National News., Cont./ . . . - 38- IV via the central Network Newsroom. There is a

clear need at Manx Radio for a number of posts

which at present do not exist. Apart from whatever

might be required to cope with News and Current

Affairs, the following should be included:

Programme Director (Mainland salary approximately E.4260-

Record Librarian (Mainland salary approximately £3555) Catalogue Clerk (Mainland salary approximately £1656)

39'

V STATION PROMOTION

Some fairly obvious things appear to have been

overlooked, though doubtless some of them might

turn out to be impracticable. But for instance:

1) Banners at Victoria Pier, and Airport:

"Welcome to the wonderful Isle of Man.

Listen to Manx Radio - your all-day Music

and Local News Station on 232."

2) Posters or handbills in all Hotels and

Boarding Houses advertising the Station,

•and detailing its programmes.

3) What about relaying the Station via PA

during disembarkation at'both Pier and

Airport?

4) The Station to be featured in all Tourist

Board literature.

5). Can the Station's programmes be printed

not only in the local press, but also in

the Liverpool Echo, and the Manchester

editions of the popular Dailies?

6) Consider the appointment of a Publicity/

Promotion Officer (part or full-time).

7) All sorts of more expensive things from

sponsoring a TT Rider to competitions tied

.to local events (herring fishing, Viking

Ceremony, etc.).

8) With its commanding position on Douglas

Head, there should be a clearly visible

neon sign.

9) Certainly the promotional aids already

adopted (car stickers; T Shirts; competitions;

prizes etc.) should all be continued and

expanded. • Cont./ . . 10) Would the GPO co-operate with a special number to enable a "phone-a-Disc" service

to be incorporated in the DJ/Music shows?

11) The promotion of concerts (Villa Marina, Palace etc.) exclusively broadcast by Manx Radio. (N.B. tapes might subsequently be sold to other broadcasting organisations,

subject to contractual difficulties, thus helping to pay for the exercise). 12) During the season, loudspeaker cars could tour the holiday centre, broadcasting Manx Radio and trailing its programmes. 13) .Publicity material could be displayed on IOM Steam Packet Co. boats, and the programmes relayed over loudspeakers to tell tourists something about the Island they are visiting, and to help pass an otherwise boring journey. 14) Efforts should be made to ensure that Manx Radio is available on the ring main in all hotel rooms fitted with this system. VI AUDIENCE PESEARCH i) Aims of the survey

a. To establish listenership

b. To establish relative attractiveness of radio stations broadcasting into the

Isle of Man c. To establish relative popularity of the • • programme categories d. To establish the islands attitude to the

general policies and content of Manx Radio •t. To establish the popularity potential of

various suggested programme innovations - f. To establish the attitude of tourists to

Manx Radio

.g. To elicit suggestions from those interviewed for improvements to Manx Radio

ii) Method of survey

The survey was carried out by means of a detailed questionnaire (see appendix E).

This questionnaire was presented verbally through a carefully selected team of street

interviewers. The survey covered a period

of approximately 3 weeks and interviews were held in all the principal centres of the Island

viz Douglas, Ramsey, Laxey, Port St. Mary, Port Erin, Onchan, Castletown, Peel and Kirk Michael. The interviewing was done

on a proportional basis, in other words the proportion of interviews taken from each

area was equal to the proportion of the population of the Island residing in the said area. The proportions were taken from the

. Cont./ . . Isle of Man Census 1971 interim

report. Interviewing was done on a completely

random basis. In addition to local residents,

a number of tourists were interviewed,

utilizing a shortened questionnaire (see

appendix E).

Approximately 21 thousand questionnaires

were completed, of which approximately 1900

represented resident opinion and approximately

700 represented tourist opinion.

iii) Interpretation of resident opinion

The following is an interpretation of resident

'opinion on a question by question basis.

Listenership

It would appear that an impressive 85%

of the adolescent and adult population of

the Island listen to Manx Radio. Making

an estimated adjustment to the 1971 census

figures we arrive at an adolescent and adult

population of approximately 50 thousand;

which means that the total listenerhip to

Manx Radio is approximately 421 thousand

people.

Of the 421 thousand, listeners well over

half (56%) are regular listeners, 34% are

occasional listeners, the remaining 10%

listen infrequently. •

The most popular time of day is undoubtedly

prior to and during breakfast, when 43%

Cont./ . . of the listeners can be expected to be

listening. The next most popular time is

.during the morning when 28% of the listeners,

are tuned in, predominantly housewives.

Other popular listening times are mid-day,

week-ends and for special features such as

news or weather.

Programme content

UndoubtOdly the most popular programme material

is the news (52% of listeners), followed

closely by music (47% of listeners), although

the Disc Jockeys themselves appeal to only

26% of listeners. Local information and

events proved popular attracting 45% of the

listeners. The sports coverage appeals

to 26% of listeners, the advertisements to

13% of listeners.

Well over half.(53% of listeners) consider

that there is about the right amount of

pop music, while 25% consider there is too

much pop and 11% that there is not enough,:.

When specifically questioned on the sports

coverage it transpired that 44% did in fact

- enjoy it, but 22% did not and 21% were

indifferent. 1.5% wanted to hear more on

•sport, 21% thought there should be more

outside broadcasts and 13% that there

should be more reporting on U.K. sport. There

was considerable praise for Peter Kneale's

professional expertise in handling the T.T.

commentary. Cant./ • - 44

The advertisements were found useful and

informative by 46% of listeners, 16% found

them boring and uninteresting and 38% of

listeners were indifferent.

Current Affairs

On the question of current affairs considerable

interest was shown. 61% of listeners were

in favour of more interviews with local people

about topical Manx Affairs. 41% were in

favour of regular reports of Tynwald

Debates and 39% would like to hear discussions

with Members of Government. 28% were in

favour of the introduction of U.K. and

foreign news. A large number of those

interviewed were critical of the standard of

presentation and content of the news broadcasts.

Many felt that the news was out of date, thus

making a nonsense of Manx Radio's maxim

'News when it's news'.

Non-Listeners

Of those who do not listen to Manx Radio,

the order of preference of radio stations

is as follows radio 2, radio 1, radio 4,

radio 3 Luxembourg. 37% of non listeners

to Manx Radio decided that the most appealing

aspects of the other stations were the news

and current affairs programmes, followed by,

in order of preference pop music, serious

music, plays, disc jockeys, comedy, announcers,

panel games, short stories, phone-in discussions.

Cont./ . . 28% of the non listeners would be more

inclined to listen to Manx Radio if there

were more interviews with local people

about topical affairs. 26% indicated they

'would be more inclined to listen if there

were more discussions with Members of

Government about policies and decisions.

18% would like to hear U.K. and foreign news.

Innovations

Great interest was shown in the field of

local talent and of those interviewed 49%

thought talks by local persoJoilities should

be incorporated into the programme content.

45% were in favour of local pop music, and

42% in favour of local serious music, 37%

drama groups and 19% had other suggestions

such as folk music, local people giving

talks on their hobbies.

47% of those interviewed thought Manx Radio

should be used as a means of broadcasting

educational material. 30% were against.

Administration

" On the question of Manx Radio being a commercial

station 54% were in favour and only 19% against.

" An overwhelming majority (75% of those interviewed)

had no objection to the government subsidizing

Manx Radio on a regular basis.

iv) Interrretaticn of tourist opi ni nn Of the tourists interviewed 57% had listened

Cont./ ...... 46 -

at one time or another 30% had never

listened to it and 12% had never even

heard of it. Of those vielo had listened

to it 95% had listened whilst on the

Island 7% had listened to it both on the

Island and at home and 5% had listened

only at home.

88% of those who had listened to it on the

Island found it useful and informative. v) General Observations

The analysis of question 8 may be a little

deciiptive as of course the reason that people

don't require U.K. and foreign news on Manx

Radio is that this is provided by the BBC.

It is my opinion that the lack of U.K. and

-foreign news on Manx Radio is detrimental

to listenership.

The interviewers mentioned a certain amount

of confusion over question 13 Do you think

that Manx Radio should be used to braodcast

educational material? Many people asked

whether this referred to Manx educational

programmes or generdl educational programmes.

The majority were in favour of Manx educational

programmes.

Question 15 was rather lengthy and asked

* * for a negative answer. Many people said

yes initially and then realized that no

was the answer they meant. The proportion

in favour of government subsidy may therefore

be more than stated. Cont./ . . . _ 117 _

There is no doubt that poor reception results

in a substantial loss of listenership.

namsey, an area of questionable reception

was subjected to more detailed analysis

and it transpired that 11.5% of those that

did not listen suffered from poor or nil

reception. Listenership in Ramsey is

currently 80% and the indications are that

this could be increased to over 90% with

improved transmission.

A cursory examination of the other areas

surveyed indicated a similar pattern even'

in th)se areas that theoretically have good

reception. A conservative estimate would

point towards improved reception increasing

total listenership by approximately ten per

cent.

Prior to.the survey, Laxey was thought to be

an area of poor reception. In fact

listenership in Laxey was above the Island

average of 29%. The interviewer was specifically

inquiring about reception in this area and

only four of the 75 people interviewed had

any compraints about the reception.

vi) Regional Variations

All the areas which were surveyed conformed

to a general pattern with very few regional

variations. The residents from all the areas,

apart from Douglas rated the news the most

appealing feature of the station. Douglas

chose music; which is born out by the Douglas

Cont./ . . . - 48 -

non listeners preference to radio 1 as against

the over all island preference for radio 2.

vii) Interviewer's suggestions

Approximately 40% of the people interviewed

had suggestions of some sort to make. The

following is a selection of the most

frequently recurring comments:-

The standard of announcing is poor,

announcers speak .indistinctly, announcers

have phoney American accent, announcers

should learn to correctly pronounce Manx

name;:, women announcers harp, to hear, train

announcers for the news, like Alan Jackson

(he is the only announcer to receive any

praise and he received an abundance, except

for one man who said he got on his nerves),.

Disc Jockeys should restrict their chat to

the beginning and end of records not the

middle, more music less talk, too much inane

chat from DJ's, cut out jingles, more light

music, want Gilbert and Sullivan, want Melting

Pot back, (this was a very popular request),

interviews with visiting groupso more local

tone, Power Point unpopular, go on later in

the evening, want news on Sunday, T.T. coverage

excellent, publication of wavelength, more

amateur talent, increase power.

viii) Conclusions

a. That the general standard of presentation

be improved, particularly with reference to

the announcing. Cont./ . . . — _

b. That current affairs coverage be reviewed expanded

and improved in the light of question 8. c. That the local image of the station be

extended by'the incorporation of some of

the programmes suggested in question 12. d. That the general programme content be re-

viewed as indicated by the answers to

question 10. e. That advertising rates be re-structured

based on the information gained from answers

to question 3. f. That reception be improved particularly in

the Ramsey area. - g. That programme details be made available

through a mini radio times. h. That tourist awareness of Manx Radio could

be increased through some suitable form

of promotion. i. That audience opinion should be tested in

the manner of this survey on a regular basis. - 2u

Question1.

• • :177 - 7171 .11' D9,•ypu. ,ever listen to Eanx Radio? •. .1.. •i. 1

• . • . ' • • '

1 4

•

No.

; •:

r•

•:• 0 0 0 o o 0 o cp• co cm • V' %Ct r-I 0-1 • r-I eti - 51 -

Questia12s

low often. do.-you listen? '

' j.

tpgulrly

..... •

-t • " occa.sipnally

Hardly ever.'...

0 • -, O o O 0 0 , tO ON

- 52 - Question 3.

Whatf'time.of_day are you most likely to listen?

•

When .getting up

.. .

Evening_ ! ! I;" • •

an the car__

Pther'times:_

1 ' 1 . ; ; : •

- . 0 0 " • 0 • 0 0 • 0 0 o• " r4 : • , , . • - sr' •• ' • :IL:J._ — 53 - Question 4, , '''HPrh4T4- ill IT. -:■ 11. What isjt_about_thCStation that appeals to you most? I ;

'The Disc Jockeys

• I •

The News

Local events andinformation

F: ; .1 _ ...... The— advertisements i•

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 , co , 0 0 0 0 ' C:) I-4 04. ; : .M • ill , w , CO ' 01 1 -1 _',. •

- 54 - Question 5.

; • :::

;right mixture • . : -,,•Act-ii.o.kuirAlii.ei, ,,o,,,-,..,:i:•:*•,(-,.,_&•:,,A...4,444..oiciii•44;doitv4,=.4,vir....7.-.,:4.•,:.,i4,.ivi- .,•::. -. — -,-. —'. i - I • • .I ... ' ' .1 • • ••• .1 1 1 . . . . . .. . • . •

■ ■ P. I , • 1 7 ' I , j. i . ; I. ' : . .111 I . • ' 1 '. F . . • . . • • r ; . ', : • : I ' . • i • : ! •: i . . ''. : • . :' .1 ! ' ' . '• . ,:'.• . ! '. - . . • • • • • • , 1: ' : • i i . .1.' . . .1 •!. . ' I:' Ii - t ' 1. t ... 1 • ,. : .. •/ !!... -• . • -- ISIS • I • ;

; ' . —...: " 1 • '. ' ' I■ .11 . . '. :1 1. - : -. ,,..,' : • •. .,... ...... - i, , I ... i . .. _ . .. , r... r• - :: • .1 .- i - . 1 '. J , ' I ; ; .. . . . , .: ; :. ..r — • : : I . .•; ;-...: , [ .- . . ! ... •,,,, ..L.11 I • • • • j • • ; ,. . : . : ! . : • : : ', . • ; i -..; '7 I. I I.

• .:.,-

•:"1.-- •

• . I r iLid• ' • : ; ! ' ; : ' _ _ - 55 - Question 6.

II:kb you enjoy. the.Sports coverage on Manx Radio? 1: H !. i ' :' i.:..IHI , i...1 I' 1

. •tt:

,t•

1 Would you like it011ear more A.

I' f. -; - • !Should there be more live outside coverage

-;• 0 0, 0 • 0 0 ' 0 0 . 0 • 0 .:0• '0 . 0 . o 0 N ' In •: - 56 .1: Question 7. 57- Question 8.

• ' ' • Wokald you.like to see the Current Affairs coverage extended to include ;41!:

Regular report of tytwald.Debates.!

[ •^ •

Discussions with members: of Government

More interviews with PE7711414e.M.7.0:nr.F,. local people about tOpical Manx affairs 1: ,

4....and foreign news ,,,'71"6 57r-, 40 7 rro=

nyother:

. 1 1 Q. 0 0 0 0 0 Cs 11 In la Ts.

- 58 -

Question 9.

7.7F.Trr--717' '777,• 7.7177, ----7..- T. I ! -I •• 1 r" ..; ..:}- 1 ... . . ; . .,[ .lf_-you _don't, listen. to Manx Radio which Station do you listen to? • ...: .• : ; : I ; i , t, .. . 1,.. ,...... ,-i •.:! 1 I -,,i,„. • .. .•• .•; i• •:! i 1. ,• :...L. -.. +...... _....:,!..•.-...... 1 / 1 ; , • r 1 i ' !•.- • .1 l • . , , ... 1 i 1 1 , : . . rp I ,,• , ' I. I 1 ! : r . I, : ' 1 , . ' 1. • •/ . • " • . .1 i1 , I - I • 1 ■; , / _ id . . ., 1, . 41 i / ' • , ! • ; . / i . I ' 4 / ' :. I, - P I I ! ..; I . : ■ I I I •1 r II II ''' I :: 1 / 1 :.•.. • • S 1 ...... ' '1 • 1 1: . l ' • • E 1 1 :•. 1 • 1 . ,. 1 r I

_A;0001#10#100 -

• 1, •

P. .4 . -. •• 1 I i .J. - • I :Radio •3 ---•1;

• d P I I 1 . - I .. I • ••• -

1 I • 1.

1 ' ' i . t .. • I I a '• . •••• ! .1P i V 11; ; . I • 1 •

r • [ Luxembourg ; • 1 I.' '.! • . ' . i . !. ' , . ,I ; . .1: 1. : :L. •• • ■ . I • ;1 • • . ' '• ' - ' ' I . ' i..• : !. 1 I •A • • ". I , , H 1. ■ I . 1 . • i •r • ' . -• • .: . : .1 , ' 1 • • 1 ' . 1 I ' 1 . .1 i i • I ... ' .. .; . ! . ' . i

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Question"

!-E'i i :ft';; I • ..:L. Whatr:appeals to.yolLabout the Station?

1 • serious ..1 i • I Pop music .Announcers-

I nisd,jockeyS., d

• . : News and

Current Affairs .6. • Short stories •••• . • . -; r • : 1.- '' '''' Plays .1.711H.1._, r • I H ' Chat` programmeW - 1} • • Panel games .1. . • 77- ,Sport coverage

Phone in Discussions:_. I Comedy

4--

• . .0 0 0 ; P`i cri .141. ON 0 , 1-1 • C•fl I •• 1 • • hi • • : t 'Pk • L'r'i • ..1 "-1 • -60-

Question 11.

I .P0 . . • - . 1 . 777.7 .1 , 1 1 .1 1 • -1 4 . • • • .• ...... r I :. ' • .' I -.i : ...--- ould. you be more inclined to listen to Manx Radio : the Current Affairs,).„:.:i_j ,1: L , . , - • , r. I!, ., , . :1 .. ",...1. 1 . overage was extended to include ,:.;:-.-H • • --!•,-.-,.--,•j .. " 1. • .-...1. . . ii.. •.. •-•- 1.:;.11,• ..'.11. ;,,;-...;L.,..-..._,. -4 • r. .i •. - ' 1 ' ' - ' •,' . • -.,...... :...... :-..,...._i_. P• • P." / .: IL. ) ,,..1.'-.di •: .. ; ' ''.P• 'i ' . , I .1 P 1: •/.. ii• , 1:''T..• •••• :. I 1...... •1 . • .1 ':.1]..:.-11:..;:,..1 • i• ..I. 1.: . • • • j I 1 I , iFi;,.. i7 l;iiri: I.::: ::.;P 7 SJ:,..h .! 1 1.111:•'J. d :'• .. i. . 1 rnl:',:. : 1. --- i - 'I • .. .. I I. ; : •... 1. • 1 1 'Pl .,., .• :1 : I . • .1 ... .... ....--- - ...•-••••---•.-. .1-4--..-...-.-1 r ■-•• 41 :::4''.H.717, -1 71Tti'••••i F•••-1•••• -..;, „Titt.7:• 1:i7.: 1 • . . : ,..1.: 1 .1:,,. 1... • d• ! 1•1 P.. I.. r i l • :;ii..i. 1...... lb . • .,. IL:.L!'.;;.11.!•11•- ..j....• i!..1•■■• •• ■.../..••.;•• ' .. I.! P ':1. .. I .4i • ' •: ''' 1 !/: II% :!: .P'. IT ./. I • • A regular report on • - r.1 -_ . Tyrlwaltipebates..,:.:.• ..,'1,.,.. ••'• r - ...'n,r: . •; . .. . . ., . .. . • - 1", • ;'.•-, i,. .•. . ,-,', : I • .11 ' ' - ' -.• • 1. ., ...• ., ...... ; , • ..•••••t:.• • . .. ri•-•.y.:":. -•:-.,".:;.1:-.;•H -• --.i... 1 , :- -. -,:ri,"-,t!.:.p.rHi:;;;.',--.;i: .: iL•d . ;:!..: ?,•• •,. .r•.• i •-. : :1 . - ' 1. • •;I • '• .-.1 • i . :-.... - ---:-r•-.-;;----• - -; • ' 7 1 1 , •,. -.I .' . .I: c,• . • . .l.I., ..' ., . Discussions with'-•' ' Members of Government'. : . . . about policies and r1:• (;.•■'!..2 - 2...... t...."...--.- --. -,,...:--•. ---.- - • .... -;-...... I.L;_.... Oecisions i;.:..il ';i:._:•._11...... _ ....,...... 7 r! • • • : . ..._. L '.1-ii.• ! :-, 1.-.. . • ,

' . • . 1 „ r 1. 1. 1,.... L;i , • !.: ../1 . ' _ ••P . :!.....,•__I..,i-l- ....1. .t7 :. -iP. :. -.:.. ,1--: . -4 , • : 1_ •. "..IH:b... • :7 ' ! .1 ■••■ ' , T- "-- 7- iliore Interviews with local 1people about topical Manx ...... :.... •::. _..1_-_-._ ...... LAffairs : = L -H111..: .: ; ..' ,■ :' .., : 1:•...... - T. -..-!-. .:.-1-.."-'77.7 7-:irt.:-:-:, . • • ' .•:::■ :. r • I . • .• , ,1•. Pl• • 1 • . '. ' : . ' ';-:.'-tit- " .. "r • "!.1. - :' . 1. . ,•,....:'7'. '''',''"'. :-7-"-.-7-.• •••-• 7.. t;.i: !' ; 1 • ' • ' ' ' .• ' ' 'I'"' 11:, :• ' .. ;.'. !. , . 1. : ti• i .. ' ',• 1 : . 1 .i..., 1. :_... '_ .___. . .... _. - .t.....-:. .■ :4-1:i-l:.- ...... ) . ..., _A_- i I, . .."1,t;! ;::' •• 1];i,,ii:. .. irlici. JF(>1:(i.c;r1 news ; :.• !• • :-F:....1..i:. • •/ • li:; Li' ■ '''i; r:::1'... ..: . '' ' ', .1.'::;! . , ; '•• i:-.., ."1: 7.17 :...:1-;:: ..... . . i . .- 1• ,., _ !..... • 'i:,.... 1 ■ '.:1, ,•!:'-' . :.. . . •• • • *t: 1 It-.1: .,....:,.....•."....;_._.., -- - ..• ...,..,._ • . .. .. . • ---'. •-■ :':':'" •7•• : .:":-,;t!",::•-■ ,"":, : . - . :i. 1 ;. ..,..1...1,.:,!„. ..... 1 • A • • " ' ' 1 • ' ' H i r':.• • . .- ",;...r.L'..:- ...i...._. 1:1 :- f ' :.';" ::'1 ' :, ■ .1 : • ''- '1.;'! ' • • , • - !•:::1•1■ • i/PI! '.... .',1•.' ',,. j...1:: '''' ' T'l ' ;'''' .-.' •;.'' • ' , . ■ ■ "" -.-• :---!..-;-. rr r.-`•.7 "1:• -!: - ' :•[•• 400., ' :• f•-• ,,'; (": 1 .. '.. '''' l't.:.1...H1 . . ,...... / ._ iiri :.• H . .. ". • • ' • :Any. other. .... - •. -•-•:;i ••• ,,.. ....,•.- - --•. ••.,•.....• • •-'• . i , •'-'``..-!--.-LI•'"' -7. :•:"'.7:". -.T7,:': :7- . r -71.-7 ,•:: -L.,:, LI . :.....; ,,,, ,....; ::-.1;:.•..., Hi. I ...1: -.;•.i ..,. ; ., ... , i ' '-'' '' "0. .i. :.;! :•:;, :..• ...• .-: . • ... ,-.. •-•.1 ,.-...; --1,....•:-.1-r• .'.4 -:. , ,..• r.i: ,;....i.,:-;.;.-...,..:-..... -• :;.-:•.: 4-_-1- 7, .., ,, , A...... - p.I., . ..,. 1, . .,,r ,.; . , . :• . -..1.-i ■q :01 !Ill!: _o.,.. ,;„Ic..:',, .. ! ...... • .14 . . .7! r ,, .,.,. L.,. ..: .! . . !... . . • ..I.. . .. -"-t-+'-'4"7-4;7 .. "•'-t--:177.':1-.7.-.•!,-.':-",-".••:•:1:7• " • . ' •••••,..;; • P, , tr- .... P-. •. .... .4 ..1. •••!N :1i !•..P ! ■ ;•••••• ■ : ' )!IP•Pi 1 P•P'f•Plti: Tr: ', 1 [11.,..., .41 :,:..•‘; ., .,...•I,oi '.. ': ..., . • I..: : ..i ; _: '..!. .'.:1:.r:. ;rd. ;.! P•i- ..:•;1!..,,.',1•,;!:.;,• ! , :...... i ..: :.. :-. :..1... .;',4 4 ■ .1 '.. ' . ,.4., -, 'q. . 4-. : ... .L2_...... ;_ L...... '11 -J.:.!.•'... ..... ; ..' ...,+'..... , . ..i.•. 1...i. "0 , ! ...z;I: . 4iIIIL:i:C. :*:' .,..1 ...+. 1 '. ''' .!. E -..:! '-';• . :. .. i!. li. MI"; '''' •••• ,.. 1•••:1.: •••.:!: :1,,.. ,..,:r.,,,.....,...... ,,....,„H ..,... :, .,...,,,,LH.:,,,,...,... ...•• -.Hi.. . ::,:,.. ,1... !!...I. I • :P, P'••• P-: • .1 .•••/:,...... • .,••,...r./...... • • •.• ...... %, I - 1, 1, , •• ; • •• . ' -''...,•.t... .:;.-.1...... :L :4-•:.1-..- -•---""/..•••,,•-• : .....,P,-..:,-.....,,..:. 1.. 1.-.• '• , ...-'; "1 . . 7 .•• . • I • r II ir •••• ill :.;!..: I1.1.: 1'.:: !!:: t :: :'''.::■ I:',:.1..,..,.. !:.....H..: .ir: .,:, .,',,! i,:. t. , : ..:::.-: -'': : ; 'i741i ; ; .;-• 0 : • - - U., '..;.... :-/:.:. ...... L.- --.1...--,.... - , .-1-1,

::•!'■ : •.i., ...../..I.I . ...! •:::...1r ::i, .:1. .:1i: - .:ii.." , ..: ,;:ii' 1 ,.. :,....'. ::,• , .::„1'W11.1! !:I! j' --• ••1!: I' .-.1.”..-. ..., 1...... - .-. .... , . O . O.. : ,1!.• :1. . •.:•:..: ..:.... ; : ■ .... . 1 . ,.. ti , i,. . d . ' .,,- , H • . ..I . .• [O. • !.1 j r : .... .,,:...... ...., op 1'.. 1. . t . ..1...... 4., ... .1, '. . . ., ! I , • J . .: • . :.' d ■■ ' ' • . I. - ... ' • • - L , _Li. . ... '.:.;.1,__'._.: •i-ih , i . ...:-T.4...!r ::t. .'" .'. -.-- --,,',... . .• . -• . ,•• ■ . , ' • ., --,, -..- 7: 1,•,:: ..., !, i• 1.':: ,.: ,,I., ..„. :11.i i''' i .:: ! '': ':•'. ;:'• , .F.-. ••'.. ' ',' ti•'I' ■ H' i ....L'.12...,0-,.:ILI-L;, L'.;..... ....:.:-..:-...... :.1,...... '.."..,:.:.-..:_."',... :','...: ','',...,,!. ,: '... ....'' .. •,.1... !' . 1;1_. --.!•7 i '...i.;,t;,. .... •-•' -L. , -• .J...... ;-- . -it-r --:• i •r ------L.. 4i +.. t=;1 :-..• ::. '••• --.1. - • • • .. .. . ... • ... .. ' I. • ..:- ,---,. •: .,_- ... . I. -'' - 1...... 1 • • .-;* . r ::•••.: II •/ • .444 W.- .t...];LL ..:_. ._ __...___ I,. IT .': -. • . . 'I1 1....i IP.! r` ...;; ".::::?W i:1;:..i.:.:1:.0% '.. 0 '0- • 0 • 0 . 0 ' 0 ' 0 •• 0 ''..' 0 ...• 0 .• 0 . !.0 :. ': ii:: ;:.1•:;•!:!t --. •••.:.:;- -.; 4-11 ;'. C11 ' CT/ Vs : it1 : 8.0 l''" . , ,C0 ,. 01 J. 0 • . i ri . (NI V; r; ;;:- ..::. ■ 10. :i.. ' L.I.H,..;::,1 ...,:r...jii.i CyL,La;i l' Ho_._ -,' - .L.. 11 %:.P...::;_:.1...... ;_'...L.4:.L.F:. !!' r-( •''' i'' ,=' 1-1 - 61 -

Question 12.

yOuthink that Manx Radio should be used to broadcast local talent in any- —; --! of the' following fields i. i i !

•,.

-T•117.7,77:pmr:t7es

•

Dram. groups .;..•:" ";.: • : -

p '1' •itplf other

•

0 0 0 , 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 "" ID 1"" CD 4: • , . .:-..,:.... - - al , I . I , — 62 — Question 13.

r 3... • • *. .ydu think - that Manx Radio should be used as a means of broadcasting educational,._ ateria13. 1 J -I"; • • . • t. ; • 1 ..1. I

. H.:1'1;H • 'Hi _ •

Indifferent

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 CV Pi tr) n a) 17+ !Ay: • -- ■■ 1■•■-• _ I QuestionN.

• •

Question 15.

Due ,to the relatively low population that Manx Radio broadcasts to, the advertising_ revenue may not be sufficient to meet the running costs. Would you object to the grovernment paying the Station an annual sum in order to keep it going?

■ r:

•1 H't -

i• • ! - I .

';. -, 1 Yes _, • 1 • .. .,., , 7 • 1

:r i

indifferent A

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 _ . CO 0 t4 CO . . . .J e4 r•-•I • . • • •

f_%ge% group_of_Interviewee

Under 21 1,

. . . •

• : • • .1' • • • ' , r. 1 • • r:5717"1",.'141771:' ,","--1"1711770,0". .31 _-f!._40 1 • : • •

4-.- ---- '1777''T9777-• ,". , • '41 - 55 • " • "."; • ; . 1 • • • •

1

o 0 t O 0 0 0 0 ‘11 in . CO • 1 • . . - 66 -

. • • TOURIST QUESTIONNAIRE

, . 1::•••••• • : . % ; . •- • • - : -•': iliave.you ever listened to Manx Radio? • . • ;;!;•:..;

• • I • • !: T!,•:••••ra,r/Frif-rfr4TAVPY"'"FM.VM9P7.477! • Yes 4144.4.1144741,4M/di.o.

r'IM."1:0•7"c•II.rrcrtrfr7.""'"""'"f•--7•71 -

Never heard of it

: " • I • 1 . •:1

terr■Prf,m77ArrolaTrnr '

I • ...... :' ' t.

Whilst at home _

As a visitor .to the Island do you , find it useful and - 'informative? .

i.' • • •

.rmgelfri11.4•#,••frrif

- - ••-- ••- • • 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 " 0 0 LA 0 • U) 0 In 0 U) 0 in 0 te; ei ' • r-I C‘I Cs1 Cn fn V V • • 11) til • _ ,. ...... -

,,, - 67 -

V11 SUMMARY OF OPINION AND PROPOSALS TO THE COMMITTEE

The response to a letter from the Committee's

Secretary, published in the local Press, requesting

views from organizations and individuals in the

Island about Manx Radio reflected the great interest

in the station which the Committee has found to be

the case at all stages of its enquiries. Several

people compiled their own mini-reports, and three in

particular submitted by Messrs. Kaneen, Callister and

Cannell were most constructive documents displaying

a great amount of insight and dedication to the idea

of an Island station. It has been thought worthwhile

to include their submissions in full at Appendix F., G.

and H. as well as quoting them h&re.

MASAW took the Committee's appointment almost as

a challenge and have spent many man-hours compiling

and producing a comprehensive study, perhaps wider-

ranging than your Committee felt necessary, but

nevertheless a most valuable document which Members

will want to read in conjunction with this Report.

It is attached at Appendix I . They were also

responsible for conducting a survey in conjunction

with the 'Manx Star' of readers' opinions. The

Committee understands this resulted in some 90

completed questionnaires°

The Association's Publications Secretary,

Mr. Roger Watterson, came from Cheshire to attend

one of the Committee's meetings, bringing with

him sample programme tapes of the type which he

said the Association could produce and offer to the

Station at either low, or no, cost. Their aim in

connection with the enquiry was to provide a report

on the vast amount of such material which he said

Cont./ . . was available for use by Manx Radio.,

He listed the three suggested possibilities the Association saw for future management a)

Government-run b) let out on lease to an independent operator or c) coming under a Manx version of the

IBA which would collect some sum of money from the

BBC for allowing them to operate in the Island under . CT licence, and using such money to subsidise Manx Radio.

As was the case with the Audience Research campaign of street interviews not one correspondent suggested that the station should close down. The question of lack of power cropped up over and over again. - 'Manx Radio, even with its'limited.power, is useful for advertising special events or special offers ' (Rotary Club of Ramsey).

On the subject of advertising, the station's usefulness was confirmed: 'we are quite convinced of the efficacy of radio advertising ... from time to time we have suffered last-minute cancellationsof concerts, and the Radio Station has been able to broadcast new advertising immediately, with the result that very few disappointed customers turn up at such a concert. We would be delighted to see more sophisticated production techniques brought to the advertising, and, for that matter, program material generally' (Palace Entertainments

Ltd.) and in similar vein, a letter from the Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce ...' 1 It is thought the results of radio advertising are as good as newspaper advertising and the cost is reasonable:'

Cont./ . . . . Several correspondents felt that sales of

advertising time were not pursued with sufficient

energy, I. . . A commercial station lives on its sales, I recognise the limitations of a small

Island, but I believe that a rather more vigorous sales policy, allied to blanket signal coverage of the Island (particularly the North) could well yield• some additional fruit! ... (Ian Cannell, Rose Villa,

Peveril Road, Peel). There were also several

comments on the outside interests of the Sales Manager,

but with his recent departure to the new Liverpool station these are no longer relevant.

Better publicising of programmes was a plea included by many—'some sort of mini Radio Times'

(Ian Cannell) ... 'would it not be good to let us know what is coming?' ... (Rev. William Thompson,

Douglas) 'we should like to suggest the provision of a detailed 'Manx Radio Times' each week ...' (Mrs. Claire Clennell, Chairman, National

Council of Women, IOM Branch) ... apart from the specialised programmes and regular weekly fixed-time shows, very little thought goes into the day-to-day presentation' (David Callister, Wesley Terrace,Douglas).

Many people commented on the lack of programmes in the schedule reflecting their own particular interest or hobby but were unanimous in thinking there is a future for the Station ' ... Manx Radio is an asset, its power should be increased to make it more effective' .., (Rotary Club, Ramsey)

'change its image ...'It's time it had a fresh outlook' (Joan Bennett, 19 Bromet Road, Castletown)

Cont./ . . . . "' 70 pursuit of a single-minded policy of service

'to the Isle of Man community and to the large temporary population of holiday-makers could, under proper management, produce an income big enought for small profits, and for the employment for realistic pay and conditions of a qualified staff of adequate size ...1 (Tim Fell, Asst.Gen.Sec. Assocation of Broadcasting Staff).

Few submissions ventured to offer proposals as to future methods of operation of the Station. , er those that did the anticipated two alternatives were always cited i.e. the Station to be Government - run, or disposed of on a franchise basis. Of the former a typical comment was ... 'total Government control of a commercial venture of this kind is undesirable, and the lease, or sale, to private enterprise should be the answer. If the Government insists on retaining

Manic Radio it should be prepared to finance it fully and also realistically in relation to broadcasting elsewhere in the U.K.'

MASAW's idea of a Manx Broadcasting Authority was an original one, as was Mr. Kaneen's of inviting the BBC to run the station as BBC Radio- Manx, with the Broadcasting Commission leasing them the station at a nominal rent. However in concluding this review section your Committee feels the practicable solution lies with one of the first two alternatives. - 71 - yrn -0; PROGRAMME RECOMMENDATIONS 1) News

The News bulletins at the time of writing are

not good. The 0700 Summary is. pre-recorded the

night before at approximately 1800. No element

.of topicality or urgency is therefore possible.

At present, the Station's policy is to have

them:

a) on the quarter past the hour

b) for them to contain only Manx news.

The thinking behind this is that if people want

UK and foreign news, they'll tune to BBC Radio

1 on the half hour.; Radio 2 on the hour; or

Radio 4 if they want extended summaries. Therefore,

the thinking goes, if Manx Radio's summaries are

on the quarter, listeners will stay tuned. There

is no evidence to support this. If shows start on

the hour, then 15 minutes before an interruption

for News is not long enough. Summaries should be

either on the hour, or on the half hour, and must

contain some UK and foreign news in headline form,

as well as local news in more depth.

One notes the cost involved in running a good News

service, The figure of a basic £50 per week has

been quoted for one reporter.

At present Bulletins are provided by the Courier

group, for an annual fee of £1750 (less rent of

office at Manx Radio and telephone). On their

estimate, a total of some £16,000 per annum

minimum would be required to provide a really good

service of News. This figure does not include the

salaries of Newsreaders, as opposed to Disc

Cont./ . • • Jockeys (who read the news at the moment in

addition to their entertainment function).

On the other hand there is- a proposal by the

Examiner group to provide News for the Station

at no extra cost, if in return they were

permitted to take overthe Station's Advertising

revenue, they in turn guaranteeing no loss of

existing revenue to the Station.

. In the Committee's view, the most sensible proposals

for providing an adequate News Se'rvice were put

forward by Mr. Terry Cringle, who had been

responsible for this for some years up to 1973.

In his opinion, the co-operation of a local paper

was essential, but it should be possible for the

News Service to be provided fora purely nocninal

sum (say £1000 - £1500 per annum). For this the

paper would give the use of its Newsroom facilities,

but would in turn contract Messrs. Cringle and Bell

(who would then revert to their freelance status)

to provide the Radio News. It was evident to the

Committee, however, that the costs did not stop

there. Provision would have to be made for

obtaining UK and Foreign News, and there would be a

necessity for involvement by Station staff, which

would certainly mean extra posts.

•Nevertheless, in view of the importance with which

an adequate News Service is regarded by the listeners,

the Committee recommends that, as with Current

Affairs programmes, money should be found to

Cont./

t• provide this. It must include hourly bulletins

j throughout the broadcasting hours, and they must •

be presented 'live'. These should be of up to

51 duration between 7.00 and 9.00 a.m. and 5.00

and 7.00 p.m; and 3' at other times. These

.summaries are quite separate from any involvement

in Current Affairs programmes, though they should

clearly have the facility.for containing live '

interviews with local politicians and people

in'the local news. Probable cost, the Committee

think, would be in excess of £10,000 per annum.,

including facilities, contracts and extra

Station staff.

(2) Current Affairs

The extent to which programmes of this nature can

be included in the Station's output can only be

determined when the means of financing the Station

have been agreed. Since they must be done

responsibly and effectively, they are bound to be

expensive. They are also unlikely to attract any • advertising. Nevertheless, the Listener Research

Survey shows a clear need for such broadcasting.

Even the limited amount of such programmes proposed

on the suggested Schedule could cost in the region •

of E20,000 per annum for salaries, facilities and

fees. The Station would need two experienced

producers; two secretaries; and at least one

researcher. In addition, there would need to be

modifications to one of the existing studios, or • the building of a special one. Ideally, a small

studio in or adjacent to Government Office,

together with permanent lines to Manx Radio would be

Cont./ (4'' - ▪ a great asset. These facilities would, of course,

not only be available for Current Affairs

programmes, but also for News and discussions.

•

• (3). Music

' The response in the Audience Research Survey on

this subject should be noted. It would appear

that slightly over half those questioned thought

the style of music used was about right. It may

be, however, that an ideal music policy for the

Station, bearing in mind the somewhat changed image

that the introduction of Current Affairs and

some other programmes must involve, would be to

orientate itself rather closer to Radio 2 than

Radio 1. Further Audience Research into this

. specific subject would be profitable for a future

Programme Director of the Station. For suggested

programmes, see Schedule below.

(4) Other Programmes

Educational Broadcasting

• The Survey shows a healthy number of listeners

who think this should play a part in the life of

the Station. Care must be taken not to get into

the difficulties that beset BBC Radio in this area.

Subject to that, one could suggest the splitting

• off of the VIIF Network at times to be agreed for

this purpose. This does produce pitfalls, however,

as BBC experience has shown, because you are creating

--an expectancy of high quality transmissions for

music, which are then not fulfilled whenever the

VHF is used for othei- purposes. With t he limited

.resources available, however, there might not really

be any practical alternative. Cont./ . . . -75 Evening Programmes

If it becomes possible to continue broadcasting

in the evenings, say between 1900 and 0000, then

this is the obvious area to contain the "specialist"

programmes referred to by many who have written

to the Committee. The desire for this kind of

programme is borne out also by a number of those

interviewed by the Committee, and by the Survey. .

A number of these programmes containing Music,

Drama, Quizzes, Panel Games, Talent Shows etc.

. could fit successfully in between 1900 and 2200,

and would have the advantage of producinz no

conflict with anything the National Networks of •

the BBC are doing. Whether or not it is wise to

- -spend any money here -when you have 3 or more

Television Channels to fight for your audience is

• another matter. The period between 2200 and 0000

could probably be filled by some of the transcripion

music tapes referred to by MASAW in their report • . • (see Appendix L).

Suggested Schedules

On the assumption that the music brings in the

money, one could suggest a Schedule something

like this:

Monday to Friday: 0700 - 1100 Music. Including

. every hour: Local News;

Weather; LoCal Affairs;

UK News.

1100 - 1200 Current Affairs, Talks,

.Discussion etc.

1200 - 1400 Music, News, as between

. 0700 - 1100.

Cont./ . . -76-

1400 - 1500 Similar to 1100 -

1200. Emphasis•

on women listeners.

1500 - 1830 Music, News, etc.

1830 - 1900 Round-up of the day's

news and affairs, both

local and foreign.

N.B. This assumes the continuance of the 1900

closedown.

Saturdays: Basically Music and News except:

1245 - 1315 Sports round-up,

including' Main News

at 1300.

1745 - 1815 Sports round-up,

• including Main News

at 1800.

Sundays Mainly Music and News, but:

1100 - 1300 Religious, Educational

or other serious • . programmes.

1300 - 1400 Current Affairs

discussion.

1800 - 1900 Phone-in programme

on local affairs.

N.B. This also assumes the continuance of the 1900

closedown.

One must, however, repeat that the programming of

-the Station cannot really be discussed practically

until the method of financing it is known. In

addition the amount of time suggested here for

Current Affairs and 'discussion programmes might

well prove to be in excess of the number of interesting

•• subjects available. - 77 -

IX CONCLUSION ANT) 12ECO1'.INENDATIONS

Based on the investigations reported in

preceding sections of this Report your Committee

firmly believe that the continuance of Manx Radio

is of vital importance to the Manx people. For

this reason we wish to place a number of separate

recommendations before Tynwald. Of these, the

major ones are:-

i) That the corporate restructuring proposal

detailed in Section IV (i) on page 241

which would limit further Government

expenditure, be implemented.

ii) That adequate financial provision should

be made by Government for the operation

of a News and Current Affairs service.

The Committee regard these two objectives as

being of prime importance. However, should Tynwald

wish the station to continue either as at present

or in some form other than as recommended here, the

Committee also wish to suggest that the following

be acted upon.

1. A Programme Director and Record Librarian

' be appointed.

2. Existing salaries be increased to a

realistic figure.

3. Immediate application be made to the

Broadcasting Frequency Planning Department,

Home Office for permission to use 301 m.

Medium Wave at a strength (up to 5 kW.)

to be agreed, and the new F.M. translator

recommended in Section 111 (ii) Page 17

be installed at the Bride site as quickly

as possible. Also the commissioning of the

Cont./ . - 78 -

VHF survey proposed under Section 111 (ii)

page 18.

4. That steps be taken to improve Station

promotion and stimulate Advertising revenue.

5. That studio equipment be up-dated and replaced

where necessary. (see Section IV (iii) page 25.)

6. The Committee recommend the provision of

hourly news bulletins, to include relevant

United Kingdom and Foreign as well as local

news. Also the proviSion of the necessary

staff to undertake this work in a professional

manner. They also recommend the provision

of staff necessary to enable the station to

produce responsible Current Affairs programmes,

together with the necessary additional studio

and OB facilities. On the subject of music,

the station should set a musical policy and

stick to it throughout the year. Further

audience research into this subject should

be initiated by the Programme'Director when

appointed. Subject to a satisfactory

resolution of the frequency problem, broad-

casting should be extended to midnight to

enable programmes of an educational, general

entertainment and audience participation

nature to be provided.

The need for urgency in action being paramount

your Committee wish to express the view that

although Manx Radio operates on a licence from

the U.K. Government, in view of the Isle of Man's

unique situation they see no reason why the

station should be subject to the recently-

. announced Annan Committee on TV and Radio.

Cont., / . • - 79 -

Nor do they believe that the existence of the Annan Committee is any bar to the implementation of your Committee's proposals.

If it is felt that the members of your

Committee could be of any assistance in overseeing such implementation, you have the assurance that this would willingly be offered.

A further fact which makes an urgent approach to the Home Office a necessity is the impending

International Conference on Wavelengths. This might well result in the U.K. having fewer NV frequencies available. It is vital therefore th-'t Manx Radio's claims be staked immediately.

It might even be worth considering asking the

BBC or IBA to put Manx Radio's case at the

Conference.

Based on the evidence of the Audience Research report, the Committee recommend that under no circumstances should consideration be given to closing down the station. The Committee recommend that useful programme exchanges might result if Manx Radio were to become a 1 member of the EBU. They have asked the

Secretary to write to the General Secretary of the EBU as a preliminary measure. The

Committee would further like to recommend that, if Tynwald should decide to implement this report, the Committee should be re-convened in order to assist whoever may be responsible for making the necessary changes in structure and programme policy.

Cont./ . • . - 8o -

In conclusion the Committee would like to recommend to Your Excellency that, in view of the great interest shown by all parties throughout the Enquiry, this Report should be made available as a public document, with the exception of the appendices, a number of which were submitted to the Committee in confidence. APPENDIX A.

Davidson Marsh El. Compairzy ATHOLL COURT 41 ATIIOL STREET ARCHITECTS SURVEYORS QUANTITY SURVEYORS DOUGLAS. ISLE OF MAN C, J. Kneen, F.R.I.C.8., L.R.I.B.A., W. D.nard. F.F.S.. Frank Cowin, A.R.I.C.S., 'Anthony Kellett. Dipl. Arch., A.R.I.B.A. Ron Kinley, A.R.I.B.A. Telephone: (0624) 3688

REF: WD/MC 5th. February 1973.

G.V.H. Kneale Esq., M.H.K., "Carrmyers Cronkbourne Avenue, DOUGLAS.

Dear Mr. Kneale, MANX RADIO.

In accordance with your instructions we have inspected the Manx Radio premises, Douglas Head, with a view to relieving the damp conditions on the first and second floors. Our inspection of the roof revealed that the existing asphalte covering is cracked and in our view reached the end of its useful life. The flashings to the parapet have been renewed in recent years in mineral felt and are defective, in fact at the time of the inspection, the whole of the flashing was full of water, which we released by breaking the blisters. In our view the whole of the roof together with the parapet wall and coping should be re-roofed in a mineral felt after drying out the parapet. We have prepared a very approximate estimate to carry out the repairs and alterations you indicated to us on the site as follows :- 1. , Pro. new staircase externally to form :new entrance to first floor (assumed in - aluminium or mild steel). 2. Batten out walls and line with aluminium backed plasterboard and emulsion paint on first floor. 3. Provide timber partitions etc. to form rear room Cloaks, Sales Manager and assistant's office, Accounts, Traffic Clerk, General Manager, News, Reception/Waiting Room and Stationery. Provide counter in lobby. 5. Renew all windows on this floor and provide vinyl sheet flooring.• ,Contd/ 4 Also at Derby Court, Z9 Parliament Street. Ramsey, Telephone: Ramsey 3315 and 3 Atholl StrooLPeol 6. Batten and line as before the rooms not already lined and emulsion paint on second floor. 7. Move existing Workshop partition to adjoining room.

In our view to carry out the above would cost roughly in the region of £8,900.00 (Eight thousand nine hundred pounds) excluding any heating.

Yours sincerely,

0

• .

• h.

Coo rer a •

0

4,

g r

4- I •

• (1, APPENDIX B

ISLE OF MAN BROADCASTING °OMISSION

• Operating Station — "Manx Radio"

Statement of Accounts for the year ended 3Ist March, 1974

L.

I L

f PANNELL FITZPATRICK 1 00., Chartered Accountants

U ISLE OF MAN liROADCASTING COMMISSION Operating Station - "Manx Radio"

Revenue Account for the year, ended 31st March 1974

1973

.ADVERTISING REVENUE (Note 5) •

Direct Sales 37,413 37,290 Agents Sales 13,121 43,836 14,836 52,126

FAN CLUB RECEIPTS less Expenses 24 12

MISCELLANEOUS RECEIPTS 44 • 24 48,904 52,162

RUNNING EXPENSES

Programme Costs 4,444 4,414 Copyright Fees 7,399 7,213 Heat, Light and Power 1,918 - 1,527 Spares Consumption 1,531 1,224 Licences and Line Charges 984 1,143 Salaries and Wages • 21,228 18,722 Rent and Rates (Net) 33. 33 Insurance 959 . 934 -Transport 440 405 Sales Expenses 441 39,377 363 35,978 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES Office and Studio Expenses 2,237 2,451 Provision for Accountancy and Audit Fees 850 550 Professional Fees 18 3,105 3,001

FINANCIAL EXPENSES Bank Interest & Commission 1,698 1,026 Station Promotion 492 538 Sales Commission to National Agents 2,232 2,818 Discounts (Net) 353 4,-775 708 5,090 BAD DEBTS WRITTEN OFF 47,257 494 44 563 TRADING PROFIT 1,647 7,599 MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTY 865 DEPRECIATION (Note 1) ' Fixtures, Fittings& Equipment 6,730 6,626 Motor Vehicles 91 • 6i121 L821 91 7,532 DEFICIT FOR YEAR (5,174) ( 17) .(Deduct Expenses attributable to previous year) 111 Extraordinary Receipt (Note 6) Contribution re - Value Added'Tax 1,162

ADVERSE BALANCE FOR YEAR £ (4,012) £ (94)

or • ISLE OF MAN BROADCASTING COMMISSION

Operating Station - "Manx Radio" Balance Sheet as at 31st March 1974

•1973

FIXED •ASSETS (Note 1),

Land and Buildings at cost 10,431 10,431 Equipment, Fixtures and Fittings at cost 66,258 65,816 Additions during the year to date ...12L.91.. 67,449 442 66,258

Less Accumulated Depreciation . to 31st March 1973 31,434 24,808 Depreciation for the Year to date 6,730 21:164 29,285 6,626 31,434 34,824

Motor Vehicle at cost 725 725 Less.Accumulated Depreciation to 31st March 1973 453 ` 362 Depreciation for the year to date 91 544 181 91 453 272

39,897 45,527 GOODWILL (Note 2) 25,380 25,380 Less Amount written off ex Revenue Account per last Account 2,436 22 944 2,436 22,944 62,841 68,471 ADVERSE BALANCE ON REVENUE ACCOUNT per last Account 94 94 For year to date 4,012 4,7.0.6_ 68,565 CURRENT ASSETS 66,947 Stock of Spares and Equipment 1,328 1,438 Sundry Debtors and Payments in advance less provision for _Doubtful Debts .14,439 11,026 Cash in Hand 15 15,782 23 12,487 LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES • Sundry Creditors and Accruals 5,346 4,926 =•Balance due to Bankers (Note 3) 13,091 11037 (2,655) 13,291 18,217 (5_x730) NET ASSETS £ 64,292 £ 62,835

• Represented by - AMOUNTS DUE TO AND FINANCE PROVIDED BY GOVERNMENT (Note 4) Amount outstanding in . respect of.former Company's obligations 40,607 40,607 Finance provided for new transmitter 23,685 64,292 22,228 62,535 E 64,292 £ 62,535 )

) Members of the ) Commission ISLE OF MAN BROADCASTING COMMISSION Operating Station - "Manx.Radio"

Notes attached to and forming an integral part of the r Accounts for the year ended 31st March 1974 L

Notes 1 - Fixed Assets

By Agreement dated the 27th April 1971, the Isle of Man Broadcasting Commission, under approval of Tynwald granted 16th June 1970, and in accordance with Section 6 of the Broadcasting Commission Z . (Isle of Man) Act 1965, acquired the assets of the Isle of Man Broadcasting Company Limited in consideration for undertaking to discharge in full all the Loan Accounts, Bank overdrafts and creditors of the Company.

The Fixed Assets have been shown at their original cost either to the Isle of Man Broadcasting Company Limited if purchased prior to 1st April 1971 or to the Isle of Man Broadcasting Commission if purchased subsequent to that date. • Depreciation This is calculated on a straight line basis in relation to the estimated useful life or the assets, viz Technical Equipment, Fixtures and Fittings 10% per annum Motor Vehicles 25% per annum No depreciation has been provided on Freehold Land and Buildings.

Note 2 - Goodwill

The Goodwill Account amounting to £22,944 represents the adverse balance of £25,380 on the Profit and Loss Account of the Isle of Man Broadcasting Company Limited as at 31st March 1971, the effective date of take-over by the Commission, less the amount transferred from Revenue Account in the year to 31st March 1972.

Note 3 - Bank Overdraft

.The Bank overdraft is secured by a Guarantee given by the Isle of Man Government.

.ote 4 - Amounts due to and finance provided by the Isle of Man Government

On 15th June 1971, Tynwald authorised the purchase of Transmitting Equipment at a cost not exceeding £23,500.

The Commission contracted for the purchase and installation of such Equipment for the sum of £23,500.

At 31st March 1973, £22,228 had been paid by the Government Treasurer in respect thereof and the balance of £1,272 together with an additional payment of £185 was paid during the current year.

No provision has been raised for any'interest on the amounts due to. or finance provided by Government. • Note 5 - Revenue By arrangement with the Finance Board, the Commission will receive ' from Government a sum of £1,162 being a sum equivalent to the Value Added a.4 Tax charged on sale's to clients outside the Isle of Man and United Kingdom.

Contras in respect of Revenue receivable during the year amounted to £365. Note 6 - At the 31st March 1974 the Commission had contracted to purchase a secondhand Ford Cortina Estate car as a replacement for the existing vehicle. This represents a Capital Commitment at that date of £1,085. Page 4..

ISLE OF MAN BROADCASTING COMMISSION Operating Station - "Manx Radio"

e..

REPORT OF THE AUDITORS

We have audited the Accounts and the Balance Sheet dated 31st March, 1974, set out on pages one to three and have obtained all the information and explanations we have required. In our opinion such Balance Sheet, subject to the notes thereon, is properly drawn up so as to exhibit a true and correct view of the state of the Commissions affairs, in so far as it relates to the operating station, according to the best of our information and the explanations given to us and as shown by the books of the Commission relating thereto.

•

Pa nn en Fit T.rp n DOUGLAS 25th July, 1974 Chartered Accountants

r LJ APPENDIX C

• MANX RADIO

AN OUTLINE SUMMARY This summary is produced in response to a query from Mr. Clucas as to the potential of increasing the coverage and financial viability of the existing Manx Radio system.

• it must be stated at the outset that we have not conducted large scale listenership research as the original enquiries we undertook indicate that there is no commercially measurable I istenership of Manx Radio on the mainland. This is quite understandable in that, although a large number of people knew of the existence of Manx Radio and at some time or other had listened to it purely by accident, not one respondent knew the exact wavelength or had any real idea of Manx Radio programme

content. This ignorance is hardly surprising; there is no promotion for

Manx Radio on the mainland and we presume that existing transmission strengths are insuffic ent to maintain a worthwhile level of I istenership if this were found.

In essence, this is an exercise in the hypothesis of a radio transmission system which, if given the correct presentation, could become financially viable whilst at the same time supplying a significant service to a wider audience than already exists. THE TRANSMITTER

In considering the question of the development of Manx Radio in commercial terms, we believe that the first question to be considered is the exact nature of the extended audience. There exist two alternatives, namely

1. to increase the power of the existing transmission equipment on its present non-directional basis. (Attached to this report is Map A which shows that broadly, without consideration of variations arising from mountainous conditions etc, if power is increased on this basis to reach West Lancashire, it would also cover parts of Scotland, Ireland and Wales)

2.. as an alternative, it is technically possible with more advanced equipment to beam transmissions direct to the limited target area (Map B shows how this could be done in relation to an area of Cumberland and Lancashire).

Of the two alternatives, we strongly favour the latter for the following reasons:

to adopt Alternative 1. would be, we feel, to lose completely the character of a local radio station and to simply become another Radio Luxembourg, albeit on a smaller scale. It could be argued that, to become another Radio Luxembourg would be a financial proposition that most people would enjoy, but we would point out that government legislation on the mainland has acted to create the environment of local stations and not the centralised "popshops" that were known in the '50s and '60s.

• I The area enclosed by the circle on Map A shows the widespread variations in the nationality, nature and even language of the people and does not, for obvious reasons, constitute a single marketing area. It would be a case of trying to be all things to all men and being in all Iprobability unsuccessful in creating any real origin of identity.

As a complete area, it is not a saleable commodity to a national advertiser. THE TRANSMITTER (Continued)

Map B, on the other hand, is a clearly defined area with no great

internal variations in population characteristics and is quite capable

of being served by a single local station.

The present government is currently applying the handbrake to the

development of local commercial radio - so much so that the original

60 stations planned look now like being reduced to 12 in the immediately forseeable future.

We understand, in practical terms, that there is no local commercial

station planned for the coast area between Liverpool and Glasgow,

which leaves this fairly populous sector virtually free from competition.

Presumably the people in this area are equally receptive to the commercial

radio proposition as anyone else in the country and prompt action by

Manx Radio could meet this demand as we see the Isle of Man as a

perfect transmission point for the coastal fringe of Cumberland and

Lancashire. u

S

(4

-3-

•

•• PROPOSED OPERATIONAL AREA

We visualise an area extending from Maryport in the north to Southport

or Formby in the south and aim to extend as far as Preston in the east.

The northern boundaries of the area are more or less proscribed by the

mountains of the Lake District and the southern area by the likely boundaries

of the Merseyside radio station which represents a realistic degree of competition. '

Within these limits, however, is an audience of approximately one million

people. This audience relates to the area shaded in vertical lines on

Map B. It is almost certain that reception will be possible in the cross-

hatched areas of the map - i.e. the flat country south east of Preston -

but this overlap has not been included in our calculations of primary audience,

although it could constitute an audience enlargement of a further 40%.

•

RATE CARD COSTS

To devise a rate card for commercial radio is not too difficult in that one takes advantage of the work already done by the originators in this field. To draw an effective comparison, if we take the cost of a comparable peak time 30-second spot on an established station and relate that to the total potential listenership, we arrive at the following results: -

STATION Adults in Cost per peak Cost per catchment area 30-second spot 100,000

Capital Radio 8.5 million £96.00 1.10p . (London)

B.R.M.B. Radio 1.7 million £20.00 1.20p (Birmingham)

Piccadilly Radio 2.4 million £34.00 1.43p (Manchester)

Radio Clyde 1.9 million . £25.00 1.30p (Glasgow)

If we accept the proposal of a Manx & Lancs radio set-up, then in direct proportion based on a potential audience of one million and the cost per 100,000 of 2p, the price of a peak time 30-second spot should be around £20. Everything else on the rate cord could be calculated on this basis although it is pointles to do so until the principle of promoting this particular area has been agreed.

You will note that we have applied a higher cost per 100,090 in the light of the cheaper nature of commercial radio and the fact that the advertiser is prepared to pay what he considers to be an extremely low media cost. In our terms, £20 for a "million" station is viable, particularly bearing in mind the holiday visitor make-up of the area.

-5-

FUNDING THE STATION

Undoubtedly, if the Isle of Man wishes to compete in the mass market, it will have to offer a similar type of presentation to other stations. In other words, it will have to become more of a "pop" station. This poses two queries:

1, how do we finance this operation?

2. what effect will this have upon the listening audience already in existence which appears to regard the station as a family presentation?

In the first instance, might we suggest that efforts be made to form a new company in conjunction with the existing Manx Radio. For instance, the publishers of the local press within the area outlined in Lancashire might well be brought into the operation.

Publications we envisage would be the North Western Evening Mail which covers the Barrow area, the Lancashire Evening Post which covers Preston and areas adjacent and the West Lancs. Evening Gazette which covers Blackpool and areas to the south.

This would then give you the lobby on the mainland which would be essential if you are to operate a "Manx 8. Lanes" radio presentation.

As regards the reaction of the existing Manx radio audience, it could well be assumed that they would be only too happy to have an infusion of new and interesting programming whilst at the same time retaining a proportion of the

local atmosphere which would now be extended to cover those areas of main • • population conurbation. FUNDING THE STATION (Continued)

Finally, we would point out the rather intriguing proposition that, at a

time when the British governmnet is not actively supporting the original

programme for the opening up of commercial radio stations, there is in

this area a ready made market capable of being supplied by an existing

transmitter; the high investment in equipment, of staffing and organising

is for the most part already complete. All that is needed is a stronger

signal, which we believe to be quite practicable with the existing equipment.

You already have the existing transmission facility and a degree of studio

experience which, if correctly promoted, could, we are quite certain,

achieve an audience potential which would be in proportionate terms as

realistic as anything yet proposed for the British mainlatri.

We would also point out that, in holiday season, you would be aiming at an

audience which grows to spectacular levels and which is in a spending frame of mind.

In summary, we would say that all you are short of at the moment is an audience and this report is based upon the simple principle that, if you can find the audience, you can turn the existing Manx Radio propsition into something which, with an audience increased by more than twenty times, would be financially viable and where the infusion of new capital would be limited in relation to technical facilities and would be used against the preparation of the promotion of the new media in the area prescribed and the creation or purchase of new planning and programme structures.

Further examination of this proposition will require the supply of research statistics, if only for initial I.B.A. approval. This should not be difficult or costly.

.•

-7- •

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POPULATION carrns IN PROPOSED CATHCMENT AREAS Population

Whltehaven & 41, 000 Barrow 63, 000 Blackpool 146, 000 Carnforth 4, 000 Dalton ••••. 11,000 Fleetwood 29, 000 Grange 3, 000 Kirkham 6, 000 Lancaster 48,000 Longridge 6, 000 Lytham 37, 000 Leyland ..... 23, 000 Morecambe & Heysham • 4, 000 Ortaskirk 26, 000 Poulton 16, 000 Pressall 3,000 Thornton 26, 000 . • . Illverston R.D. 11, 000 Fylde R.D. 18, 000 Garstang R.D. 18, 000 Lancaster R. D. 17, 000 Lunesdale R.D. 11,000 Preston R. D. 51, 000 West Lanes R.D. 67, 000 Preston - 102, 000 Southport 79, 000 Walton le Dale 26, 000 Workington 30, 000 MarypOrt 12,000 971, 000 Isle of Man 47, 000 Source: Registrar General's Estimates - 1970 tora,ocio

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1...... r/C V wee . APPENDIX C. (Saward / • . L '' ..‘3.0/3• . s. V.• A-.". Scale 1:1,250p00 0 t., II 111 V o Id 20 30 00 co al co co ro cmccLi /C °r ikoci I„rNITT 0 10 10 10 00 10 too noittm40... CENTRES OF POPULATION L. A D Isle of Man co-R.• 56,000 Armagh 12,000 • IR T Caernarvon (including Anglesey) 182,000 C MAO P"I4 Denbigh 183,000 Flint 173, 000 6•1 ••• r s Westmorland 73, 000 . Cueierland 294,000 Dumfries 89,000 ITIRLitt •••1•-•-• .::4, .„::crcio • .-114 RA. Ayr 357, 000 an ...1•, 0, .r...•• ■Ans1• ,...r IAN ,..f Kirkcudbright 28,000 Z.!, if)0.AT.301. itioinT itudr".. - Wigtown 27,000 •. Ft. ' ...W., 1 a a WI D I ' A 51:...... .. II, ,...... • , r ''.1 .I„ ,..LtteLto ". J....tot. PO, t , IS .. if111,e .11474 ,00 .1... . , lir .1.• • I L It 1 PI K ) .bits..." -' A Y It , f e.... • of Aln.1.1, ' M — ...... ,,t. ...... 0 o/.. ‘-‘? • The series of rings • • MORYNUMSt AID radiating from the Isle of • U141.-1..... I ISO,••••••• .., t ...... „ Now)? .2, • .1% Man represent distance in NT *NI miles and nrea of possible K1RACUDIRIODT • a.... %•,.. L.41152,41ft two.. :E.217.....'4 TYNK AND WOAD coverage' Operating innx Radio at a power of 5 Kw.

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T. ...NON APPENDIX D

EVI]E1XE to the Committee of Enquiry into Manx Radio: ..ssociation of Broadcasting Staff.

1. Introduction 1.1. The Association of Broadcasting Staff (ABS) is the trade union recognised by the Isle of Man Broadcasting Commission as speaking for the staff of Manx Radio. All the full-time staff of the station are ABS members, as are a number of the part-time contributors to Manx Radio's output.

1.2. The ABS welcomes the decision of Tynwald to mount the present Enquiry - indeed it was quoted as supporting such an Enquiry by Mr. John Clucas MHK, in his Tynwald speech proposing the motion which called for the Enquiry. Ye recognise that, while our first and immediate concern must be to achieve the best and most just terms and conditions of service for ,.31.1r members in Manx Radio, the achievement of such terms is directly and intimately linked with the achievement of-stability and financial health for the radio station itself. It is this that we hope to see the Enquiry achieve.

1.3. That follows in this submission will be divided into two sections. The first will deal in general terms with the broad problems facing Manx Radio, as the ABS and our members see them, and suggest some tentative steps towards their solution. The second will suggest in specific terms rates .of pay for the staff categories at present employed by Manx Radio, based on comparisons with similar categories elsewhere in the broadcasting industry; in less specific terms, but again on the same comparisons, it will suggest what the ABS considers to be some of the more important conditions of service benefits to which its Manx Radio members should be entitled in addition to basic salary. An important object in this second section will be to enable the Committee of Enquiry in its report to reach realistic staff costings in any recommendations it may make to Tynwald. 'Ze will be happy to provide any further information of this kind that the Committee may require.

• over-.... re. es

2. -The Main Problems 2.1. It is our intention in this section to attempt to go some ..ay- towards identifying the problems which at present face Manx Radio. We do not intend to make any dogmatic assertions in relation to the means by which these or other problems might be solved. We would not like this section to be thought of as a definitive or all-inclusive statement of the situation; rather,. we hope that, as a tentative view of the situation, it may be helpful in considering these problems and possible solutions to them.

2.2. Manx Radio's Philoso-ohy '2.2.1. As a broadcasting service, Manx Radio lacks a clear sense of purpose. While the report of the Isle of Man Broadcasting Commission for the year ended 31 March 1968 refers, in the third paragraph of Section 5, to "the original concept of Manx Radio as a local commercial station", there is little evidence that, either in their day-to-day policy or in their wider and longer-term strategy, the management of Manx Radio and the Broadcasting Commission are guided by any clearer idea of what is desirable in terms of a local broadcasting station -for the Island than that it should make a profit, or, at least, not make a loss.

2.2.2. The long-debated question of the transmission power of Manx Radio can be seen either as a cause or as a symptom of this lack of a guiding purpose. Since at least June 1967, the Broadcasting Commission has been in favour of an increase in the transmitter power of Manx Radio from the present two kilowatts to ten kilowatts, and it has from time to time urged Postmasters-General and Ministers of Posts and Tele- communications of the British Government to permit such an increase. Indeed, the Commission has gone so far as to purchase a transmitter capable of broadcasting at this power, which, in the absence of British Government consent, is at present restricted to broadcasting at two kilowatts; an increase to the power sought by the Commission would involve - no more than the operation of a switch.

2.2.3. The fact that transmissions at the present power cannot be received in some parts of the Isle of Man has been advanced as justification for the increase demended. No secret has been made, however, of the desirability from the point of view of the Broadcasting Commission of another result of such a power increase: the fact that Manx Radio would be "accidentally"

over audible to large parts of Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England, and sufficiently so to enable it to function as a "Mini-Radio Luxembourg". In spite of the publicly advanced reasons for the Commission's request for an increase in power, it is difficult not to believe that this latter reason is the one to which they attach most weight, since it would normally be expected that pockets of bad reception in the Island itself would be remedied by the provision of local low-power trans- mitters for those areas, rather than by an increase in the power of the main transmitter.

2.2.4. It is easy to see why the conversion of Manx Radio into a "Mini-Radio Luxembourg" is regarded as desirable: it would lead to a very substantial increase in advertising income. The fact that it would also reverse the original concept of Manx Radio as a local broadcasting service for the Island is glossed over.

2.2.5. Our impression, therefore, is that the attitude of the Broadcasting Commission and of the management of Manx Radio to the purpose of the station can be summarised thus: the commercial profit accruing from the operation of Manx Radio must be as large as possible; therefore, the transmission power must be increased, to allow the station to function as a "Mini-Radio Luxembourg", at the expense of its function as a local service; therefore, while the transmission power remains restricted to its present level, there is no need for the station to do more than keep its head just above water, and no major management initiative need be taken until the- prospect of substantially increased advertising income is available.

2.3. Accountability 2.3.1. If our impression of the strategy of the Broadcasting Commission and the management of Manx Radio is correct, it may be thought strange that a publicly appointed (and presumably publicly Accountable) body, in charge of a publicly owned service, should be allowed practically to ignore and potentially to subvert the clearly expressed intention that Manx Radio should function as a local broadcasting service for the Isle of Man. We believe that the existence of this situation can be accounted for partly by the very minimal duties imposed upon the Commission by the Broadcasting Commission (Isle of Man) Act 1965 and by the Licence granted by the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications on the 19 November 1971, as over .... 4.

compared with the similar duties imposed on the BBC by its Licence and Charter, on the IBA and its dependent programme Companies by the Television and Sound Broadcasting Acts, and on Radio Telefis Eireann by the equivalent Irish legislation. More particularly, it arises from the fact that the Broadcasting Commission (Isle of Man) Act 1965 imposes no duty on the Commission to produce periodical reports to the Lieutenant— Governor. Section 3 (i) (b) lays upon the Commission the duty "from time to time as it may deem necessary, to report to the Governor", a permissive, rather than a mandatory, clause. In practice, as far as we have been able to discover, the Commission has in its lifetime produced only two such reports, one covering the period 20 October 1965 to 31 March 1967, and the second covering the year ended 31 March 1968, neither of which reports on the affairs of Manx Radio in any detail. The Commission is not obliged to publish, and never has published, statements of account in respect of Manx Radio's operation.

2.4. Quality of Management worth examining 2.4.1. Against.thisgeneraI-bakground,.it is'perhaps/the composition and qualifications of the Broadcasting Commission and the management of Manx Radio. While individual members of the Commission may be highly experienced and qualified in other fields, it would be hard to pretend that they are either in relation to a broadcasting operation.

2.4.2. The management of Manx Radio consists of the General Manager and the Sales Manager. The present General Manager was promoted to his present position from his former post as an Announcer/Presenter on the station. While he may be very able as an Announcer/Presenter, and particularly as a sports reporter, his abilities as a manager and his experience in the broadcasting field are arguably seriously deficient for the chief executive of a broadcasting organisation, albeit a small one. The Advertising Sales Manager, in common with a number of other members of the Manx Radio staff, has been forced br the inability of Manx Radio to pay him a realistic salary to supplement his income elsewhere. Apart from the questionable business morality of a situation in which the manager selling advertising time has himself to have other commercial interests in the Island, the result of this is that he is unable to devote his whole time and energy to his Manx Radio functions. There is evidence that this has led to a loss of actual and potential

over ....

income to the station, as well as that the conflict of interest inherent in the Sales Manager's situation is a majoik contrib- utory factor to the inadequacy of advertising control referred to in 2.6. below.

2.5. Financial Controls 2.5.1. An important result of the lack of accountability of the Broadcasting Commission and of the inadequacies of the man- agement of Manx Radio is the almost complete absence of financial controls on the operation. ;Thile the accounts of the station are audited annually, they are not published, and there is little in the way of day-to-day control of income and expenditure. A result of this is that much of the advertising does not attract the income which would be expected. Many advertisers are given substantiP1 discounts with no apparent justification other than that other advertisers have been given the same discount, and it is not infrequent for an advertiser who has booked, say, fifteen seconds to be given anything up to two minutes without extra charge. Given this situation, it is hardly surprising that reports have been made of an unhealthy financial position.

2.6. Programme and Advertising. Controls 2.6.1. Even were the day-to-day management better, and the financial control more stringent, two important elements of broadcasting financed by advertising remain absent. In such an operation, it is the programmes which attract the advertising, and there must be the greatest possible co-ordination between the two. There is no evidence that Manx Radio has a programme policy geared to the maximisation of audiences, or indeed to any other aim. Second, a broadcasting organisation earning its living from advertising must be able to tell its potential advertisers what audience they may expect. There is no publication of accurate programme schedules. No audience research, either quantitive or qualitative, has been undertaken for Manx Radio since before it came into public ownership. Audience estimates and advertising rates are matters of blind guesswork.

2.7. Conclusions 2.7.1. We conclude that, given proper managerial and financial control, proper programme and advertising controls, and proper audience research, the income of Manx Radio could be substantially increased without any increase in the area in which its transmitters are audible. Some further increase could be achieved,

over .... 6.

for example, through the provision of the necessary number of low—power transmitters (and the staff to install and maintain them) to provide adequate coverage throughout the Island.

2'.7.2. The present situation, however, is one in which Manx Radio finds itself in a vicious circle. Without the income which, with better coverage of the Island, better run, and broadcasting better programmes, it might obtain, it can afford to pay only a skeleton staff at minimal rates. The image of the station and the quality of its programmes are immediately dependent . on the Announcer/Presenter. Manx Radio is hardly likely to attract to these positions, for a starting salary of, typically, £15 for a week in excess of fifty hours, broadcasters of experience and talent who, in the BBC or the new local radio stations under the IBA, would attract starting salaries in the region of £3,000 per year for a forty—hour week. Low quality leads to low advertising income; low advertising income leads to low salaries; low salaries lead to low quality. This is the vicious circle which must be broken.

2.7.3. It appears that the Broadcasting Commission intends to achieve this by transforming Manx Radio into a "Mini—Radio Luxembourg". This intention seems, at the least, to be politically naive. What foreseeable British Government, with the comparative success of BBC local radio, and the as yet only partly known factor of IBA local radio, the first five of whose stations have been on the air only a matter of months, is likely to permit the introduction of a third competing force constituting at least potentially a threat to the audience of the existing two? We believe that a realistic philosophy for the foreseeable future of Manx Radio must be based on the assumption that it will continue to be a community service for the Isle of Man.

2.7.4. We would be surprised if Manx Radio, operating as a community station, could ever offer even the shrewdest and most profess- ional broadcasting management anything approaching Lord Thompson's "licence to print money". We believe, however, that pursuit of a single—minded policy of service to the Isle of Man community and to the large temporary population of holiday—makers could, under proper management, produce an income big enough for small . profits, and for the employment for realistic pay and conditions of a qualified staff of adequate size, while providing at the same time an invaluable means of disseminating information and entertainment to the population of the Isle of Man, and of enriching the Manx community with a service by and through which its various elements can communicate with themselves.

3. Staff Pay and Conditions 3.1. The figures suggested later in this section are drawn from the BBC's outside—London pay—scales, and particularly from those applying in BBC local radio. Our belief that they are typical of the "market rates" in the broadcasting industry is based on detailed comparisons with the rates paid by Radio Eireann, BBC National, Regional and External Radio Services, Independent (IBA) Local Radio, add, to the extent that they are relevant, BBC and Independent Television. Agreement on minimum rates and conditions has not yet been formally reached between the unions and the Association of Independent Radio Contractors (the employers' association in Independent Radio), but both the employers and the unions have declared their intention that these shall be (as they are in the stations already on the air) competitive with those of the BBC.

3.2. We have heard it said that-figures paid on the mainland of Great Britain are not relevant.to the Isle of Man, since the different tax structure distorts such comparisons. Our enquiries suggest that the lower rate of taxation in the Isle of !Ian is cancelled out by the less advantageous allowances against taxable income and the higher cost of living, at least in respect of incomes below approximately £5,500 per year. This is confirmed by the fact that nowhere in the public sector have we been able to find an example of rates lower than those paid nationally being agreed by management and trades unions in respect of the Isle of Man. Within the public sector, the following are a few of the trades unions whose national agreements cover the Isle of Man: the Civil Service Union (in respect of the Coastguard Service); the teachers' unions; the medical associations; the Post Office Engineering Union; and, in the newspaper industry, the National Union of Journalists. Similarly, ABS members employed at the BBC and IBA transmitting stations on the Isle of Man are paid accord- ing to precisely the same pay and condition's of service agree- . ments as are their colleagues on the mainland.

3.3. The comparable BBC rates for the categories of staff employed by Yalu Radio are as follows: General Manager: £5,031 x £237 (7) to £6,690 Senior Producer/Presenter/Announcer: . £3,414 x £174 (5) to £4,284

over ....

8.

Producer/Presenter/Announcer: £2,847 x £135 (2 years, followed by promotion to:) £3,123 x £156 (5) to £3,903 Chief Engineer: £3,123 x £156 (5) to £3,903 Second Engineer: £2,235 x £117 (5) to £2,820 Operator: £1,683 x £93 (2 years, followed by promotion to:) £1,920 x £105 (5) to £2,445 Sales Manager: £3,414 x £174 (5) to £4,284 (Assistant Sales Manager): £2,559 x £117 (5) to £3,144 (Salesman/woman):£1,920 x £108 (5) to £2,460 Clerk/scriptwriter: £1,536 x £90 (5) to £1,986 Secretary/telephonist/receptionist Accounts clerk £1,323 x £72 (3) to £1,539

3.4. In addition to these basic salaries, we would expect, in line with practice elsewhere in broadcasting, staff at Manx Radio to be entitled to: (i)Continuing percentage enhancements to these scales for shift or irregular-hour work, involving working hours outside 0800 to 1900, Monday to Friday; (ii)Premium overtime payments for additional hours of work beyond a 40-hour week, inclusive of mealbreaks; (iii)A minimum of four weeks' annual leave, plus public holidays or days off in lieu, with a minimum guaranteed entitle- ment during the summer period; (iv)Sickness and injury pay and insurance; (i) One month's salary for every year of service in the -event of redundancy;

. (vi) Adequate flat-rate travel and duty allowances; meal allowances; (vii) A pension scheme (the ABS regards it as particularly reprehensible that, after all the time that Manx Radio has been on the air, and after it has been in public ownership for nearly seven years, this basic right is still absent.)

3.5. A comparison of the two preceding paragraphs with the rates of pay and conditions at present received by Manx Radio staff will immediately demonstrate the huge disparity between the latter and the "market rates". The ABS believes this to be a large factor - though clearly not the whole explanation - in

over .... 9.

the deterioration of morale amongst our Manx Radio membership. We urge the Committee, whatever else its recommendations, to press the Broadcasting Commission and Tynwald, if necessary by means of an interim report, to inject sufficient funds into Manx Radio now to bring salaries and conditions to a more realistic level, and so at least to do something positive to avert, if only for the interim, the crisis of morale which we believe to be imminently facing our members in Manx Radio.

4. A Final Supzestion 4.1. It will have been clear from the preceding two sections, and particularly from Section 2, that the ABS believes the problems of Manx Radio, and those of our members working in the. station, to be so fundamental as to demand radical solutions. While we hope that the Committee of Enquiry will be far-sighted enough to recommend such radical solutions, and the Manx Government courageous enough to implement them, we recognise that radical changes by their very nature involve upheaval, and the possible loss of jobs. We ask the Committee of Enquiry to accept that, over the years of the station's existence, ;..BS members at Manx Radio have underwritten it and subsidised it, both by their unstinting effort and enthusias% and financially in the paucity of their salaries and the inadequacy of their conditions. We urge on the Committee that the Isle of Man is in considerable debt to these men and women, and that it should be a pre-condition of any recommendation made by the Committee that the holder of any post lost as a result of any of the recommendations will be firmly guaranteed an alternative post in the new structure at a similar level.

Tim Fell Assistant General Secretary 15th May 1974.

APPENDIX E 11INC:At-1.0W It

MANX RADIO COMMITTEE QUESTIONNAIRE.

Interviewer Date

Location „..

•,..- (1) Do you ever listen to Man* Radio Yes r= No D If 'yes' then answer' questions .(2) (8) If 'no' then answer questions (9) - (11) All interviewers should answer questions (12) - (18)

-,.”. (2) How often do you listen (a) Regularly D . .(b) Occasionally 1=1 (c)Hardly ever D

(3) What time of day are you most likely .(a) When getting up D to listen • (b) At Breakfast ■ • • D

(c) Doing housework D (d)At work (e)Evening (f)Weekends (g)In the car D (h)Other times D ... . , (4) What is it about the Station that ._, (a) The must; U1 appeals to you most ....., ' '(b) The Disc Jockey& D (c)The News (d)Local events and informationD D (e)The Sport El (f)The advertisements .. .(g) ED Any other CI

(5) Do you think Manx Radio' broadcasts (a) Too much Pop D (b)Not enough Pop (c)About the right mixture (d)Don't know

(6) Do you enjoy the Sports coverage on (a)Yes Manx Radio (b)No D

.4 : (c)Indifferent CI (d)Would you like to hear more rD (e)Should there be more live outside broadcasts (f)Should there be more reporting on U.K. Sport

(7) Do you find the advertisements -(a).Useful and informative (b)Boring and uninteresting. (c)Don't bother you one way or another

(8) Would you like to see the Current (a) Regular report of Tynwald Affairs coverage extended to include Debates CI

• (b) Discussions with Members of Government '-;(c).More interviews with local people about topical . • Manx affairs

(d) U.K. and foreign news (e.) .Any other

(9) If you don't listen to Manx Radio — !' ' Radio 1 D

which Station do you listen to 2 ED 3 • L • MI 4 _Luxembourg 5 ED Other 6 D

-• ' ip) What appeals to you about that Station (a)Serious rusic D (b)Pop music ic) Announcers •I• . (d) Disc JorkeyS News and Current Affairs El (e) (f)Short stories D (g)Plays D (h)Chat programmes D (i)Panel games D (j)Sport coverage Phone-in discussions D (k) D (1) Comedy (m) Other D

(11) Would you be more inclined to listen (a)A regular report on Tynwald . to Manx Radio if the Current Affairs Debates ED coverage was extended to include (b)Discussions with Members of Government about policies and decisions ED (c)More interviews with local people about topical Manx affairs (d)U.K. and foreign news (e)Any other El

,i2) Do you think Manx Radio should be used (a)Pop music ED to broadcast local talent in any of (b)Serious music CD the following fields (c)Drama groups r73 (d)Talks by local personalities ED (e)Any other ED

(13)Do you think that Manx Radio should be (a)Yes used as a means of broadcasting (b)No CD educational material (c)Indifferent rl

(14)Would you prefer it if Manx Radio had (a)Yes Cr no advertising ' (b)No r3 to Indifferent Ep

(15)Due to the relatively low population that Manx Radio broadcasts to, the advertising (a) Yes STD revenue may not be sufficient to meet (b) No the running costs. Would you object to (c) Indifferent In the Government paying the Station an annual sum in order to keep it going

(16)Interviewee's Name: Address:

(17)Age group of Interviewee Under 21 ED 22 - 30 31 - 40 O 41 - 55 56 and over •0

(18) Do you have any suggestions to make concerning the improvement or alteration of Manx Radio programmes or staff

•

APPENDIX E MANX RADIO COMMITTEE QUESTIONNAIRE Ot.lu-b I X FOR TOURISTS

Interviewer DrAte -ation

(1) Have you ever listened to Manx Radio (a) Yes (b) No (c) Never heard of it If the answer is (b) or (c) ask no further questions. If the answer is (a) ask questions (2) & (3) & (4). (2) Do you listen (a) Whilst on the Island (b) Whilst at home

(3) As a visitor to the Island do you find it useful and informative (a) Yes (b) No

(4) Interviewees home, town or; county:

MANX RADIO COMMITTEE QUESTIONNAIRE FOR TOURISTS

Interviewer Date Location (1) Have you ever listened to Manx Radio (a) Yes (b) No (c) Never heard of it If the answer is (b) or (c) ask no further questions. If the answer is (a) ask questions (2) & (3) & (4). (2) Do you listen (a) Whilst on the Island (b) Whilst at home

(3) - As a visitor to the Island do you find it useful and informative (a) Yes (b) No

Interviewees home, town or; county

MANX RADIO COMMITTEE QUESTIONNAIRE FOR TOURISTS

Interviewer Date Location

(1) Have you ever listened to Manx Radio (a) Yes (b) No (c) Never heard of it If the answer is (b) or (c) ask no further questions. If the answer is (a) ask questions (2) & (3) & (4). (2) Do you listen (a) Whilst on the Island (b) Whilst at home

(3) As a visitor to the Island do you find it useful and informative (a) Yes (b) No

(4) Interviewees home, town or; county APPENDIX F

30,Alexander Drive, Douglas, 11th May 1974. Iile of Mane

Dear. Sirs, I am writing in response to the recent newspaper reports and Mr. Gudgin's letter in the Weekly News asking for views and suggestions regarding the future of Manx Radio. I have listed my observations under random headings which are certainly not in any order of priority,and I hope that these notes may be of interest to you. '"ALES Section 4-2 of the Broadcasting Commission (I.O.M.) Act 1965,says hat the amount of time given to advertising on Manx Radio shall not exceed 15% of the total broadcasting time in any one day.First of all I think that 'advertisement' should be defined.Is,for examplep a 15-minute sponsored programme 15 minutes of advertising within the meaning of the Act ? If sponsored programmes are not regarded 'in toto' as advertisements then the present broadcasting times allow for approximately 10 minutes per hour of adverts.Indications are that about one quarter of this time is being used, and consequently more advertising must be sold. In debates in the House members have been most charitable towards the sales-manager for Manx Radio who,due to his small salary,has to have other business ventures to assist his income.If Manx Radio cannot afford a realistic salary for the job then they cannot really be surprised at the ..a.Olc of advertising brought in by the sales staff. I feel that .a survey should be done of the advertisers who during the life of Manx Radio,took advertising time but who do not at this time. Why did they stop'.? If their objections were overcome would they advertise again? What do people think of the rates? In view of the increasing competition between businesses these days surely, Manx Radio aught to have a larger proportion of local advert- ising than it does. While Mr. Victor Kneale may think that a lot of the religious programmes on 188m. are 'a load of rubbish',these sponsored programmes have provided for many years,a substantial part of the stations income as they did for Radio Luxemburg in the early years. Ithink that insufficient attention has been paid to the possibility of increasing sales to these religious organisations.If the Manx Postal Authority ,which admittedly makes a pretty good profit,can send two of its administrators to a stamp exhibition in the U.S.A.then surely it might be worthwhile sending a salesman to America to sound- out religious organisations there. EQUIPMENT. Several of the reel to reel recorders at the station are.Jong overdue for replacement. Least cause for criticism appear to be the actions of the engineering side of Manx Radio.The engineers seem to do.a-yery-goad-,job. One piece of equipment which is sadly lacking is a 'logging' recorder

..Rich would tape the total output of the station.At the 1972 Broadcasting Convention,Mr B.Sandford,a senior systems planning engineer with EMI Electronics said that a logging recorder was essential to the equippflig of a local radio broadcast station.These recorders are quite easily available from manufacturers such as Bias,(who supplied the logging recorders for Radio Clyde),and Scully/ Metrotech whose Series loo recorder is reported as being able to record up to 92 hours on one 27cm. reel of tape.That would mean that the entire output of the FM band of Manx Radio for one week could be accomadated on one 27cm. tape reel. SALARIES. I think that most observers are agreed that the salaries paid are inadequate. If the station were able to pay more then:I am sure that people with more to contribute to the station(other than to just play records),would be attracted. Iiwould mention that the three part-time announcers do a more professional

-job in some cases than the full-time staff. It may be of interest to note here that a friend of mine who produces a h5 minute programme _lot a BBC local radio station on a free-lance basis is paid £10 with a further £5 for a repeat.

- Obviously Manx Radio cannot afford to pay the same rates as that but even if it paid one-tenth of the BBC rate it would still be more than most of those announcers on Manx Radio now get on an hourly basis. POWER. It is really too late to expect Manx Radio to become another Radio Luxemburg, broadcasting pop music to Britain and Europe. At a commercial radio seminar held in London in 1972 the then Minister for Posts and Telecommunications,Sir John Eden said that "Commercial radio will have to be truly local" and I believe this is still the attitude at Westminster. There are those who advocat