Allocation of Melbourne Community Radio Licenses
Richard John Cavell
would like to make a pronouncement now, to see if it turns out to be
correct, and to stimulate some discussion.
My prediction is this:
1. Joy Melbourne (the gays) will receive the metro-wide FM license
(SL115064) on 90.7 FM
2. 3KND (the Aborigines) will receive the sub-metro FM license (SL1150695)
on 89.9 FM
3. 777 (the Christians) will receive the AM license (SL1150722) on 1503
AM.
There is an outside chance of SYN-FM and Laugh Radio getting up.
It seems to me that the ABA have done their job exceedingly well. They
appear to be scrutinizing every document. It is also clear to me that
they are listening to the broadcasts. For example, how else were they to
know that Pulse-FM plays predominantly dance music, when Pulse's
applications talk about sexuality, migrant, youth and community interests
and no mention of dance music? And how did the ABA know of Street FM's
sordid history without running background checks on its committee? And
they have come up with some stunningly accurate questions - for example,
the fact that there is considerable acrimony between Laugh Radio and the
Comedy Festival - which they could not possibly have gained from public
records.
I am sure that most of the applicants have not even bothered to consider
what the ABA wants from them. The following characteristics are common to
some applicants:
1. Few members - Organizations that have fewer than 20 members cannot
reasonably claim to represent a broad community, and to be democratic and
inclusive.
2. Very high membership fees - anything over $50 is obviously intended to
dissuade people from obtaining voting rights.
3. Stability of committees - many of these committees have shown a great
zeal to keep themselves in power, and to abuse their own democratic
processes to do that. Nothing makes me sicker than this. "After all that
I've done... I *deserve* to stay here."
4. Not attending to the Authority's statutory interests. The Act
mandates that the ABA must consider its 4 criteria in allocating the
license. Many of the applicants don't even realise this.
5. Concentrating on displaying enthusiasm rather than soundness. Most of
the applicants have spent their efforts whipping up the enthusiasm of
their troops, rather than carefully studying their own Constitution and
application. You can't leave big holes in your legal case and compensate
for it by having a hundred people jumping up and down with your
logo on their T-shirts. Lawyers working in Sydney don't notice the
latter.
My assessment of each of the candidates follows:
3AC (Chinese) - have been ruined by the damning allegations raised in the
submission of 3CC-FM. Their service looks to be a simple rebroadcast of
2AC. They intend to simply take their existing narrowcast service to
free-to-air. Considering that >96% of their programming will be
Sydney-based, I think they have no chance.
3CC (Chinese) - ruined their application by admitting they only had 7
(financial) members. They then further admitted that they exclude
potential members. It seems that these people are not interested in even
appearing to be inclusive and democratic. There is a large deficit
between proposed income and expenditure, and they have signed agreements
that the committee members (the financial members) will personally pay the
difference. It seems ridiculous.
3SA (Suburban) - What the hell is 'suburban' radio? They have no clear
target demographic (within the proposed license area). They broadcast
only 36 hours per week in total. In fact, I say 'they' when it's clear
that this Sinclair fellow runs it all by himself. He charges people to go
onair, and receive 'tuition' from him. No chance.
3KND (Aboriginal) - Richard Frankland shouldn't have used the opportunity
to sprinkle his curriculum vitae throughout the application. The station
has major funding problems. They simply have no money, and yet they want
to spend $340,000 on salaries, plus $250,000 for the NTL transmitter. I
am disgruntled by the fact that non-indigenous people cannot become
members of the association, and that the organization is so actively
attempting to ditch its (Caucasian) station manager, without the
appropriate exemptions from equal opportunity. However, this application
substantially answers every criterion in the Act. It is politically
correct beyond question. These people are over the line. Unlike some of
the other applicants, Kool 'N' Deadly will have no problem gaining funding
and community support.
Victorian Muslim Information Service - the station has shown a clear
preference for one particular sect (Sunni). They had their temporary
license taken away from them for that reason, and they bullshitted their
way through the subsequent questioning. The target demographic is already
serviced extensively. Only 25% of their target demographic is within the
license plan. The committee have entrenched themselves in power by
requiring 5 years of membership before a person can be on the committee.
They're screwed.
Melbourne Gospel Radio - They have a grand total of 23 members, of whom 1
(or 4% as MGR would have it) is not Catholic. The station appears to very
forcefully exclude people who are not Catholic, and those who do not
attend church. Its membership fee is $88. This is a ridiculous
application.
777 - These people have been willing to pursue mergers with the other
Christian groups, and have designed open membership. The fact that they
are willing to represent all Christians, and the fact that they freely
admit that this leads to tension in the membership, leads me to trust
their application more. These people have the best application of the
Christian groups, and if there's a case for the Christians, then the
existence of 2 (3) other groups should not hurt 777's application given
its inclusiveness.
Catholic Broadcasting - This group takes the cake for the lowest number of
members: Zero. The application appears to have been made by the Catholic
church. The 'board members' are in fact appointed by an archbishop.
There is no facility in the structure of the organization for any member -
not that there are any - to have any say in the running of the
organization. They even stated that '[democracy is] not conducive to
maintaining the spirit of the memorandum and articles of association.'
Sweet Jesus.
SYN-FM - Has a much better than average application, which appears to
substantially answer the concerns in the Act. There are still some major
problems. There are high school teachers on the committee. To quote the
authority, "There may be a concern that those positions would always be
held perhaps by teaching staff and that to some extent, the involvement of
students may always be filtered through academic staff". The fact that it
is so substantially based at RMIT and Thornbury Darebin will hurt it. It
cannot claim to represent people outside these two places and Melbourne
Uni. SYN-FM should either represent all students and youth, or it starts
to look like an extra-curricular activity for two institutions. Of all
the youth applicants, SYN is by far the best.
City FM - the substance of its application is virtually flawless. There
is a perplexing and constant reference to the rejection of someone's
membership on the basis that the member made a complaint of some
description. Looks dodgy to me. In any case, City FM has withdrawn its
application without explanation.
Pulse FM - claims to represent inner-city Melbourne, including migrants,
people of minor sexuality, and the like. Certainly to me it sounds like
non-stop dance music. Their deal with Central Station Records seems too
cosy. $200,000 for nothing? I don't believe it. After Wild FM's
investigation, I doubt that the ABA will either.
KIX-FM (New Gen) - their application is entirely absurd. The committee
has never changed in five years, and there has never been a woman involved
with decision-making in the station. Membership is obtained with the
purchase of a CD (that includes voting rights). Its committee lies
entirely outside its stated demographic. They have secured $2 million in
revenue based upon cross-promotion of compact discs. This is not a
community station.
Joy FM (Gay, etc) - A magnificent application. They were able to answer
every concern in the Act and the application process in detail, unlike the
rest of the applicants. They made a very substantial case. While someone
could probably make a case against Joy, no one has done so. If Joy
doesn't get a fulltime license, I will be astonished.
Kiss FM - Its application is stung by the usual criticisms (a group of
adults dictating to children), as evidenced by this: "it was appropriate
that we limited our committee of management to those over 18 who would
then be responsible as such for the under-18 volunteers who were on our
premises without their parents' presence". The fact that the station
attempted to conceal the involvement of Anthony Ghergetta and Kelly
Shelfhout - in addition to the fact of their involvement - should crucify
them. Hitz FM subsequently admitted to promoting Wild's CDs and having
financial arrangements with them. The ABA spent too much time and money
dealing with Wild FM. Hitz FM dictates what its presenters will play, and
has too many commercial dealings. The ABA's counsel destroyed them on the
subject of cross-promotion of CDs. This will rub off on KIX, City, and
anyone else who produces a CD. Hitz also charges money for 'tuition' and
forbids its presenters from involvement in other radio stations. If these
people get a license then I will run naked through the streets.
Kiss FM - this station appears to be a satellite of Rhythm FM, a
narrowcast commercial dance music station up and down the East Coast. It
has only 70 members, and membership costs $71.50. They had 14 people at
their last AGM. No chance.
Street FM - totally ruined by the involvement of Ilias Bafas, who was
imprisoned for drug use. The theme of Street FM is to help streetkids
(though very recently they claim to have changed their name and to be
providing general community radio programming). This station has heavy
links to commercial dance music broadcasters in other places, and would
appear to be a largely commercial operation. No chance.
Laugh Radio - makes a good enough application, but I just don't see that
it stands up to the political correctness of the marginal interest groups.
The Authority was worried about the need to repeat comedy tracks -
probably they have been listening in - but it's not a valid point to my
mind.
Showbiz - Thwarted by the fact that they have never done a test broadcast
despite having the opportunity to do so. They cannot expect to receive a
fulltime license. Their organization has no size, no money, and no
enthusiasm to fill a 168-hour week. It has not proved that it has the
capacity to deliver the service.
Nu Country - the very concept of a fulltime country music broadcast in
inner-city Melbourne is ridiculous. Their application is not bad,
however.
If you've read this far, tell me what *you* think about Melbourne
community radio.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Richard Cavell - richar...@mail.com
-------------------------------------------------------------
ElShaddai99
> (or 4% as MGR would have it) is not Catholic. The station appears to very
> forcefully exclude people who are not Catholic, and those who do not
> attend church. Its membership fee is $88. This is a ridiculous
> application.
when they went on air for test broadcasts last year i enquired about
voluntering. my idea was to start as as a recepionist and than maybe get my
own show in a few broadcasts (i have an extensive knowlage of christian
contampary music i feel could have been of use) however, when i recived the
application form, you need to supply 3 charicter refernces and a written
refrence from your church. now i understand that they are a christian
station but, as of that stage i did not attend church due to a falling out
between me and some vocal members of the church i did attend. (mostly
because i didn't have a car so i needed rides to go to church functions and
bible study groups) i could not supply that and when i rang and informed
them of this i was told "tough" you have to go to church to voulunteer." so
i didn't bother
Andrew Bayley
are purely laughable. I think Joy have a good case, will be
interesting to see if the ABA agrees. But how gay-friendly
is this Government anyway?
Having not known any behind-the-scenes at Hitz until now, I
thought they might have been in with a chance, but now I'm
not so sure. Kix and Pulse i'm sure are definite no go'ers.
I don't know if i agree that there is no market for a
country music station in Melbourne, but not sure if they've
got what it takes to get a licence. And i've been most
interested in the responses to my Streetnation/Street FM
question in another thread.... thanks to those that
responded.
I think it's a given that at least one of the licences will
go to a christian broadcaster. I may be wrong, but
Melbourne seems to be the only market without a fulltime
Christian radio station.
I'd be questioning the viability of a fulltime Laugh Radio.
In short bursts and during things like the Comedy Festival
I'd say fine, but not as a 24/7 operation 365 days a year.
But given all this, and it's too late to change things now,
but I think that because the ABA took so long to get its act
together, their original plan to licence only 2-3 fulltime
licences I think is way outdated. If they issued the
licences in 1993/4 when they were originally planned to do,
then it may have made sense with only a few applicants.
But I think it would be a shame to lose the casual/rostered
system that we've come accustomed to over the last 9 years -
and the diversity of formats that we've had in the meantime.
OK so stations like Hitz, City, Kiss etc. have their flaws
but i think having them on and off air has not been a bad
thing and has in a way influenced commercial radio to some
extent (Until Hitz etc came along, no commercial station
would ever play a dance track, they were all stuck in
Classic Rock mode) and unless Nova can promise something
differnt to the market, I will be sorry to have to revert
back to just having commercial FM music radio.
"Richard John Cavell" <rjca...@student.unimelb.edu.au>
wrote in message
news:Pine.OSF.4.10.101111...@cassius.its.u
nimelb.edu.au...
Richard John Cavell
> My favourite is Laugh Radio. As you say, the need to repeat stuff
> detracts from the application.
Tracks must be repeated every 2-3 weeks. I am sure that if you were to
log Austereo's play list, you'd find far more repetition than that. Laugh
Radio has more than 3500 tracks on full rotation.
> Also the very poor audio quality on 1503 KHz last test 'mission
> wouldn't have done them any good.
Didn't do them any good financially. They are licensed to be transmitting
right now, but are not. The transmitter issue would be worked out only
with an injection of cash.
woodsie
would be amazing (and sad) for melbourne not to get a youth dance station
of some sort after all these years.
ps. how factual are your comments in regards to the dealings of some of
the stations?
Chris Berry
The Aboriginal community (the Liberal Party pledged support for this sector
in the election policy)
Triple Seven - there is no Christian station in Melbourne, and this is the
broadest... and from what I hear (and for ElShaddai's benefit) they don't
ask you if you go to church, not what denomination you are... From the
hearing documents and applications, they are right on the mark as regards
community radio.
Laugh - strong application and strong interest, but the panel seemed to be
concerned as to whether people would be interested in comedy 24/7.
Showbiz - never been to air, but a great proposal and good support... could
merge/co-operate with Laugh at a later stage.
Joy - recognised audience.
The others, including the youth stations, have major weaknesses. And the
news today that the ABA is putting licence conditions on Sydney is
indicative that it might also have concerns with some of the approaches of
Melbourne applicants too.
The other reason I have not included any youth stations is simple. Why would
the government give a licence to youth, when DMG has paid millions for the
opportunity broadcast.
So the winners might be:
89.9FM Triple Seven (been broadcasting on that for seven years)
90.7FM Joy FM
AM Laugh FM or Showbiz
City Aboriginal
Chris
Joy is the key to the whole licensing process...It applied for both the city
sub-metro and a metro licence.
"Richard John Cavell" <rjca...@student.unimelb.edu.au> wrote in message
news:Pine.OSF.4.10.101111...@cassius.its.unimelb.edu.au...
Andrew Bayley
licence. They've never put a broadcast to air. They have no
demonstrated ability to provide a full 24/7 service and have
no money or facilities or members. Looking at the
transcript of their hearing at the ABA, there were
statements like "we could do this" or "we could do that"...
but that's all hypothetical. Has there been any formal
suggestion that they would merge with Laugh Radio?
The Government might have made election promises for the
Aboriginal community, and i don't have a problem if they get
a licence - but they shouldn't get a licence just because of
political reasons, the station has to have a stable
foundation for providing a full scale service and the
question is can they demonstrate that?
Joy FM shouldnt be put off by the fact that the two Sydney
gay radio stations failed to get a licence. One of them,
Free FM, was pretty much just a dance station and had little
to do with the community it was proposing to aim at, and I
think Out FM was just not financially stable or could prove
they could provide an adequate service. I think Joy has a
far better case than Free and Out FM's combined.
I think one of the FM's should go to a youth station because
mainstream radio largely ignores this demographic, but the
addition of Nova to the market at such a late stage could be
enough to prevent a community licence being issued to a
youth station.
"Chris Berry" <chris...@optushome.com.au> wrote in
message
news:3bf0fd7c$0$1776$afc3...@news.optusnet.com.au...
DaveK
Regarding the application of Pulse FM - if you have read over the
transcripts from the ABA hearings - Pulse FM stated they incorporated
dance into their music format - they simply cater for what people are
requesting - is this not a response to community need? Why do Hitz FM
play a greater amount of dance music than Kix FM - does that mean that
Hitz is not Youth?
If you are a loyal listener to pulse for example, they cover many of
the "prerequisites", including specialist shows with oz made music,
alternative music, r'n'b music, travel and health and sexuality. A
show is dedicated daily for people to find out what's on in melbourne.
Can you illustrate more than three temporary community organisations
that post events on their website front page?
Hitz FM, Joy and Pulse FM are the only community aspirants which I
have noticed running more than two CSA's. Pulse currently run numerous
community announcements for the TAC, Red Cross, YELL, Smith Family and
melbourne events. Hitz FM were playing a minimum of one CSA per hour.
Can you name more than three temporary community organisations that
run more than two different CSA Announcements?
You seem to undermine not only Pulse FM but many other aspirants based
on the genre of music. That is simply stating that JOY won't get a
licence because they are strictly providing for the gay community.
Each aspirant has their own merits. Good luck to them all.
Richard John Cavell <rjca...@student.unimelb.edu.au> wrote in message news:<Pine.OSF.4.10.101111...@cassius.its.unimelb.edu.au>...
David Z
news:3bef9...@mercury.planet.net.au...
Strange... I would have guessed that you were Jewish, from your nickname and
sig.
Radio Rat
first post, he does charge people for the right to do a 'dummy' shift on his
simulated radio station as part of his Radio School course. It has been
stated that he broadcasts via landline to houses in 3SA's street, Grosvenor
Street. This is apparently is incorrect although it has been stated by Mr.
Sinclair that he does transmit via landline. Having been a student at his
radio school about 12 years ago, I know there is no landline used for such a
purpose. It may have been once upon a time but not since at least 1987/88. I
stand corrected though if he actually started doing landline broadcasts in
the last few years. Obviously he has a bit of money to spend on them :-)
lucky bugger.
Hopefully a community group, not an individual will win a licence. A
youth/dance station is a definate need in Melbourne. Just listen to Fresh Fm
across the border in SA. I have several airchecks of it and it is
sensational
Richard John Cavell
> you could be close to the mark with your predictions richard....
I'll put money on them.
> but it would be amazing (and sad) for melbourne not to get a youth
> dance station of some sort after all these years.
Oh, cut it out! Why should a free-to-air FM license (for which Nova paid
some $70 million) be allocated gratis to a self-interested group of people
to broadcast 'dance'? No station has been able to broadcast 'dance'
without becoming corrupted by commercial incentive.
> ps. how factual are your comments in regards to the dealings of some of
> the stations?
Everything that I have said is on the public record. And I have been very
careful to make sure of that.
Chris Berry
> suggestion that they would merge with Laugh Radio?
Hi Andrew,
Not to my understanding... however I believe Showbiz left the door open for
other groups to have access. Showbiz will need to, in the same way that
there is a perceived limitation of material on Laugh.
You're correct they have never done a test.... however the ABA only requires
aspirants to prove capacity. One of the ways is through a test broadcast,
but it is not a pre-requisite...
If Laugh were successful, they should factor in Showbiz...
After all, I seem to remember hearing Jim Murphy presenting programs on
Laugh for several years...
I am not involved in any of the groups...
Chris
>
Chris Berry
One of its directors (Ron Roach) currently presenting a morning show on an
an Eastern Suburbs narrowcast station formerly known as Knox FM...
Chris
Richard John Cavell
> Showbiz - never been to air, but a great proposal and good support... could
> merge/co-operate with Laugh at a later stage.
Showbiz split from Laugh in the first instance.
Although they seem to have a common interest (performing arts), I doubt
that a merged format would be workable. Certainly their chance to merge
before the allocation process (which is far more convincing) has gone.
> The others, including the youth stations, have major weaknesses. And the
> news today that the ABA is putting licence conditions on Sydney is
> indicative that it might also have concerns with some of the approaches of
> Melbourne applicants too.
I'd say it's probably just a natural action given the report of the
investigation that it commissioned post WILD-FM. The licence conditions
are hardly unusual. They're almost implied, given the capacity of the ABA
to investigate and punish stations before the compulsory 5-yearly review.
> The other reason I have not included any youth stations is simple. Why would
> the government give a licence to youth, when DMG has paid millions for the
> opportunity broadcast.
That point is pretty obvious. If there were a dance/pop station that were
not a substantially commercial outfit (which there isn't), it would still
have no chance since it is competing with commercial interests. SYN's
application is different, though. SYN might win.
> So the winners might be:
>
> 89.9FM Triple Seven (been broadcasting on that for seven years)
> 90.7FM Joy FM
> AM Laugh FM or Showbiz
> City Aboriginal
I didn't allocate a winner to the 94.9 FM frequency, because at 250 Watts
it's a real dark horse. SYN, Nu Country and pulse currently broadcast in
vertical polarity, which seems to avoid potential interference with Triple
J in Geelong (which is also on 94.9 FM). But they will have to broadcast
at only 50 Watts from south-west to west to make sure of it. Also, there
is potential for a broadcast at full ERP to create a harmonic frequency
with Channel 9's digital TV broadcast. So the broadcast power might be
limited to even less than 250W in practise. That means that the area
covered by the frequency is really the CBD, and no further, even though
SRA's anecdotal evidence indicates it can reach much further on a good
day.
SYN is, I think, the 4th ranked contender, but City and Pulse have made
strong applications for a CBD-exclusive license.
> Joy is the key to the whole licensing process...
For the past year, I have always assumed that everyone else was competing
for x-1.
Richard John Cavell
> Regarding the application of Pulse FM - if you have read over the
> transcripts from the ABA hearings - Pulse FM stated they incorporated
> dance into their music format - they simply cater for what people are
> requesting - is this not a response to community need?
No, it's not. You could broadcast anything and state that some sector of
the community 'needs' it. It's more appropriate to define a community
(gay, Aboriginal, Muslim, youth, gardening, psychotic, blue-eyed) and
cater to them.
> Can you illustrate more than three temporary community organisations
> that post events on their website front page?
Joy, Street, Pulse...
> Hitz FM, Joy and Pulse FM are the only community aspirants which I
> have noticed running more than two CSA's.
SYN ran community service announcements 4 times a day during its last
broadcast. Each of the them were up to a minute long and for several
organizations at a time.
> You seem to undermine not only Pulse FM but many other aspirants based
> on the genre of music. That is simply stating that JOY won't get a
> licence because they are strictly providing for the gay community.
No, I don't believe it is.
> Each aspirant has their own merits.
It's pretty difficult to find merit in some of them. As Andrew said, some
of the applicants are laughable.
> Good luck to them all.
May the applicants who best fulfill the statutory considerations of the
ABA receive the luck.
ElShaddai99
and
> sig.
nope
i have elshaddai99 as it is because of the amy grant song el shaddai i was
saved and 99 was the year it happend. as for ccm.vze.com it's my webpage of
christian music
Richard John Cavell
> Small point Richard: 89.9 is also melbourne wide, 94.9 is the sub-metro
> licence.
Yeah, sorry. I recognize that and it was poor typing on my part.
> becuase they couldn't afford the transmitter with enough power. With enough
> power they would be all right, and being full-time they would be more likely
> to be able to afford it.
It's a catch-22: Laugh Radio doesn't have any money without sponsorship
and subscribers, and it can have neither without a working transmitter.
> - Either SYN or Kix: they both have their issues, SYN has the problem of it
> being a station where the announcer entirly controls what they put to air,
I don't think this is a problem. It's certainly quite politically correct
to put an under-18 on air and give them creative control. The ABA's
problems with SYN's application lie outside its programming.
> - Joy: I would have said Joy looked to be a possibility except for what
> happened in Sydney, I find it interesting that two gay/lesbian stations were
> found suitable and neither got in, makes me wonder if the same will happen
> in Melb.
That's not true. One of the gay stations was found to be unsuitable, as
it was profit-making. The other one's application was not very good. Joy
is a thoroughly professional outfit.
> I am very mindful that there were only 2 applicants who claimed to truly
> represent Inner-Urban community: Pulse & City. City has pulled out (or they
> might as well they have some major internal issues, and because of that,
> they won't get a licence),
You and I both know about City FM's internal issues, but the ABA doesn't.
It can only go on what is publicly known.
> Pulse has other issues (see below). I suspect the
> ABA might assign this licence as a second option to a high powered licence,
> because of the height of the antennae, the coverage is very large and would
> have no problems covering Melbourne suburbs.
Read what I wrote in aus.radio.broadcast: For technical reasons
(interference with existing broadcasters), the 94.9 frequency can be
CBD-wide only.
> - Pulse: Since the initial application, Pulse was wound up (thats what the
> CBAA website reported), and since then a new committee ignored that decision
Nigel Slater wound it up, it is said. I have no idea whether it has been
officially wound up. Check with the DCBAV on Flinders Street to find out.
If Slater wound it up, and it has been lodged with business affairs, and
the subsequent committee have not re-started the organisation, then they
should lose the license on technical grounds (if not for being plain
ignorant).
> PS: I may have some information wrong about some applicants
I don't think you do.
woodsie
<Pine.OSF.4.10.101111...@cassius.its.unimelb.edu.au>,
Richard John Cavell <rjca...@student.unimelb.edu.au> wrote:
>> but it would be amazing (and sad) for melbourne not to get a youth
>> dance station of some sort after all these years.
>
>Oh, cut it out! Why should a free-to-air FM license (for which Nova paid
>some $70 million) be allocated gratis to a self-interested group of people
>to broadcast 'dance'?
why the hell not!?
>No station has been able to broadcast 'dance'
>without becoming corrupted by commercial incentive.
how does a genre of music make a station corrupt?
Richard John Cavell
> >Oh, cut it out! Why should a free-to-air FM license (for which Nova paid
> >some $70 million) be allocated gratis to a self-interested group of people
> >to broadcast 'dance'?
>
> why the hell not!?
Ask yourself why the government charged DMG $70 million for their license,
rather than giving it to them for free. Whatever answers you come up
with, that's why all the dance music stations shouldn't get free licenses.
> >No station has been able to broadcast 'dance'
> >without becoming corrupted by commercial incentive.
>
> how does a genre of music make a station corrupt?
I didn't say that the genre makes the station corrupt. I believe that it
would be possible to broadcast dance music without being corrupt. But all
the stations that do broadcast dance in Melbourne have been corrupted by
commercial interests.
None of the Melbourne dance aspirants can claim to be true community
stations - there are such substantial arguments against every one of them,
and always there seems to be a legitimate observation that the station is
operated partly or substantially as, or part of, or in connection with, a
profit-making enterprise.
Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with dance music nor with the
individual broadcasters of it; I just think that if people are trying to
make money, and are going to feather their own nests with money earned
from the enterprise, and with the other benefits that these people get
from operating a radio station, that they should pay for their license
like everybody else. The 'community' class of license exists so that
certain niche communities, including minority groups, can have access to
media without the barrier of needing large amounts of capital to buy the
license, and having to make a profit to justify their existence. The
simple fact that people like a station, or that the station fills a
perceived niche, is not a good enough reason to earn the license.
Again, I refer to the Broadcasting Services Act. That's what most people
are not willing to do; refer to the rules of the game when trying to play
it. Most of the applicants think that the way to win a license is to
appear to have the most support from the general community. And that is
totally wrong. And so it should be.
woodsie
<Pine.OSF.4.10.101111...@cassius.its.unimelb.edu.au>,
Richard John Cavell <rjca...@student.unimelb.edu.au> wrote:
>> why the hell not!?
>
>Ask yourself why the government charged DMG $70 million for their license,
>rather than giving it to them for free. Whatever answers you come up
>with, that's why all the dance music stations shouldn't get free licenses.
geez man, u make it sound like they had no choice. the gov't didnt
'charge' them 70 mil...DMG willingly paid it.
>> how does a genre of music make a station corrupt?
>
>I didn't say that the genre makes the station corrupt. I believe that it
>would be possible to broadcast dance music without being corrupt. But all
>the stations that do broadcast dance in Melbourne have been corrupted by
>commercial interests.
whether they have or have not, i dont think u can make a link between them
all just because they play dance music....thats very narrow minded and
biased.
>None of the Melbourne dance aspirants can claim to be true community
>stations - there are such substantial arguments against every one of them,
>and always there seems to be a legitimate observation that the station is
>operated partly or substantially as, or part of, or in connection with, a
>profit-making enterprise.
quite true but like any business, the temp stations need money to keep
going. some of them just got a litle greedy along the way.
Bob Sacamano
I recently joined Life FM Gippsland and simply sent the form in with the
very reasonable fee and i was a member.
- Luke -
DMG paid $70 million at an auction didnt it?
-Luke-
"Richard John Cavell" <rjca...@student.unimelb.edu.au> wrote in message
news:Pine.OSF.4.10.101111...@cassius.its.unimelb.edu.au...
Andrew Bayley
ABA only requires
> aspirants to prove capacity. One of the ways is through a
test broadcast,
> but it is not a pre-requisite...
So how has Showbiz proved capacity? The transcript from
their ABA hearing was very vague. No definite outline of
what they were even planning to put to air.
> If Laugh were successful, they should factor in Showbiz...
Shouldn't they do that *before* the application process, not
after?
Incidentally I was listening to KIX FM tonight close their
last test transmission before the ABA's decision. Although
in the lead up to tonight you almost got the impression that
they *knew* they would never be back, one announcer
(possibly innocently) said this would be their last
broadcast "ever". Some of the on-air farewells that have
been done today made mention of it being "the last chapter
of KIX FM" and apart from the final farewell by president
"Artie K" at 11pm, there was virtually no mention that they
"may" be back on the air.
Chris Berry
" So how has Showbiz proved capacity?
In the transcripts/final submissions, I was interested to read the
background of those behind Showbiz. Most had broadcasting experience, one
involved in starting EON FM.
> > If Laugh were successful, they should factor in Showbiz...
> Shouldn't they do that *before* the application process, not
> after?
The Sunday line-up on Laugh was broader than the rest of the week. Jim
Murphy's program (for example) was a change with entertainment news, info,
musicals (albeit with a comical twist) something I would imagine might also
be heard on Showbiz. All I am saying is, if this were broadened, it would
be easy to factor Showbiz into the Laugh equation. And they've done it
before the process started...
>
> Incidentally I was listening to KIX FM tonight close their
> last test transmission before the ABA's decision. Although
> in the lead up to tonight you almost got the impression that
> they *knew* they would never be back, one announcer
> (possibly innocently) said this would be their last
> broadcast "ever". Some of the on-air farewells that have
> been done today made mention of it being "the last chapter
> of KIX FM" and apart from the final farewell by president
> "Artie K" at 11pm, there was virtually no mention that they
> "may" be back on the air.
Better for most of the groups to say their goodbyes now, because they will
lose the opportunity next month by the sound of it. Those that lose will
have minimal opportunity to protest, no one will really want to listen,
after all it's Christmas. TV current affairs shows will be national, or
off-air at that time. The usual talkback hosts will be on hols. Once the
new year arrives, it will be old news. A clever piece of issues management
from the ABA.
DaveK
doesn't.
> It can only go on what is publicly known.
The ABA has been made fully aware of most issues within City FM -
otherwise, they would not have granted them their forthcoming
temporary licence.
What do you publicly know? Are you involved on a committee level?
Pulse has other issues (see below).
Regarding the monetary advancement from Central Station Records. Do
you have a copy of the letter to which Central Station provided the
ABA? Do you know what they have offered.
Richard - The Australian Broadcasting Authority would not allow an
aspirant to broadcast let alone apply for a full-time licence if it
were wound up. Would this not make the ABA look like fools to enable a
non-incorporated association to trade? The Department of Consumer and
Business Affairs did conduct a lengthy audit into Pulse FM in which
they concluded that the station was an incorporated association. Pulse
FM are the only station dedicated to community service announcements
regarding what's on within the inner city.
"The all new city fm slogan" which they broadcast during their
unsuccessfull test transmission - did not broadcast one CSA. Out of
the 7 competitors, JOY, SYN, NU COUNTRY, VMCIS, KISS, CITY, PULSE,
Pulse Rates a fairly good chance irrespective of whether you believe
they are a dance station - if you listen as mentioned, they
incorporate r'n'b, alternative. There is no playlist. The other day I
heard bon jovi and the proclaimers.
A non-stop dance station? Do you listen 24-7 to each aspirant to
obtain the full content of programming? You seem to undermine many
stations abilities.
Richard John Cavell
> geez man, u make it sound like they had no choice. the gov't didnt
> 'charge' them 70 mil...DMG willingly paid it.
That's splitting hairs. DMG willingly paid the money that they needed to
pay to obtain the license, out of the fact that their only other choice
was to drop out of the race. You remind me of Bill Hicks... "You are free
to do as we tell you."
> whether they have or have not, i dont think u can make a link between them
> all just because they play dance music....thats very narrow minded and
> biased.
It's a legitimate observation.
> quite true but like any business, the temp stations need money to keep
> going. some of them just got a litle greedy along the way.
To the tune of millions of dollars in some cases.
Richard John Cavell
> DMG paid $70 million at an auction didnt it?
Yes, for the Melbourne license.
This was a tender auction, though - not the sort you see at an auction
house. The price is set by the market rather than arbitrarily, but it
doesn't change the fact that DMG was forced to pay some $70 million for
the right to broadcast as a commercial entity.
Richard John Cavell
> " So how has Showbiz proved capacity?
>
> In the transcripts/final submissions, I was interested to read the
> background of those behind Showbiz. Most had broadcasting experience, one
> involved in starting EON FM.
I don't doubt that Showbiz has a couple of people who can push buttons on
a panel and the like, but that's not what is meant. The capacity to
broadcast includes the money necessary to establish the transmitter (the
major stumbling block for most applicants), the library of material, the
staff to administer the station, the volunteers to rotate through,
training mechanisms, community contacts, and the like.
> Better for most of the groups to say their goodbyes now, because they will
> lose the opportunity next month by the sound of it.
I am convinced that most applicants have simply wasted their opportunity,
so I feel no remorse in seeing them go. Some applicants have abused the
TCBL process by making money out of community radio. Some others have not
even pretended to serve a community of interest, but rather have served
themselves.
> new year arrives, it will be old news. A clever piece of issues management
> from the ABA.
The timing of the Authority's decision is about 5 years too late and I can
hardly applaud them for making the decision now.
Richard John Cavell
> Pulse FM are the only station dedicated to community service
> announcements regarding what's on within the inner city.
You've replied to a private email on the newsgroup, and the content of
your reply is obviously an advertisement for Pulse rather than a genuine
attempt at analysis, so I'll let you rant away.
> A non-stop dance station? Do you listen 24-7 to each aspirant to
> obtain the full content of programming?
I listen pretty carefully, but not 24-7 to 4 different frequencies.
> You seem to undermine many stations abilities.
Wasn't me that did it.
yaaaaahoooo
> in the lead up to tonight you almost got the impression that
> they *knew* they would never be back, one announcer
> (possibly innocently) said this would be their last
> broadcast "ever".
i listened too, but i think they were saying (or meant) this is their
last TEST broadcast ever, because it is. there will be no more tests
before the final allocation. (i'm not defending kix, don't worry!)
- Luke -
they were never 'forced' if they wanted the licence, they had to pay for it,
they are in the business to make money, hence them being a commerical
station... and as a commerical station, they dont do CSR's, they dont rely
on voluenteers for everything, including answering phones all the way
through to presenters and technical staff.
Your arguement is very biased!
-Luke-
"Richard John Cavell" <rjca...@student.unimelb.edu.au> wrote in message
news:Pine.OSF.4.10.101111...@cassius.its.unimelb.edu.au...
Ian Strachan
give false hope to so many people that have an interest in
broadcasting. Of course none of these opportunities were available
10-12 years ago, so I hope that everyone involved in whatever capacity
had fun. The ABA or who ever should never let the test process go on
for seven years, that's just ridiculous of course now all these young
punks on the scene can't understand how come they can't continue while
NOVA get crankin'.
Let's face it if radio licenses were like drivers licenses we would
all have one, but there are rules and regulations and protocol and
laws and red tape and the one that everyone forgets MONEY to be made
by selling the rights to commercial broadcast, but of course these
ones coming up next month are community licenses so it won't be about
the music or money, it will be about what group can best serve a part
of melbourne's community that isn't being served now, and I don't
think the ABA look at things like 'we play more 2 step or garage
house', that just doesn't come into the eqation. Who ever gets them I
just hope that they will have to follow the advertising/sponorship
rules to a t. How pissed do you think that CR,PBS and RRR have been
over the last few years listening to HITZ/KIX/CITY/JOY all pretty much
running 30 sec advertising agency commercials, not sponsorship
messages.
best of luck to all concerned and remember we, as in melbourne, only
got more community stations because we got one more commercial
licence, I think the next batch are set for 2006, let the fun
commence.
For my money I also reckon JOY, 777, LAUGH and NU-Country are the
front runners, like all government decisions it will be about the
minority groups.
Brian Goldsmith
"Ian Strachan" wrote :-
HITZ/KIX/CITY/JOY all pretty much
running 30 sec advertising agency commercials, not sponsorship
messages.
In my opinion this is probably why they will not get a community licence.
Brian Goldsmith.
Richard John Cavell
> Maybe the authorities should have done a cull sometime ago, so not to
> give false hope to so many people that have an interest in
> broadcasting.
That's true. I also think the cull should have happened in order to weed
out those who were abusing the licensing process.
> had fun. The ABA or who ever should never let the test process go on
> for seven years, that's just ridiculous of course now all these young
> punks on the scene can't understand how come they can't continue while
> NOVA get crankin'.
Or worse, the young punks now think they have a right to a license. Or
else they feel that the ABA/government has done them wrong by letting them
become so established before pulling the plug.
DaveK
I am in total agreeance regarding the minority groups. Irrespective of
who get a licence, i'm sure they will provide a service for their
associated community/communities.
Richard John Cavell <rjca...@student.unimelb.edu.au> wrote in message news:<Pine.OSF.4.10.101111...@cassius.its.unimelb.edu.au>...
m*star
without becoming corrupted by commercial incentive."
So what, life is about happiness and money and dance music can give both
to those who harness it right - so good on to them.
Shame the ABA doesn't see it that way. Any way the dance community could
be considered a minority and the government should be in the position of
winning new voters rather than consloidating by giving the licence to
"conservative" groups and alienating younger voters as it.
And on the ABA's 70mil in "protection" money from DMG, if based on such
motives to cut out youth community broadcasters is corrupt and some
other media should do some work and find them out. Also, just because
NOVA 100 will be there, does not mean young Melbourne listeners will
love commercial radio - there is a burning need to have a youth
community broadcaster in Melboune to satisfy the alienated and unhappy
potential listeners.
Marcus Fitz-Gerald
Brisbane
Richard Cavell
> to those who harness it right - so good on to them.
If they're going to make money out of the license, let them pay for their
license. Simple.
> Shame the ABA doesn't see it that way. Any way the dance community could
> be considered a minority
It's endearing when a person claims minority status, and then claims that
their minority status should entitle them to something free. It's become an
argument-for-all-seasons these days.
> and the government should be in the position of
> winning new voters rather than consloidating by giving the licence to
> "conservative" groups and alienating younger voters as it.
Do you seriously think that if Kiss received a license, that young voters
would vote Liberal in recognition of the allocation?
> And on the ABA's 70mil in "protection" money from DMG
No, they paid for the right to broadcast commercially, like everybody else.
> love commercial radio - there is a burning need to have a youth
> community broadcaster in Melboune to satisfy the alienated and unhappy
> potential listeners.
Explain to me how a dance music broadcaster fills a void in the lives of
youth, other than by playing dance music.
---
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.303 / Virus Database: 164 - Release Date: 24/Nov/01
m*star
> and the government should be in the position of
> winning new voters rather than consloidating by giving the licence to
> "conservative" groups and alienating younger voters as it.
Do you seriously think that if Kiss received a license, that young
voters
would vote Liberal in recognition of the allocation?
Most youth listeners are media savvy and perhaps would be more
sympathetic to them.
> And on the ABA's 70mil in "protection" money from DMG
No, they paid for the right to broadcast commercially, like everybody
else. But if the ABA secretly does not give youth broadcasters a licence
because of Nova, then it effectively is protection money.
> love commercial radio - there is a burning need to have a youth
> community broadcaster in Melboune to satisfy the alienated and unhappy
> potential listeners.
Explain to me how a dance music broadcaster fills a void in the lives of
youth, other than by playing dance music.
I said youth community b'caster - don't have to be dance.
Marcus Fitz-Gerald
Brisbane
Jeremy Lunn
> IN REPLY:
>> and the government should be in the position of
>> winning new voters rather than consloidating by giving the licence to
>> "conservative" groups and alienating younger voters as it.
>
> Do you seriously think that if Kiss received a license, that young
> voters
> would vote Liberal in recognition of the allocation?
> Most youth listeners are media savvy and perhaps would be more
> sympathetic to them.
Quote properly please. How is one meant to know the difference between
what your followup and the post you are following up to?
--
Jeremy Lunn
Melbourne, Australia
http://www.austux.net/
s/\bMicrosoft\b/Evil Empire/gi
Richard Cavell
> hearings were good for one thing: sorting out the crap from the
not-so-crap.
Certainly. There's nothing like examination under oath to make a dickhead
look like a dickhead.
> or kix. Soon the former aspirants will be forgotten, and hopefully one
youth
> station will have a lot of growing up to do.
That's absolutely correct. The market will work itself out. Once 15
stations are switched off, any niches that exist will be filled as
appropriate.