Download Response and proposal for Somerset TV We respond here to the

Response and proposal for Somerset TV
We respond here to the Local Action Plan for the roll out of local TV in the UK
and on proposed pioneer locations. Much of the plan we welcome but
we have concerns in two principal areas as detailed below in the context of a
proposal for Somerset TV.
This is a proposal for Somerset TV, an accessible TV channel through which
local communities and enterprises can broadcast and share news, sport,
information, entertainment, inspiration …. an accessible hub for all aspects of
county life to be represented and showcased.
Who we are - and why Somerset needs local TV
This proposal is led by Somerset Film, a registered charity and social
enterprise which has been active for more than fifteen years promoting
access to the means of producing and sharing moving image and digital
media across our rural county. We operate a community media centre in one
of the county’s main towns - the post industrial centre of Bridgwater - and run
outreach programmes in many other locations in and beyond Somerset. We
have sustained a permanent staff of four people since 2003 and employ many
freelancers. We are firmly established in the county as an accessible one
stop resource and development agency for all aspects of film and digital
media work but since the demise of regional commissioning opportunities on
the ITV network we have lacked wider audiences for much of our work.
Despite this we have been successful at winning national and international
awards for several recent productions with among others gypsy travellers,
homeless young people, school children as well as films involving persons
with learning difficulties.
The lack of wider audience for our work and for the work of the other
Somerset based companies has led us to look closely at the viability of a local
television service for the county. We have consulted with many partners
including schools, colleges, publishers, other media groups, businesses large
and small, local authorities and public bodies – there is virtual unanimity of
approval and support for a Somerset TV service. This is opinion informed by
the experience of the short-lived Taunton TV (a highly popular service despite
very poor analogue transmission) and the engaged media development work
undertaken in the county by ourselves and others.
We have studied the options for online and TV delivery and recognise that
without question the most accessible service would undoubtedly be delivered
via a DTT service, augmented by cable (not available in Somerset), IPTV and
the web.
We are aware that DCMS has offered an indicative list of transmitter sites and
areas for the new vision for local TV and we are also aware that Somerset
does not feature on the list, indeed many rural and semi-rural areas are
missing from the planned provision. We hear the arguments for this view
(perceived lack of economic viability in dispersed areas, unavailability of
suitable existing transmission facilities) but do not believe that these represent
credible reasons for not working with communities such as our own to offer
local TV where it is, at least arguably, needed most.
We consider it imperative that local TV be prioritised in areas traditionally
poorly served by the media rather than in the large conurbations who are
significantly better catered for in almost very respect, and who will be the first
to enjoy the higher speeds broadband as it becomes available.
Somerset is a case in point; we have no university, no large conurbation, yet
in several sites - including our hometown of Bridgwater - have significant
pockets of deprivation including those bearing among the highest indices of
social deprivation in the region. Whilst we are also home to some very
successful businesses operating on the national and international stages (e.g.
Yeo Valley, Glastonbury Festival, Westland etc) we have always nevertheless
been on the margins of all broadcast services – whether from HTV, from the
West Country franchise or from the BBC which offers just a few hours a day of
radio that is truly local and does not emanate from Bristol. There is no reason
why this needs to continue to be the case and we argue strongly that this
county will make an ideal pilot site for the roll out of locally relevant, locally
produced and co-ordinated local TV. Whether we use space on the existing
DTT masts at Mendip and Stockland Hill or whether we rig new transmission
facilities on one of the many vantage points we have to choose from is a
discussion for further down the line but we urge government and regulator to
look closely at how this new programme is prioritised and offer Somerset –
and other rural providers – the chance to be part of the new network.
We say no to Muxco
It is important to note here that we fully support ULTV’s position on
transmission – namely that a centralised Muxco cannot work to our We
believe there is a real danger that if government proceed with Muxco the
sector will effectively be stillborn. For all the reasons argued in the ULTV
submission the individual services such as Somerset must be allowed to have
control over their own transmission.
In summary
Over fifteen years of making media and sustaining a social enterprise based
production base in Somerset tells us that the county needs a local TV service
and that it can be viable without recourse to public subsidy for the core
service or content. The provision of local TV in the county will make without
question a massive difference to the health and viability of Somerset’s
economic and cultural life for decades to come.
Please see below for
Appendix The value of local TV in Somerset
Appendix
The value of local TV in Somerset
Somerset TV can address many of the issues affecting the county today as
highlighted in the current ‘Somerset Economic Assessment’.
By providing a forum and showcase for local community and local enterprise,
by providing access and training, by sourcing diverse and imaginative content,
by strengthening links between business and community Somerset TV will
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grow economic well-being (enterprise and business profiles)
tackle rural isolation and raise aspiration (local news and features)
motivate and inspire individuals and communities (access to
opportunities)
drive competition between businesses and increase innovation (ads
and sponsorship)
strengthen local distinctiveness and identity (partnership content
production)
promote access to employment and skills (FE, HE engagement)
encourage media literacy (schools etc)
promote graduate retention (local entrepreneurship etc)
Somerset TV will help address issues for the local economy by
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raising the distinctive profile of the county and helping to attract tourism
and inward investment
raising awareness of and access to the knowledge economy
raising skill levels and encouraging independent learning
addressing under representation in the business sector by raising the
profile of what is on offer across the county
providing a powerful means of communicating key messages between
peer organisations and from local/regional/(inter)national public
sources
embedding the creative industries at the heart of economic
development