BCC(3) 37
Broadcasting Committee
Inquiry into Public Service Broadcasting
Statement by MONTV - local community TV for Monmouthshire
Summary: MONTV, the first community television station in Wales, seeks support from the Welsh Assembly and requests that the Welsh Government, applies pressure to the Westminster Government and Ofcom so that some frequencies are earmarked and released for free to community television stations throughout Wales after the digital switch over in 2010. MONTV also requests that some financial support is made available to community TV services in Wales, and specially to the ones based in rural areas.
This is a statement in support of the widening of access and government support for Welsh based local community media and public service broadcasting, particularly television, made by MONTV the first Community Television station in Wales based in Monmouth but covering the county of Monmouthshire.
This statement forms part of the wider discussion over the allocation of resources and wavelengths at the time of the digital switch over and also highlights the role community media can play in improving media literacy and raising self esteem in rural areas. Community media also provides a unique platform and a forum for regeneration, education, citizenship and tourism development. It is an inclusive and community led initiative which produces locally relevant content for the community by the community. It is important, exciting and a new evolving industry - 90% community - 10% media.
MONTV is a 'not for profit’ community station and a company limited by guarantee with three directors. It is the first community television station to be fully operational in Wales. MONTV is currently broadcasting as an internet station covering issue-based local content predominantly in the county of Monmouthshire but also affecting South Wales generally. To see examples of current output please visit www.mon-tv.com
As well as internet broadcasting MONTV would like to broadcast in due course via conventional digital terrestrial means to reach 100% of people in the area of our allocated transmitters. This would promote greater inclusion and participation by those sectors of the community who do not currently have access to the internet and prefer to use a television set.
In order for this to happen it would be necessary for the Welsh Assembly to apply pressure and express interest now in the Ofcom timetable and program. It is most important that the right balance is struck between the commercial stations and any community media stations because otherwise there is a real danger that the new industry will not be given the chance to develop and thrive as it should. The potential for improving media literacy for the population of Wales, which has been identified as a key objective by the government across the whole country, is considerable and is an extra- value benefit of this type of broadcasting which commercial or mainstream stations simply cannot deliver. They are, after all, primarily broadcasters rather than trainers.
MONTV has been fully operational since 1 Feb 2008 and works with local communities and trained volunteers to produce programming and news content within the guidelines and objectives of the Community Media Association of which it is a member.
The CMA defines community media as:-
Community Media is community owned and controlled, giving access to voices in the community and encouraging diversity, creativity and participation. Community media provides a vital counterbalance to the increasing globalisation and commercialisation of the media.
Community Media provides media and information communication technology access, training and employment and is an exciting source of social innovation and practical 'joined up' outcomes. Combining social enterprise, creative content production and skills for the digital economy, Community Media has a vital role in reaching out to people and communities at risk of exclusion and disadvantage.
Community-based radio, television and Internet projects work by enabling people to become media producers, to send as well as to receive, and, by working together, to reinforce knowledge, dialogue and cultural expression at neighborhood and community level.
The freedom of expression underpins all other human rights. It is the means by which other human rights are defended and extended. In the Information Age the freedom of expression takes on additional importance, as the ability to send and receive information, regardless of frontiers, comes increasingly to dominate our economic, social and cultural life. A new grassroots agenda is emerging to articulate the right to communicate an agenda in which access to new media and communication technologies is seen as an essential part of public life and a democratic culture.
The CMA along with Commedia (the Community Media Association) have been campaigning and lobbying for greater political awareness of the importance and significance of this new and exciting medium for some time but need to keep this pressure up. On the 21st of Feb 2008 there was an early day motion tabled by Ian Stewart in Westminster which read;
That this House congratulates Ofcom in finding a means to deliver local television to every household across the UK on Freeview; and looks to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to introduce a license for the provision of local public service television during the roll-out of digital switchover.
In our view Wales has a unique opportunity here to lead the way in a new and exciting industry. It already has one of a very small and select group of community TV stations who are actually live - there are currently less than a handful of community TV stations in the whole of the UK.
MONTV is already broadcasting output that is cross generational, lively, informative and produced to a professional and consistent standard. This is a considerable achievement on a very modest budget to date. It is intended that MONTV will become a beacon of excellence for Wales and an example of good community practice to be followed by others. It has all the skills and passion needed for this. What it needs now is the political and legislative support at national level.
MONTV’s current Business and Sustainable Development Plan envisages consolidating their position throughout Monmouthshire so that there are TV training and broadcast stations in the three major towns in the county. This format could then be rolled out throughout other counties in Wales with supporting technical and training advice being supplied by MONTV as a 'creative hub’.
This is a very important stage in the development of community media and one in which the Welsh can take a lead. Recent research carried out in Scotland about possible new Scottish TV channels would indicate that '
most attention should be paid to including everyone living in Scotland, reflecting Scotland’s character and informing/teaching about Scotland’.
MONTV contact information
Supporting community TV must be the way forward for Wales and presents a huge opportunity to grasp. The potential rewards and benefits for the communities of Wales are immense. The boost to the understanding and appreciation of the landscape, it’s people and it’s unique culture may prove invaluable as we move through the next decade. Without it, Wales could well be left behind and left out.
Contact information:
MONTV
Units 1, 6 & 7
Bridges Community Centre
Drybridge Park,
Monmouth NP25 5AS
Wales
t. 01600 713 424
Directors:
Carles Riba
Richard Waterstone
Rob Sullivan
