In 2010 Bob Lawrence asked Ofcom why we could not have a modest amount of AM, based on the fact that we deserved it and nobody else seemed much interested. Of course Ofcom replied that this was not how they operated and that his request was not possible to grant.
Bob did persist and indeed, via Tracey Crouch MP, he gained the support of over 70 MP's for our cause, but no licence. We had some false dawns when the boss of Ofcom seemed to speak positively about Caroline and when it was hinted that some ex BBC frequencies would become available. But Bob eventually lost heart and passed the project to Cliff Osbourne.
Ofcom had now indicated that they may licence some AM at some point, but the deadline kept moving up to and beyond the time that Cliff decided to go his own way with another radio project.
Having found how easy it was, thus far, to get local DAB coverage, we wondered whether to draw a line under our AM ambitions but eventually, after six years of waiting, Ofcom did ask for expressions of interest.
Having pushed so hard for the opportunity in the past, we rather felt obliged to apply and indeed we have now done so. It is not known how long the decision process may take, whether our application will meet the required criteria or whether other applicants may be considered more deserving.
At least we will have been seen to have tried and we will bring you more news as and when it reaches us.
Excellent news Alec. Wish them success with their application. A nice low frequency at a decent power would be superb! There's life in good old AM yet.
Maybe your post deserves a thread of it's own?
Cookie on Big L live Mon/Tues/Weds 2pm & The Thursday Evening Soiree live 7pm, UK times. cookie@biglradio.co.uk www.bigl.co.uk
Quote: Cookie wrote in post #155Excellent news Alec. Wish them success with their application. A nice low frequency at a decent power would be superb! There's life in good old AM yet.
Maybe your post deserves a thread of it's own?
Lets see whats going to come out of that - then for sure
Rumour is it could be 648 KHz Cookie- but I'm not sure of the power - either 500mw or 1Kw are being muted. Certainly if they want to cover parts of Suffolk, I would have thought 1Kw. It's certainly an exciting time- especially when you thin they want to use the Ross' mast and have the studios aboard the Ross as well.
Quote: BigJohn wrote in post #6Rumour is it could be 648 KHz Cookie- but I'm not sure of the power - either 500mw or 1Kw are being muted. Certainly if they want to cover parts of Suffolk, I would have thought 1Kw. It's certainly an exciting time- especially when you thin they want to use the Ross' mast and have the studios aboard the Ross as well.
On an interview on BBC Radio Suffolk, Peter Moore said that they would use onboard studios, linked by 4g to a land-based transmitter. That surprised me as I thought that costs and planning issues for a mast, on land, would be problems. It was also discussed that they will cover Suffolk AND Essex, if they get the licence.
We all have opinions. Mine is mine, yours is yours. Don't tell me yours is mine. I think that I was wrong once, but then again, maybe I was wrong!!
Maybe Ofcom are not fussy about a mast on a ship- I suppose it could move slightly in the prevailing sea conditions. All I am hoping is that it is more 'flashback' style than the main 'album station'.
Thu Dec 01, 2016 11:02 pm (Last edited: Thu Dec 01, 2016 11:02 pm)
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