Group Members

Elyse

Leanne

James

We studied messandnoise in our blog last week, it is a music forum predominatly with members from Melbourne and Sydney. Some of our questions are directed towards the troll of the site.

This questionaire is to find out how different people use the forum and how the community is established.

1. Age, Gender

2. How long have you been a member of this community

3. Is your profession related to the music industry?

4. What is your interest in the music industry?

5. Why did you join this forum? What are the other online communities you are a member of?

6. What is your blogging process? How much time do you spend planning or editing your posts?

7. How do you feel about some people in the community percieving you as a troll? (trolls only)

8. How do you feel about trolling in this community?

9. How often do you contribute to posts?

10. What makes a community member valued?

11. How does the online community extend to friendships beyond the forum community?

12. How does the way you feel about a persons online presence affect the way you treat them beyond the forum?

13. Is there anything you would like to add about messandnoise?

The questions were not direct enough and were double barrelled. This allowed the interviewee to dodge questions he did not want to answer.

Also, using this type of imterviw stle did not allow the interviwer to follow up or expand onto the questions. For example, if the interviewee answered with a simple ‘no’ answer,  then Jason could not follow up by asking why?

The other issue with this style of interviewing is there are no linguistic queues, such as body laguage or hesitation. The interviewee has time to think about his answer.

IS DIGITAL RADIO A SOUND INVESTMENT FOR THE AUSTRALIAN RADIO INDUSTRY?

 In this report I will use companies both in Australia and in the United Kingdom that are using this new media, to understand how the industry is developing. I will look at the advantages of digital radio, the cost involved in switching to digital radio, and other advancements in technologies to determine whether digital radio is a sound investment for the Australian radio industry.

 INDUSTRY & PRODUCT INFORMATION:

Digital radio is the next generation of radio. Sound and data is turned into digital signals of transmission and then is decoded with digital receivers at the other end. The technology platform used to broadcast in Australia is called Digital Audio Broadcasting plus, known as DAB+. This new media has many advantages to traditional analogue radio such as:

• Find and choose radio stations by name rather than frequency
• Better quality sound and reception (interference free).
• More choice of music and stations (more stations can be broadcasted in the same spectrum)
• The ability to pause, record and reply programs.
• The digital receivers have a small screen to display album covers, advertising, web links and continuous feeds.

The digital start up day for Australia was on the 1^st of July 2009, but not all areas of Australia fall under the digital coverage. Only Adelaide, Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane metropolitan areas have access to the digital radio framework (digitalradioplus)

INFRASTRUCTURE EXPENSES:

In most cases digital radio transmission is more expensive to operate compared to analogue (Lax, S 2008, pg 156). In the first year (2006-07), the indicative total cost for Australia to launch digital radio, covering Technical Policy, multiplex access, cost and infrastructure, planning and strategy, Implementation Policy, content development, planning and strategy Transmission was $1,336,000 followed by an estimate of $14,959,000 over the next 4 years (CBAA 2006, pg 4).  The costs related to infrastructure will be absorbed mostly by major radio broadcasters, in return for the government placing a six year hold on other entrants into the market. Broadcasters also bear the costs of both analogue and digital signal (Bushell-Embling, D 2008, n.p).

DIGITAL RADIO PROGRESS IN AUSTRALIA:

The ABC is Australia’s leader in digital radio with five of its existing local stations and four national stations, along with launching its new stations, ABC Dig Music, ABC Country and ABC Jazz (ABCNews). The government provides 80% of the funding for ABC (ABC website) so they rely little on advertising and sponsorship to survive. Austereo was the first commercial radio company to introduce digital radio in Australia. The digital station was named Radar and it focuses on broadcasting unknown artists (Austereo.com.au). Figures showed a loss in profits for Austereo’s for the financial year of 2008-2009 (Austereo directors report, 2009, pg 2). Unfortunately, because digital radio was only launched in July 2009, financial information related to Digital radio costs to AUstereo is hard to find. However, the development of on air studios for digital broadcasting contributed to an expense of $16.6 million dollars (Austereo directors report, 2009, pg 2).  

DIGITAL RADIO DEVELOPMENT IN OTHER COUNTRIES:

In 2008, 28 countries were using DAB services (Lax, 2008, pg 152). Some countries have had success and others have closed DAB services completely. The United Kingdom has 98% digital coverage and has a large number of stations. The U.K has the largest number of DAB broadcasting stations in the world and has sold 3 million digital receivers (Lax, 2008, pg 154). 30% of households have a DAB receiver, but DAB services only account for 10% of those who listen to commercial radio (Myers, 2008 pg 91). GCap Media was forced to close two of its radio stations, the jazz and planet rock due financial problems and sold its stakes in Digital one. The company was then taken over by Global Radio in 2008. GCap was the largest commercial broadcaster in the U.K before take over (Wikipedia). The Chief executive from GCap stated that there “was no future in digital audio broadcasting (DAB) technology and announced plans to abandon many of its digital investments”. The chief executive of GCap Media also said that take up of digital radio has been too slow to invest anymore into the new media (Andrews, A 2008, n.p). Investments into the infrastructure of digital radio is yet to show profitable (Myers, J 2008, pg 5). Other countries using digital radio have had mixed results. Germany has 80 radio stations reaching 85% of its population. However, it has not had high sales of receivers. Norway had little success with digital radio and ended its transmissions in 2005 (Lax, 2008, pg 154).

CONSUMER COSTS AND INTEREST IN DIGITAL RADIO:

Although digital radio is free to air for consumers, to listen to it consumers will need to purchase a DAB+ receiver. The price for a receiver starts at $150 (digitalradioplus.com). A Survey conducted by Dick Smith Electronics, reported that two thirds of consumers said they would not be willing to pay $150 or more for a receiver. The survey also revealed 69% of Australians know what digital radio is, an increase of 30% since April 2009. interestingly 54% say they listen to the radio mainly in the car (Simpson, C 2009, n.p), but currently there are no plans for new cars to be fitted with DAB+ receivers, car kits are expensive and do not offer a range of products (Russell, S 2009, pg 18).

INTERNET RADIO:

Some fear that advancement of internet radio will overtake digital radio. In the U.K the number of online listeners of radio is growing rapidly. Its popularity allows other online mediums such as MySpace can exploit this new media (Donnelly, A 2008, n.p). In Australia many radio stations are now streaming there stations online. Austereo is the leader in online radio entertainment with their stations streaming live and an increase in podcasts of 255% (Austereo group Ltd 2009 results presentation). Online streaming could be beneficial for regional areas that can not transmit on DAB+ till at least the year 1010. This may see online streaming of radio take over the DAB+ service. 

CONCLUSION:                                                                                        

The success of digital radio in Australia is yet to be known, but it seems to be an expensive investment for both broadcasters and consumers. Consumer interest in digital radio is low due to lack of product knowledge and product expenses.  Digital success in other countries is varied and some countries have pulled out all investments into DAB services. New developments such as internet radio are becoming popular and may affect the popularity and growth of digital radio.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1. ABCNEWS 2009, ‘ABC launches new digital radio stations’, 1/07/09, accessed 18/09/09, available: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/01/2613170.htm 

2. Andrews, A 2008, ‘Blow for digital radio as GCap drops stations’, Times online, 17/07/08, accessed 16^/09/09 available:

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article3353461.ece

3. Austereo group Ltd, 2009, results presentation, Austereo Audiences Strengthen and Sales Outperform Market, pp1-65, accessed 19/09/09, available:

http://www.austereo.com.au/docs/PowerpointPresentationASXVersion09.pdf

4. Austereo website, Digital radio, accessed 19/09/09, available:

http://www.austereo.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=  178

5. Bushell-Embling, D 2008, ‘digital radio is coming in 2009’, IT News, accessed 16/09/09, Available: http://www.digitalradio-nord.de/uploads/media/Australien_Digital_radio_is_coming_in_2009_-_iTnews_Australia.pdf 

6. CBAA 2006, Adding digital value, digital radio cost estimates, accessed 15/09/09, available: http://www.cbaa.org.au/content.php/501.html

7. Digital Radio Plus, FAQ’s, available: http://www.digitalradioplus.com.au/index.cfm?page_id=1010            

    8. Donnelly, A 2008, ‘Will internet radio drown out DAB?’, Brandt, pp 16-19, accessed       19/09/09, available academic onefile database.

9. Lax, S 2008, ‘DAB, The future of radio? The development of digital radio in four countries’, Media, culture and society, vol 30, issue 2, pp151-166, accessed 10/09/09, available Sage database.

   10. Russell, S 2009, ‘Will DAB radio catch on?’, Brandt.com.au, accessed 19/09/09, academic onefile database                                                              

   11. Simpson, C 2009, “Dick Smith report says Australians keen to switch to digital radio.  Seventy seven percent of people said they were likely to upgrade to digital in the near future”, Good Gear guide, 30/06/2009, accessed 17/09/09, available: http://www.goodgearguide.com.au/article/309410/dick_smith_report_says_australians_ keen_switch_digital_radio

I decided to check out forums related to TV shows and thought about Australian idol. So i looked up the website. I dont use community forums so i was surprised to see the amount of forums that were on the Australian idol website. you can pretty much talk about anything even if it has nothing to do with idol. I decided to check out what was said about poor old Suzie Quatro, who was the guest judge last Sunday night.To me she was looking pretty tired and old and didnt sound too crash hot. Probably from all that screaming. Here’s what was said:

Australian idol forum:

is digital radio a sound investment for radio stations?

http://www.digitalradio.de/uploads/media/Australien_Digital_radio_is_coming_in_2009_-_iTnews_Australia.pdf

Stats on radio

uk stations shut down due to no profit.

Stations which will be switching to digital include NOVA, Vega, 2GB, 2CH, 2DAY, Triple M, 2KY, 2SM, WSFM, MIX, 2UE,

ABC Classic FM, DIG, SBS One and SBS Two.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jan/19/digital-one-cuts-costs-for-radio-stations

change to GCAP Media UK company closes two stations

http://www.northcote.co.uk/company_links/by_Index.asp?SIT=1&IID=FTSE%20All%20Share&SDL=NI01994

CBAA reports. links to pdf reports on digital radio

http://www.cbaa.org.au/content.php/501.html

ACMA: ABC submissionhttp://acma.gov.au/webwr/_assets/main/lib100535/abc_drcp_response.pdf

http://acma.gov.au/webwr/_assets/main/lib100535/abc_drcp_response.pdf

ABC: Why roll out dig radio when Uk stations are cutting back?

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2179290.htm

http://www.archive.dbcde.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/25532/ABC_-_submission.pdf

sats on infrastructure costs

http://www.archive.dcita.gov.au/2005/12/2004-2005_annual_report/table_of_contents/section_2_-_performance_review/outcome_3_-_output_3.2

Gov paper: Aust going digital

http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/RP/2008-09/09rp18.pdf

GCAP annual report: Uk radio comapny 100 digital radio stattions, 2 closed.

http://www.northcote.co.uk/company_links/by_Index.asp?SIT=1&IID=FTSE%20All%20Share&SDL=NI01994

GCAP Media plc strategy. Figures profit loss and station closures

 INDUSTRY: Digital Radio

What is it? New generation of radio broadcast.  available from 1st July 2009.

DAB+ is the radio technical standard for Australia.

ADVANTAGES: better sound, reception, interference free, Larger choice of music. Pause, rewind, and record functions. Small screen display.

PROBLEMS/ISSUES:Only available to metropolitan areas, and ABC and SBS. Will be available to regional areas and community radio in 2010. Very expensive. Cost ranges between $150 to $650+.

Digital radio has not had the same penetration compared with digital television.

Will there be a switch of date for traditional AM/FM radio?

 REGULATION:

 ACMA

Broadcasting services Act 1992 

Radiocommunications Act 1992

COMPANIES:

ABC: mostly Government funded

Self regulatory system:

SBS: 80% funded by the government, the rest through advertising and sponsorships.

Self regulatory systems: code of practice.

First alongside the SBS to use digital radio.

AUSTEREO: First national commercial radio (RADAR)

Mainly funded by advertising.

Self regulatory systems: Corporate code of conduct

SOURCES: I found only a few journal articles on the subject. There are a few industry articles in the library. The industry seem to agree that the new media is an advancement in radio. 

Helpful sites: Digital radio plus

ACMA website

Commercial radio Australia- Codes of practice and guidelines.  http://www.acma.gov.au/webwr/aba/contentreg/codes/radio/documents/cra-codeofpractice.pdf

ABC code of practice http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/documents/codeprac07.pdf

SBS code of practice http://www20.sbs.com.au/sbscorporate/media/documents/8487sbs_codes_of_practice_2006.pdf

ACMA regulating radio broadcast http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_91787

Broadcasting services act http://www.comlaw.gov.au/ComLaw/Legislation/ActCompilation1.nsf/0/901123C9D49C409BCA25755C0014FCC7/$file/BroadServ1992Vol1_WD02.pdf

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/FedLRev/2004/4.html

Should Australia have tighter rules and regulations for live radio broadcasting?

After Kyle and Jackie O’s live on air stunt involving a fourteen year old girl being strapped to a lie detector and revealing that she had been raped at age 12, the issue of whether Australia’s broadcasting rules and regulations are strict enough has been a hot topic in the media industry.

The Kyle and Jackie O incident sparked concerns that live broadcast radio does not effectively protect those involved. Working on a time delay is a standard practice that many radio stations use when broadcasting live but it isn’t compulsory. Its purpose is to filter out any profanity and undesirable material before it goes to air. This is known as the seven second delay and the kill button. Kyle and Jackie O’s breakfast radio program does not implement this practice as Kyle believes “pure” live radio was “better entertainment” (Byrnes H & Casey M, 2009)

 Blogs are asking why there was no seven second broadcasting delay? The opinion is that Kyle and Jackie O have broken Clause 1.5 of the code of practice (Robinson, G 2009). Online discussion groups show their disgust in the live broadcast show and show the back lash on Optus for not pulling their advertising from the program. Interestingly Optus had pulled their advertisement banner from the radio programs website but did not cancel their sponsorship (Mumbrella 2009b). The blogs were one-sided discussions with none or little evidence backing the claims.

The scandal can be found published in many online newspapers. The story was published similarly in the newspapers and reported the facts along with quotes to verify their stories. Most conveyed a disapproving tone towards Kyle and Jackie O (ABC News, 2009).

When I was researching the media industry I found The Australian Communication and Media Authority had plenty of reliable information and statistics on broadcasting investigation outcomes, along with a press release in regards to the Kyle and Jackie O incident (ACMA, 2009b). Industry research also showed the concerns of Commercial Radio Australia and how they were disappointed that the ACMA’s inquiry into the issue will include all two hundred and sixty one radio stations. They commented on the ACMA’s attitudinal research showed only 1 in 5 complaints were made in 12 months (Stevenson, J 2009). I found it difficult to access the recent and relevent information from the Commercial Radio Australia website, as it was restricted to members.   

I found a few academic journals in the library catalogue including an article on the Informit database about radio personality Alan Jones breaching clause 1.3(a) and (e) of the commercial radio code of practice. The article explains that this was not the first but the third time this particular radio station had breached the code. This article contained many sources and was good evidence to argue that the code may not be strict enough.  

Bibliography:

ABC News 2009, ‘Kyle and Jackie O radio stunt backfires’, 29^th July, accessed 19/08/09,  http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/29/2640057.htm

Australian Communications and Media Authority, 2009a, ‘ACMA media release 106/2009’, accessed 18/08/09, http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_311857

Australian Communications and Media Authority, 2009b, ‘Annual report 2007-08, Appendix 7: Broadcasting investigations and outcomes’, accessed 18/08/09, http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_311441

Davidson, A 2007 ‘Radio broadcasting codes, conducts and breaches’ Proctor, vol 27, no 4, May 2007 pp 41-42, accessed 11/08/09, Informit database, http://search.informit.com.au.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/fullText;dn=200706219;res=APAFT

mUmBRELLA , 2009a ‘watchdog opens new investigation into Kyle and Jackie o’, weblog post, mUmBRELLA,  18^th August, accessed 12/08/09,
 http://mumbrella.com.au/watchdog-opens-new-investigation-into-kyle-jackie-o-8662

mUmBRELLA 2009b ‘Optus: We’re appalled by Kyle and Jackie o, but we’re not pulling our adds’, weblog post, mUmBRELLA, 31^st July, accessed 11/08/09,
http://mumbrella.com.au/optus-were-appalled-by-kyle-jackie-o-but-were-not-pulling-our-ads-8195#comment-12035

Robinson, G 2009 ‘Girl Tells of rape on Kyle and Jackie O’s Lie detector segment’, Illawarra Mercury, 29^th July, accessed 11/08/09 
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/national/national/general/girl-tells-of-rape-on-kyle-and-jackie-os-lie-detector-segment/1581651.aspx?storypage=0

Smythe, V 2009 ‘Consistency in outrage’ weblog post, Sack Kyle and Jackie o: Tacky O and Vile must go, 31^st July, accessed 11/08/09, http://sackkyleandjackieo.info/2009/07/31/consistency-in-outrage/

Stevenson, J 2009, Response to ACMA inquiry- Commercial Radio Australia ‘Commercial Radio Australia, 11^th August, Accessed 17/08/09, http://www.commercialradio.com.au/index.cfm?page_id=1001&display_news_id_2698=1666

Angsuman, 2009, ‘News 24/7/365: Offline newspapers are dying, should we lament or cheer’, Breaking news 24/7, 10/05/09, np,
 http://blog.taragana.com/n/news-247365-offline-newspapers-are-dying-should-we-lament-or-cheer-58239/

Dikeos, T 2009, ‘Internet age could pulp newspapers’, ABC News, 27th May np,
 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/27/2582387.htm?site=news

Etheridge, E 2009, ‘Why newspapers can be saved, but the News can’, The new york times, August 11, n.p,
 http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/16/why-newspapers-cant-be-saved-but-the-news-can/

McGuinness, P. P, ‘The new media and the (same) old media’, Quadrant, v.50, pg 7-8,issue 2, accessed 11 Aug 09,
http://search.informit.com.au.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/fullText;dn=200607444;res=APAFT

Nagarajan, R, 2009, ‘Can traditional Print Newspapers survive creative destruction?’, accessed 05/08/09,
http://seekingalpha.com/article/140019-can-traditional-print-newspapers-survive-creative-destruction?source=feed