Memorandum submitted by Northern Visions
1. ABOUT NORTHERN
VISIONS/NVTV
Northern Visions is an open access media centre
offering skills training, project support, advice and access to
resources in film and television production. An active citizenship
programme gives production opportunities to people marginalised
by main stream media or denied self and/or collective expression.
Northern Visions holds the licence from OFCOM
for the free-to-air, terrestrial local television service broadcasting
to the Belfast area, NvTv. Broadcasting, through NvTv, enables
local community/cultural groups, individual artists and filmmakers
and interested citizens to communicate and engage with the wider
public.
These are not-for-profit community ventures
which seek to create a civic space where:
new faces are brought to the screen;
local issues are presented in informative and
entertaining ways;
health, education and economic resources in the
community are promoted; and
local talent and cultural initiatives are celebrated
and participation is inclusive of all underrepresented communities
(whether geographical, racial, ethnic, cultural or generational).
An important element of this service is to act
as a forum for public discussion and good relations and to promote
community access to television broadcasting.
Currently NvTv broadcasts, a terrestrial picture,
with an analogue frequency (Channel 62/ 799.276MHz). Our interest
is in migrating to DTT (local television) and delivering a service
as a local public service broadcaster.
This would require our service to be introduced
into the mux serving the Greater Belfast area (Divis), and, as
we are led to understand, will also require our service to be
taken into account within engineering and design work which is
currently being undertaken.
(This may be a more pressing issue given
that Local TV must be designed into the engineering solution and
this could be complete before the recommendations derived from
your investigations are known.)
Northern Ireland has been in the forefront of
providing local television services in the UK and currently has
two local television stations enjoying widespread support within
the community.
This community support has been recognised by
central government which has funded certain initiatives including
research and development for Northern Visions/NvTv via the Department
of Culture, Arts and Leisure "Unlocking Creativity"
funds, training and programme production via the Irish Language
Broadcast Fund and Renewing Communities—funds channelled
via the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission for the
poorest in our society to tackle disadvantage and to provide leadership
to those communities in most need.
Renewing Communities sets a challenging agenda
for change for all of us. We want to improve life prospects, build
community capacity, improve public service and ultimately to free
communities from paramilitary influence. This will require a genuinely
joined up approach from Government, a good example of this we
can see in this announcement today. I believe it will contribute
to a better future for Northern Ireland—a shared future.
Social Development Minister, David Hanson, Labour
MP for Delyn
Northern Visions, as a non profit distributing
company, also supports similar projects through redistribution
of profits from corporate works.
All political parties in Northern Ireland supported
Northern Visions advocacy during the passing of the Communications
Act and (among other successful initiatives), recognised in EDM1316
the important contribution community media can bring to social
inclusion, neighbourhood renewal, citizens' participation, local
democracy and lifelong learning, and calling on the Government
to include specific measures for the further growth and development
of community media in the Communications Act.
Nine Northern Irish MPs supported EDM1316 (Gregory
Campbell, Nigel Dodds, Iris Robinson, Roy Beggs, David Burnside,
Jeffrey Donaldson, Sylvia Hermon, Martin Smyth and John Hume)
which recognises the important contribution community media can
bring to social inclusion, neighbourhood renewal, citizens' participation,
local democracy and lifelong learning, and calls on the British
Government to include specific measures for the further growth
and development of community media in the new Communications Bill.
Northern Visions/NvTv also enjoys the support
of its MEP and Belfast City Council for the current service. Belfast
City Council expressed this support to Ofcom during the consultation
on the Annual Plan 2004-05 with a motion, passed by the Council
that the service be supported and made available on other distribution
platforms.
As one of the parties who negotiated the Good
Friday Agreement and the cultural agreements contained within
the Agreement—RIGHTS, SAFEGUARDS AND EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY:
Economic, Social and Cultural Issues—there are a number
of ways in which this fund (Irish Language Broadcast Fund) should
be used to support Irish language television production. Northern
Visions has 20 years experience of television production and their
approach to training, education, promoting access and inclusion,
especially encouraging the involvement of minorities, women and
young people in socially disadvantaged areas is an invaluable
resource to the Irish speaking community. POBAL, the umbrella
organisation for the Irish language community, are of the view
that the fund must be extended to our local RSLs and that this
approach to television production will nurture the establishment
of a strong infrastructure to support Irish language television
production. Both (Northern Visions/NvTV & Channel 9 Derry)
operate a PSB model of television, which is compatible with the
spirit of the Agreement and like all other broadcasters have been
licensed by government. Furthermore, their grassroots approach
to programme production and television is thoroughly in accordance
with the use of the production fund as negotiated with Europe.
Extracts from letter sent to Peter Hain, MP from
Bairbre de Brun MEP in support of the extension of the Irish Language
Broadcast Fund to Northern Irish local television stations Northern
Visions/NvTv and Channel 9 Derry.
BELFAST CITY
COUNCIL RESPONSE
TO OFCOM DRAFT ANNUAL PLAN
Central to our work in investing in culture to
make Belfast a better place to work in, live in and to visit,
is ensuring that the people of Belfast have greater and more equitable
access to the city's arts and heritage. It is our belief that
Northern Visions, whom we support through Council's Annual Funding
for Culture and Arts Initiative, is providing a very valuable
contribution to achieving this objective—and indeed have
further potential in the field of public service broadcasting.
In response to Ofcom's proposed Annual Plan for April 2004—March
2005 for which you are seeking comments—and in support of
our funding client Northern Visions, we would encourage you to
consider the following points in relation to your main objective
of furthering the interests of citizen-consumers. In particular,
developing "a new broadcasting licensing regime to foster
self-regulation and broaden citizen consumer choice".
Regarding the inclusion of local community television
(RSLs) within the Annual Plan, which Belfast City Council would
welcome, it is recommended that Ofcom considers acceptance of
local community television as public service broadcasters. We
support community media and arts initiatives and media literacy,
particularly in areas of social need, given the social benefits
that they can bring. Citizens becoming providers of content and
creating media about local issues constitutes a valuable public
service. Bringing the local community together creatively through
community media production and distribution via local community
television enhances skills, encourages a sense of place and ownership
of the city and therefore has the potential to foster greater
citizenship.
Digital television provides the opportunity for
a vast array of highly specialised community of interest and geographic
channels, answering local, educational, cultural and community
needs. Given Ofcom's duty to foster plurality and informed citizenship,
Belfast City Council suggests that for the longer-term development
of local digital broadcasting, the principle of subsidiarity in
broadcasting is explored as well as the devolution of responsibility
for broadcasting policy to those living directly within the footprint
or cabled reach of the channel's reception. A potential consideration
for Ofcom would be the creation of a distinctive tier of local
public service broadcasting, based on local and community television
and radio channels, which actively encourages participation, community
ownership and engagement. Central funding provisions have been
made in the Communications Act for community radio and local digital
television. Ofcom should consider a fund, which could potentially
be drawn from the licence fee and from top-slicing commercial
broadcasting licences or other central government sources.
Regarding aspects of work required to bring about
a UK map of local and community television following analogue
TV switch-off post 2010, we would request your assurance that
no planning, at this stage, precludes a network of local digital
multiplexes. We would urge Ofcom to consider accommodating or
extending the technical plan for local television into NTL's current
schedule of frequency planning work. In relation to the development
of local television in Belfast and the recently launched NvTv,
we should be grateful if Ofcom could add support to the discussions
currently underway in support of NvTv being carried by NTL. Such
a development would ensure that those citizens who receive their
television exclusively via cable have access to this valuable
local service.
Belfast City Council 2004
In Digital Local, Ofcom has indicated its support
for local television services and has been fully supportive of
Northern Visions/NvTv current service. OFCOM NI has also been
supportive of NvTv in terms of advice in gaining access to other
distribution platforms.
2. LOCAL NETWORK
CHANNEL
Northern Visions/NvTv is supportive of the Local
Network Channel proposition, which, in association with other
local television broadcasters would introduce three LNC in PSB
muxes to deliver bandwidth and SI for insertion of up to 243 Local
TV channels configured by three "add/drop boxes" at
each main transmitter site (81 sites) and would enhance local
services through networking and exchange of "community of
interest" programming.
Our understanding, based on information forwarded
by NG Wireless, is that the introduction of new compression techniques
from 2008 will allow this to happen without any disadvantage to
existing services.
New spectrum will not be required as existing
spectrum becomes more efficient.
The purpose of Northern Visions/NvTv is to:
Provide a local television service in the public
interest as defined in our application to the licensing authority.
A local television service of the highest quality
and excellence which is universally accessible within the licensed
area to consumers.
Programming which reflects and enriches the diversity
of the Belfast community by presenting programmes which contribute
to expanding the variety of viewpoints broadcast in Northern Ireland
and enhancing the diversity of programming choices available to
the general public.
Widening the community's involvement in broadcasting
and encouraging active participation in programme production output,
through organised mechanisms, by those seeking effective access
to local television broadcasting.
Enabling local broadcasting to play a greater
role in people's lives, effecting personal development, creating
employment and enabling a wider participation and enjoyment of
the media.
Developing standards of practice and support
on an inclusive basis for groups and individuals seeking to access
local television production.
Promoting the democratic use of information and
communication technologies by providing the local community with
a state-of-the-art digital media access centre.
Developing new markets for local television broadcasting
services by marketing media services and programming outside Northern
Ireland.
Stimulating job creation in the cultural and
media industries and facilitating the transfer of skills and confidence
from trained or professional workers to local groups and individuals,
especially to socially excluded young people through the provision
of training workshops and courses.
Promoting reconciliation by building confidence
in the Belfast community through a locally based television service.
Operating on a non-profit distributing basis.
Furthermore with regard to a Local Network
Channel:
Support a solution which requires no transmitters
or antennas, a comprehensive, universal service which also allows
for programme sharing among communities of interest;
We believe all options should be kept open in
order to ensure that local television broadcasting is universally
available on DTT.
The service would be provided as part of one
of the Local Network Channels which currently requires 4-5mb (greater
for HDTV). It is proposed that this spectrum be provided on three
PSB muxes—either as at present or from new PSB mux if created—and
be universally accessible. This is possible from 2008 with the
change in compression as detailed above, without any disadvantage
to existing services.
We believe this service must be universally available
within the licensed area and that this approach is a key requirement
for providing a local PSB television service in Northern Ireland
given the sectarian geography of the region and the strive towards
a peaceful and equitable society.
the spectrum identified would therefore be within
those bands being used to transmit the other PSB from the appropriate
transmitter site. This approach is necessary to ensure the signal
can be received in the home on the set top box.
Further spectrum considerations involve the compatibility
of SI insertion in providing data which has to flow with the other
channels being received on the set-top box.
The installed base of TVs and aerials is the
base for this service. This service must reach all Freeview homes
without additional cost or inconvenience to the Freeview viewer.
The necessary SI resolution will only work with an add/drop approach.
Solution to SI problem—please note that
the interleaved spectrum solution as described in the Digital
Dividend Review has been deemed not technically possible by NG
Wireless at this stage (and probably not solved by the time of
Digital Switchover 2008). The alternative Add/Drop was explored
in Ofcom's document Digital Local.
The add/drop solution is the least expensive
and most comprehensive option. It is the most efficient use of
bandwidth and requires no frequency planning or new transmitters
or antennas—is received as readily by the viewer as other
DTT channels. Similarly the Local Network Channel ensures the
"national" spectrum can be retrieved and ensures greater
efficiency the UK.
Add/drop technology is available. The current
re-design plan of the architecture of the multiplexes can accommodate
these proposals.
Awarding this spectrum requires more thought
be applied to the social benefits of local television rather than
the standard market led approach.
It is important to maintain plurality of PSB
in the digital age:
focused PSB obligations with regard to local
television broadcasters.
In Northern Ireland:
The ongoing need for TV services which inform
the distinctive political and cultural life of the locale and
reflect local identities.
Bridging the Digital Divide.
Social inclusion & media literacy approaches
to local television.
Consumers as active citizens—participating
in programme making.
Good Community Relations and the strengthening
of the Northern Ireland Peace Process through better local communication
networks of which local television is primary.
We accept that this approach may need to be
seen in relation to the local television service being a not for
profit entity.
3. PILOTS—LOCAL
DIGITAL TELEVISION
We have indicated to Ofcom and DCMS that we
wish to be considered as a 'digital pilot' to evaluate the case
for local TV nationally should the possibility of this arise.
Throughout most the the UK, local TV is a largely
untested model and we feel we have a valuable contribution to
offer with much experience including innovative approaches to
television making, media literacy and the consumer to offer in
this regard (especially given the very real constraints of the
analogue environment in which we have operated), a contribution
which would be greatly enhanced given a digital platform.
We have contributed in this capacity as an Access
Radio pilot during an 18 month trial. (New Voices—An
Evaluation of 15 Access Radio Pilots by Anthony Everitt. Radio
Authority 2003—we have a copy of this report should
you require it).
This pilot was extraordinarily successful for
community radio.
4. PRODUCING
CONTENT
We operate many different programmes of work
which lead to television and multi media production. We have outlined
our Media Literacy programme as an example of one avenue as to
how content is produced.
Northern Visions Media Literacy Programme
This is a well-established programme and is
often the entry point for community and cultural groups and members
of the public who wish to access Northern Visions media arts resources,
training, and services. Total groups/individuals with projects
accessing the programme has grown substantially since 1997 and
currently 200+ projects are supported annually with approximately
75% in areas of social need.
The Programme assists projects with a wide ranging
criteria—visual arts, drama, film, video, experimental arts,
creative writing, ethnic & minority issues, Irish language,
disability arts, women/youth/children's projects, social inclusion,
alleviation of poverty, heritage, urban regeneration etc.
The main elements of the programme are as
follows:
One to one and group training on specific items
of equipment, community arts practice and media literacy techniques.
Related technical resources for the production
and exhibition of film and video projects with broadcast on NvTv.
Scripting, production budgeting and post production.
Support with fundraising.
Outreach projects where appropriate with hands
on training.
Screenings of work at Northern Visions and cinema/community
venues.
Specialised workshops in the community tailored
to demand (both accredited and non-accredited)
The Media Literacy Programme is multi-disciplinary.
Those accessing the programme gain transferable skills in digital
technology, cinematography, sound engineering, digital editing,
finance and production budgeting, music, creative writing, interview
and journalistic techniques, acting, art design, continuity, directing
etc.
Participants avail of:
A distribution platform for their work broadcasting
to the local community.
A venue for challenging and innovative visual
art, film, television and new media.
State of the art digital resources.
Networking and mutual support.
A focal point for hitherto non-traditional users
of arts and media facilities.
A publicly accessible digital media archive.
Excellent facilities for screening the best of
cultural cinema, community arts and social inclusion digital video
and new media;
Access to the largest arts constituency and network
in Northern Ireland. This spans visual artists, community arts
practitioners, filmmakers (including writers, dramatists, musicians,
set designers etc), new media artists, photographers, community,
arts, heritage and voluntary groups, a diverse film festival audience,
a dedicated volunteer base and access to a potential 125,000 local
homes daily through NvTv.
Access to an advanced training programme in new
technologies, which has led to increased employment opportunities
in arts, design, film, television and new media.
Support for professional development and training.
A diverse programme of arts and media activities
with Northern Visions partners brought together in a quality building
that is accessible, embodies the vision of access for all and
is designed to stimulate new creative collaborations and has been
designed as a response to the needs and disadvantage identified.
Further progression routes within Northern
Visions include:
Active Citizenship Programme—producing
programmes for NvTv
Young People's Production Unit—producing
programmes for NvTv
Workshops for Creative Artists in New
Technologies
Renewing Communities—programme
production, journalism school, apprenticeships, intensive media
workshops, early years and primary scheme, video diaries, capacity
building.
Ethnic Minorities programme—television
series.
Heritage Unit—programme production
and media training.
Projects—various initiatives including
studio discussions, case studies, documentaries, designed to bring
those working at the grassroots together with government, business,
statutory and voluntary sector.
Irish Language—programme production
and training.
Community Television Journalism School-
intensive training in practical media and journalism.
Satellite production units—establish
units in areas based on community business lines.
Outreach—first stage "taster"
workshops designed to give a group knowledge and experience of
the medium to explore and develop projects for production. Northern
Visions subsidises these workshops because groups do not have
the infrastructure or capacity to do so themselves. These workshops
are targeted at developing groups both in socially disadvantaged
areas of Belfast and Northern Ireland.
January 2007
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