In Reply to: re: public meeting posted by smoke and mirrors on February 04, 2010 at 20:32:49:

Smoke and mirrors i think your 100% right in what your saying.

one idea is if CRC create a message board on their website were people could post ideas? for people that are unable to attend meetings or just to have an input into the station in some way.

i have been involved with CRC in the past, as being a radio presenter i found that the setup maybe complicated for people that wouldnt be trained to use it.

your point about the advertising would be a great idea, but theres alot of things that need to be done first. program content, yes they will get free adverting but they are not going to tune in unless the content of the shows are up to top quality. We can go on all day about this, the fact is CRC FM is volunteer based, except for a few full time FAS workers. this makes it almost impossible for them to ever compete against MWR or any of the nationals so theres no need for people to knock them. Community radio is flawed from the beginning, 60% speech to 40% music, the commercial licenced stations have it the other way around. how on earth is such a station going to have the resources to deliver this target when Newstalk are even repeating shows to fill air time.

Community stations need to get together and start sharing content ie. news, production, etc.

a few things CRC need to do is

1. Automation - use something like Zara Studio (free) this will schedule prerecorded shows, automate music, schedule adverts etc. its basic but user friendy. Jazler is what i use but cost a bit, but well worth it. its very user friendly anyone of the street could learn it in 10 minutes

2. production studio - while i was in CRC i noticed the recording ability was difficult,use A mac mini and the the problem is solved. garage band comes with endless sound effects and background music for adverts.

3. On air processing - listening to CRC it sounds hollow and empty, use Breakaway processor or for a few pound get a BW broadcast audio processor

4. interact with the college and the secondary schools, i have been told that they did it before and it didnt work, maybe it was the way it was done? Flirt Fm in Galway is a student station and its well done.

Anyway i would like to wish the best to CRC and i genuinely would love to see them make an impact. they have some great people donating their time to deliver shows and keep it going. however as i said the idea of community radio needs to be looked at by the BAI. Its unfair to see them struggling when its not needed. they protect the commerical stations by restricting community stations and this should not be the case.

My view is that a community station should be allowed to make a profit but profit to be donated to community projects and help develop the community, other than it being the other way around, the community having to donate to keep it going.

The 60:40 ratio should be scrapped, and be allowed to make money from adverting rather than having a 50% limit, the rest to come from grants and fundraisers is unfair