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News

Outcomes from the CBOnline Project Initiatives & Distributive Platform Review

From time to time the Community Broadcasting Foundation seeks independent assessments of community broadcasting sector initiatives in order to determine whether they are meeting the sector's needs appropriately and in an efficient and cost effective manner.  In mid-2009 the Foundation commissioned an independent evaluation of the CBOnline Project initiatives (CBOnline website, Digital Delivery Network, CBD and National Listener surveys, and the Online Development grants program) and the sector's program & data distribution platforms by Melbourne-based consultants Portable Content. 

The CBOnline Project Initiatives & Distributive Platform Review Report (CBOnline Review Report) was completed in October 2009 and distributed to sector peak bodies for comment prior to its consideration by the CBF Board at its November 2009 and February 2010 meetings.  The CBOnline Review Report is available for download below.

Of the twenty-five recommendations contained in the CBOnline Review Report (summarised at pp. 6-7) the CBF has approved five recommendations and did not accept twenty.  

The five recommendations approved were:

Recommendation 1: Maintain a satellite platform for the distribution of continuous audio content to stations.

Recommendation 16: Maintain the online development grant program. 

Recommendation 17: Establish Station Digital Assistance Grants.  However, as assistance grants are currently offered (the 2009/10 theme being OB equipment grants), the recommendation was modified to read "Maintain Online Station Assistance Grants".

Recommendation 18: Maintain the ongoing access to specialist technical advice for the sector.  However, the Board amended the wording to: "Maintain the OGAC's access to specialist technical advice" as shown in the Summary of Recommendations on page six of the Report.

Recommendation 25: That the development of any CBOnline supported IP-based content distribution and exchange system for the sector fully explore the experience of the Digital Radio Project in establishing its IP network and consider any synergies that might arise.

Response to National Listener Survey and CBD industry survey recommendations

The CBF Board confirmed funding for a fourth Community Radio National Listener Survey to be conducted in May 2010.  The survey will be conducted in an identical fashion to prior surveys in order to allow further analysis of audience trends.   The Foundation believes that the National Listener Survey continues to be of great benefit at both station and sector level as a marketing, planning and promotional tool.  The Foundation will also continue to support conduct of the biennial CBD community radio industry survey.  The next CBD industry survey is due to be conducted in mid 2011.

Response to Digital Delivery Network recommendations

In relation to recommendations 3-8 pertaining to the Digital Delivery Network and the development of an internet-based alternative the Board took the view that the accuracy of the DDN usage measures underlying the report's DDN recommendations were subject to question due to the small size of the survey sample.  Prior to considering those recommendations further it asked the CBF Secretariat to conduct a more robust survey of stations equipped with DDN capacity to determine their use of the DDN equipment, and their perception of the value of the DDN as a tool for program distribution and exchange.  The CBF DDN User Survey was conducted between 8-16 February.  It achieved a robust and statistically reliable response from 110 (70%) of the 158 stations that had received and not returned DDN computers.  The headline results of the CBF DDN Survey are published below.

Following consideration of sector organisation input and the survey findings the CBF Board agreed that the Foundation would continue funding support for the DDN for a further three years.  The level of that support in each of those years will be determined by the Board following consideration of advice from the Online Grants Advisory Committee on the structure and composition of the Global CBOnline Project Budget. 

In coming to this decision the Board noted the following:

• That while there was currently a high level (52% of surveyed stations) of non-usage of DDN capacity there remains a significant user base of over 50 stations and a large potential user base (70% of surveyed stations) that wish to use the DDN - equating to a potential user base of between 77 and 111 stations.
• Support for continuation of the system was strongest in regional and remote areas.  Highest use of the DDN facility was also recorded in regional areas.
• The DDN infrastructure was well designed and has performed satisfactorily over the eight year period since its inception where installation was effected correctly and its continuing operation was well understood.
• A system of this nature requires effective technical support at installation and easy and efficient access to ongoing technical support to ensure the DDN's ongoing maintenance and correct operation within stations.
• Until the National Broadband Network is universally available satellite and online program distribution and exchange methods will continue to have different roles.  Satellite remains the most suitable means for high volume usage of long programs at high audio quality while online delivery is best suited to smaller volume usage of short programs at lower audio quality. 
• The impending introduction of DDN Plus with additional capacity for online submission and delivery of programs will allow the progressive development of a more flexible model utilising both platforms and capable of adapting to changing sector needs within a dynamic technological environment.
• The current availability of IP-based content exchange facilities within the sector negates the need for scoping and establishing a further alternative facility. 
• The suitability of online-based program exchange systems for use by specialist interest areas within the broader sector was understood and had been recognised through the provision of support funding for such systems to the CMA, AICA, IRCA, RPH Australia and the SCMA.

The Foundation has encouraged the CBAA as CBOnline Project Manager to thoroughly analyse the results of the CBF DDN User Survey and explore the further insights that can be drawn from the full survey dataset when considering its development of an action plan and budgetary framework for the maintenance and development of the DDN/DDN Plus from 2010/11.  Central to that plan will be the need to address the rebuilding of the user base and its more effective ongoing support in the future. Within that broad task the CBAA has also been asked to propose a means by which those stations which have, or can be, identified as having DDN equipment and requiring assistance to make it work, can be provided with such support as soon as practicable.  The Foundation has suggested that the survey results be used as a baseline in the development of ongoing performance measures for the project and that regular annual assessment of performance be conducted by this and other relevant means.

Response to CBOnline website recommendations

The CBF Board did not accept recommendations 10 -15 which dealt with the future development of the CBOnline website and improved sharing of content.  After receiving responses to the CBOnline Review Report from peak sector bodies the Board came to the view that the structure and focus of the CBOnline website was no longer relevant to the needs of the sector given that station websites are now common and peak sector organisation websites are much more sophisticated than they were a decade ago.  The Board's initial position was to discontinue the CBOnline website in its present form in favour of a more limited static sector portal with any remaining valuable content to be distributed to relevant peak sector body websites.  Following further consultation with peak sector bodies in relation to this position the Board concluded that replacing the CBOnline website with a minimally resourced static sector portal as previously considered would not be worthwhile. 

Accordingly the Board agreed that:

• funding for the maintenance and development of the CBOnline website would cease at the end of the 2009/10 financial year; 
• funding will be available to manage and implement relocation of valuable existing CBOnline website content to websites of appropriate sector organisations; and
• the Foundation through its Online Grants Advisory Committee will develop a new funding support opportunity from the CBOnline funding allocation for the development of station and sector organisation websites to be available from 2010/11.

Given these decisions the CBAA was asked, in its capacity as the CBOnline Project Manager, to plan, offer and undertake the distribution of valuable content currently on the CBOnline website to relevant peak sector organisations prior to 1 July 2010 and to decommission the website from that date. 

For further information on the outcomes of the CBOnline Project Initiatives & Distributive Platforms Review contact CBF Executive Director, Ian Stanistreet, on (03) 9419 8055 or via exec@cbf.com.au.

> CBOnline Project Initiatives & Distributive Platform Review Report, October 2009. (PDF file, 5MB)
> Headline results from the CBF DDN User Survey, February 2010. (PDF file, 1MB)