RTV Theory and Practice - Special Issue

legislation and repression of the pirates are the substitute for a definite policy . Even if the Tories do provide space for a Broadcasting Bill in the legislative timetable during 1989, the end result will be a long way from the promises of the free market economists . Instead of the vibrant competition for listeners between many lightly-regulated stations , there will an oligopoly of national corporate networks , They will duplicate the existing BBC of ILR services by aiming at the mass audiences desired by advertisers . The future of British radio broadcasting will not be so much post-Forđist as neo-Fordist. Some on the Left have simply defended the status quo and refuse to think about how British radio can be expanded . Others have reacted to the continuous delays by lobbying the Home Office and M.P.s through the CRA and supporting direct action through the pirates . Their main demand has been for a 'third tier J of community stations , distinct from both state and commercial broadcasting . But until the licensing process starts , the кеу guestion for the future of community rađio cannot be settled. This is whether such stations will be on the margins ог in the mainstream of radio broadcasting in Britain . Partially this will depend on if the community radio and pirate stations aimed at mass audiences can obtain licenses . For example, the awarding of a black dance music license in London will be of crucial importance. But it also depends on whether the new stations can change establisheđ listening habits by providing new types of programs . Even the more narrowly focused stations , such as those in non-English languages , will still have to gain goođ ratings within their target audiences . What is certain is that there по perfect modet of community radio waiting to be implemented. The British stations can learn from overseas experience in countnes as diverse as Australia and Vugoslavia . It is encouraging that the CRA is already involved in the European Federation of Free Radios (FERL ) . But, by its very nature, community rađio stations are a microcosm of the wider society in which they are broadcasting . They cannot exist as islands of self-managed socialism in a capitalist sea . In Britain , the campaign for community stations is necessarily reformist. There are conflicts are over the đegree of incorporation and recuperation of stations by the wider society . But there can be no illusions in stations being 'autonomous' from the rest of society . if political economics limits the choices of Thatcher's government , it also restricts the possibilities of the community radio movement. It will be песеззагу for community stations to raise топеу to рау staff , meet running costs and buy eguipment . They must balance their books! This makes even the most radical community stations an integral part of the society they are often struggling against . However this does not mean community stations cannot help

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