Reply from head of Bauer Radio - please read

This is a rather long update, sorry. I was promised a full response by the end of the week, and here it is (minus the insulting 'this is how to listen via other methods' and 'postcode checker' sections). I have already replied and have included my reply below...... Bauer response to my original email which referenced the petition: "Following Paul’s e-mail on Monday, we promised to keep you updated on the matter of Planet Rock's digital distribution, and as a valued Planet Rock listener I thought it would be useful to explain in some detail why we are where we are. As a commercial radio business that is wholly dependent on advertising income, our strategy is to build a complementary portfolio of radio services with the very best and most engaging content possible and to distribute those stations on as many relevant platforms in the most efficient way. The new second digital radio multiplex platform called D2 gave us the opportunity to co-own the platform rather than rent the space which is significantly more secure for Bauer’s radio services in the long term, allowing us to continue to invest in and protect our content on stations like Planet Rock. We knew that there would be a reduction in coverage area with the change, and since the D2 switch-on we have been studying in detail where those losses may be, and whether we can do anything differently to improve the coverage or listening quality in those areas that fall out with the second digital multiplex transmission range. Following some very detailed analysis and numerous conversations between our engineering teams and the digital transmission company, I'm sorry to say that the DAB news is not positive for listeners living in those areas. The new D2 multiplex is working as it is supposed to - broadcasting to nearly 80% of the country – and ultimately there will be patches of the UK that will not be covered which sadly includes your locality. This is for a number of technical reasons which vary by area and the topography of different regions. We have now established that there are no other alternative DAB ways of infilling those areas currently, but of course we will continue to monitor any ways that might improve D2 coverage. In addition to its DAB coverage, Planet Rock continues to be available online, via mobile apps - using your smartphone, tablet, laptop or via wireless speakers - as well as via Digital TV, and internet radio, and I do hope that you can continue to follow us on our journey. Should there be any change in the situation we will update the audience across its many platforms and via the website www.planetrock.com/general/info-planet-rock-on-digital-radio-the-big-retune-dab-d2 I hope this has helped to explain why we are where we are, and that you may be able to successfully re-tune either to the new D2 platform, or find Planet Rock on any of the other platforms listed." [My reply:] "Thank you for your reply, which I’m sure you know is hugely disappointing and consequently I, and many others, will continue to campaign. You are damaging the station and its reputation by knowingly losing and alienating listeners. Not only that, you are doing it very quickly. People are still buying expensive DAB equipment NOW, purely to listen to Planet Rock. Have you read the comments on the petition? I think you may be underestimating the passion of rock fans and Planet Rock listeners in particular. As I said, the whole process is damaging the station, under the premise of securing its future. Even if the >20% affected decided to invest in equipment, digital TV, unlimited broadband, mobile data, etc. and throw away their numerous DAB radios, you might have noticed there are already a large number of rock stations online, therefore it dilutes the listener base. This is to a radio station which has won numerous awards and is very highly respected. So, I’m sorry, but I am most certainly not satisfied with your reply, nor your suggested solutions which clearly aren’t available to everyone. If the ‘detailed analysis and numerous conversations’ have now ceased, then may I respectfully suggest that they continue until a satisfactory solution can be found. We are, most definitely, not following you on your ‘journey’." [end of my reply] Don't let me down guys, keep spreading the word! (I thought I'd just edit to add the transmitter map: http://tx.mb21.co.uk/mapsys/google/stationmap-new.php?stid=651&svtid=8 for anyone wondering how far away their nearest transmitter is) Thanks for reading. Jan