Mr. Declan Gibbons:

On the online situation and our sectors, whether independent or community, and the broadcast sector in general, one thing is clear; it is highly regulated. Nobody loves regulation at the start, but we are well used to it and it has provided robust structures and it means we can stand over what we do.

That is still completely lacking in the online sector, and something needs to be done about that because there is no sign of a level playing pitch at all. The amount of revenue that is heading online to an unregulated space is something that has to remain a concern for all media and for diversity and plurality in the country. That is important.

On threats to the model, apart from environmental sustainability for community radio, just sustainability and survival are absolute constants and are absolutely essential. However, it is not our business to decide what the model is. We think the model needs to be robust if there is to be a media charge that will be shared out among what might be called traditional media. It has to be something that is sustainable.