Representatives for the live entertainments industry have called on media regulator OfCom to commit to protecting the part of the radio spectrum currently used by entertainment producers for radio mics.
As the regulator reviews how it licences the spectrum to broadcasters and mobile firms, some fear that the part of the spectrum currently used for radio mics will be sold off, in part or in whole, in 2012, meaning those using radio mics might suffer increased interference or, worse still, will be forced to pay a commercial licensee for use of the spectrum at rates that many promoters or producers simply couldn't afford, or even worse still, not be able to use radio mics at all.
Some in OfCom argue that there are now other microphone systems available which do not require the radio spectrum, which means the current radio mic set up is not the best possible use of that part of the spectrum. However, many in the live sector argue those newer systems are less efficient, and also require theatres and venues to invest in expensive upgrades.
Brian Copsey of the Association Of Service Providers, which coordinates the radio spectrum used by the entertainment industry, told reporters this week: "Ofcom needs to have a serious discussion with parties involved in using radio mics and find a way of achieving a sensible outcome. Once the auctioning process is started there will be a range of organisations that are very interested. It is prime spectrum but there are no provisions in Ofcom's proposals to put in place any system for radio mics. We need a way forward to ring-fence this spectrum on a geographical basis. It is important to the whole UK economy. West End theatre sees 12.5m visitors each year and not one of those shows work without radio mics".