The Bag Wrote:Moan Moan (no real name posted??) , I think you're being a bit harsh saying that ' we can't be bothered' to come over to the TT. I for one have to work for a living and am also not fortunate enough to have the TT on my doorstep, I will more than likely and as I have for the last 15 years be coming over, at great expense to assist a rider in the MGP. Radio isn't subsidised by the Manx tax payer by more than a few pence each and afterall you get it all year and can still listen to it on your radio FREE during TT, these stations are businesses and as pointed out by someone else in this thread they carry ALOT of adverts. I don't and wouldn't complain if YOU as a MANX person wish to tune into my local station (which could via DAB) and I certainly wouldn't expect you to pay for it if you did. I've been coming to the TT and MGP since 1986 and have spent an absolute fortune doing so, I don't think its alot to ask to be able to listen to the practice commentary without lining the pockets of The Dukes? I'm not asking for live free race video footage, just to able to listen to a radio station that is free all year round. BBC should have been given it so that they could have done similar to the NW200. It kept shutting down like Dukes, which was very frustrating but at least it was free and you could watch that to?
Cheers
Russ Henley

You are absolutely right to say I was being a bit harsh, and I apologise to all those who can't make it to the TT this year - I forget sometimes how privileged I am to live here.
The situation is that Manx Radio is funded to the tune of £1 million a year by taxpayers in the Isle of Man, and makes the rest of its income from advertising sales. Advertising equates to less than 50 per cent of the station budget.
While I appreciate the offer of listening to your local stations for free, I'd point out fully commercial stations are entirely self-funding so I wouldn't be relying on compulsory part-funding by taxpayers while local BBC radio stations are funded by the licence fee, which we have to pay in the Isle of Man despite not benefitting from the same level of service as the UK.
When you say 'lining the pockets of The Dukes' what do you mean? The maximum cost of TT Live is £20. Part of that must, surely, go to Manx Radio, which is providing the commentary, some to Greenlight TV, which is providing the race highlight videos during race week, and then there is the cost the increased bandwidth, staffing overtime, new webcams etc etc etc.
How much money do you think The Dukes are taking home from each subscription after costs have been met? And why do you begrudge Duke a small profit? It's not like they are alone in making a bit of money out of the TT, amd I've yet to see them inflate thier prices just for the TT as many other traders do. A DVD is going to cost punters the same in TT week as it does the rest of the year, and I don't think anyone could call £20 for a fortnight-long service excessive.
And how can you possibly say BBC's coverage of the NW200 was free? It was 'free' to those outside the licence fee paying area or those who simply don't pay their licence fee, but it was paid for by all licence payers, including those who have no interest in road racing.