Independent programme producers are to get a bigger cut of the television licence fee next year, the Minister for Communications announced today.
Under the new Broadcasting Bill, the allocation from the licence fee funding for the sound and vision programme would rise to 7 per cent from 5 per cent, bringing total investment in the independent television production to almost €15.5 million in 2009
The Sound and Vision programme, which is administered by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, gives funding to independent television producers for documentaries, children's programming and other genres.
Minister for Communications, Eamon Ryan, said the extra funding would help support the industry in the current economic climate.
"The independent production sector is an important creative source as well as a significant employer and as Communications Minister, I am committed to helping it further develop," he said.
"This increase in the Sound and Vision fund from 5 to 7 per cent, combined with the increase in the RTÉ statutory independent production spend to €40 million from €32 million a year gives some certainty to this sector in a tougher economic climate."
The sound and vision programme was established two years ago and has funded projects such as the films
Kings,
Garageand
32A, as well as children's television series
Aifric.
Sean Stokes, chief executive of Screen Producers Ireland, welcomed the news, describing it as a "significant increase" in funding.
It was less than what independent producers had been hoping for, he said, but said it would help ensure the type of programming that was being demanded by audiences would continue to be made.
In October, the managing director of RTÉ Television Noel Curran claimed RTÉ's role as a public service broadcaster would be undermined if more of the licence fee was handed over to commercial operators. He claimed that with advertising revenue under serious pressure, much of RTÉ's home programming would be replaced by bought-in programmes if its share of the licence fee was cut.
