STATE FUNDING to RTÉ needs to be urgently reviewed according to the representative body of Ireland’s independent commercial radio broadcasters.
The Independent Broadcasters of Ireland have called for a “long overdue and comprehensive restructuring” of the State-run radio stations as well as the abolition of the broadcasting levy.
Chairman of the group Scott Williams said that RTÉ Radio currently exists under a public service mandate, receiving direct funding from every household in the state, yet it accumulated €31 million in commercial advertising revenue last year.
“Such dual funding is not only against the spirit of RTÉ’s Public Service mandate but is also grossly anti-competitive in the current climate,” he said.
“The programme for government contains a commitment to review the funding of independent and State-funded broadcasters to ensure a viable broadcasting sector. The current licence fee was introduced in Ireland when RTÉ was the only broadcasting entity. Its continued existence confers an unfair advantage on RTÉ and is clearly anti-competitive in a market when all radio stations provide a strong public service dimension.”
The group is also opposed to proposed changes to ownership and control outlined by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, changes which would mean that no one entity could own more than 20 per cent of licences accredited by the authority. The cap currently stands at 25 per cent.