Candidates asked to support a level playing-field in media

Independent radio stations bring fair, balanced and accurate news and current affairs to listeners throughout Ireland. We also provide discussion and debate on vital national and local constituency issues, sports coverage, connection and companionship. 

The sector is responsible and regulated and has been shown by research to be highly trusted.  Our stations have a combined listenership of 70% daily across the country.  

The stations and their hard-working staff are a bulwark against social media misinformation and disinformation, and they contribute so much to Ireland’s plural media market. 

In the coming election, our stations – and our listeners – deserve serious consideration by public representatives to help protect long-term sustainability in a challenging market. 

Our stations are currently competing on a very uneven playing-field.  We compete for attention and advertising revenue against global technology and social media platforms. We have been told that the announced funding schemes could be 12 months away in terms of access. While we do welcome initial steps taken over recent years, such as the establishment of funding schemes to support some of our public service programming, there is much more that could and should be done to ensure existing schemes are delivered at the speed required and in a way that is practical for stations, to ensure they have a meaningful impact. 

ACTION IS NEEDED

Actions in this area are vital for independent broadcasters and can be simply and rapidly delivered by an incoming Government and public representatives.  We are asking election candidates to support a level-playing field in the media and fair play for independent radio stations, to maintain and protect their services, including the following areas:

1.Proportionate and accessible funding for independent radio which recognises its unique statutory and regulatory role

Policy goal:  Preserve and develop media plurality and availability of news and current affairs on independent broadcasting throughout Ireland. 

Action: Explicit recognition by Media Minister and Department of the unique nature and role of independent radio and TV, and setting aside ringfenced and accessible financial support for those sectors which is fair and proportionate to funding for other sectors.  Ensure that Sound and Vision schemes specifically support independent broadcasters. 

2. A level playing-field, without market distortions and ensuring appropriate regulatory conditions are in place to support stations in making a commercial return 

Policy goal:  Ensure that regulatory structure facilitates commercial operations in a fair and equitable way to that our sector can remain sustainable. 

Action:  Ensure that radio has a regulatory structure that does not involve greater obligations or duties than other sectors regulated or funded by Coimisiún na Meán and under the policy direction of the Department of Media, and that the Broadcast Levy is reformed, so it does not weigh disproportionately on our sector. 

3.  Support for critical radio transmission infrastructure, which is vital for communications at all times, but particularly during emergencies 

Policy goal:  Enable the transmission network operated by independent stations to be supported so national and regional critical infrastructure can be preserved and strengthened. 

Action:  Put in place specific supports for radio transmission infrastructure to reflect the fact that independent radio stations are the key media the Government relies on during emergencies and that our sector can provide essential infrastructure (masts, transmitters etc)  which needs ongoing investment and maintenance. 

4. Action to ensure that Irish radio stations remain easily-accessible to Irish audiences on digital devices like smart speakers and in connected vehicles 

Policy goal: Stop any organisation from putting barriers between radio listeners and stations – protect access by radio to a prominent position in cars and on smart devices or digital platforms. 

Action:   Enact legislation similar to the Media Act in the UK to ensure that free-to-air radio remains available to consumers and enjoys a guaranteed prominence on digital devices and uninterrupted access to radio in cars or on devices without revenue implications for radio. 

5. Clear and predictable regulation, allied to practical media development assistance from Coimisiún na Meán where needed 

Policy goal:  Ensure that there is plurality of media, and that policy and regulatory decisions take account of the need to ensure sustainability of all media sectors, specifically including independent broadcasting. 

Action:  Ensure that the policymaking and regulatory structure in Ireland has a specific objective of maintaining a level playing-field in the country’s media landscape and a fair balance of competition across all media players. Make the necessary legislative changes to empower Coimisiún na Meán to identify areas within the media where resources or actions are needed.