REFORM OF BROADCAST FUNDING
MUST HELP
INDEPENDENT RADIO – NOT JUST
RTÉ
·
RTÉ
funding must not be addressed in isolation without taking into account the need
to preserve independent radio’s core News and Current Affairs
·
Crisis
in News and Current Affairs in independent radio must be considered in
broadcast funding plans
25th
June 2024 – The Independent
Broadcasters of Ireland, representing all of Ireland’s independent radio
stations, has today highlighted the profound challenges facing core News and
Current Affairs in the sector, in the wake of the announcement of the recovery
plan in RTÉ and in the context of publicity about major and imminent Government
decisions on broadcast funding. The IBI
believes believe it is absolutely vital that the crisis in News and Current
Affairs in the sector is central to consideration by Government of wider
funding for broadcasting.
The Independent
Broadcasters of Ireland Chief Executive, Michael Kelly, said: “I would be
highly concerned if the problems in RTÉ as outlined today were to be addressed
in isolation without taking into account the need to preserve the core,
day-to-day, News and Current Affairs in the independent sector, which are very
important Public Service Content provided to listeners by our stations.
Currently zero funding from the Exchequer or TV licence is provided to the
independent sector for its core News and Current Affairs.”
“The
survival of broadcast media is not just about RTE and I have today written to
the leaders of all of the political parties emphasising the nature of the
crisis and seeking meetings to discuss it,” he said.
He
continued: “While most of the public attention in the past year has related
understandably to issues and problems around RTÉ, we in independent radio would
emphasise that we face extremely serious challenges in funding and resourcing
that specific part of our services.”
“Against
the background or major funding and resourcing challenges, it is clear that
none of the schemes proposed up to now can help the core News and Current
Affairs to survive and thrive in our sector in the near term.”
“The
Independent Broadcasters of Ireland believes that interim financial support can
be, and must be, urgently made available to our sector. There is a crisis in
News and Current Affairs and the direction of travel at the moment is that it
could disappear, as has happened in regions in the UK and US. Helping save News
and Current Affairs in Ireland’s independent radio sector can be done at a
small fraction of the funding provided for broadcasting overall. Action is
urgently needed now.”
ENDS
Issued by
Michael Kelly, Chief Executive – 087 2509006 or michael.kelly@ibireland.ie
Editors
note:
·
The
Independent Broadcasters of Ireland represents all of the local, multi-city,
and national independent commercial radio stations in Ireland.
·
With
more than 1,200 people employed in the sector, independent broadcasters make a
major contribution to the economy and are by far the largest employers in the
broadcasting sector outside of Dublin.
·
Independent
Broadcasters of Ireland members have a combined 70% share of the radio audience
in Ireland.
