Sound and Vision Scheme

monkeyfudge

A press release that was released from the BCI yesterday in relation to the Sound and Vision scheme.

BCI AWARDS €11M IN FUNDING OF PROGRAMMES THROUGH SOUND & VISION SCHEME

The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland has today (Thursday February 23rd) announced the allocation of a total of €11m in funding for programming in the first round of Sound & Vision, the Broadcasting Funding Scheme. This first funding round will allocate €10.5m to thirty-seven television projects and €0.5m to forty-five radio initiatives. €6.5m or 62% of the total budget allocation will fund programmes in the Irish language.

A total of one hundred and sixty six applications for funding were received in the first round of the Sound &Vision scheme, eighty-two for television and eighty-four for radio. Of the applications approved for funding in television, nine applications for English language programming will receive funding to the value of €2.5m, one application for adult literacy will receive €1.5m and twenty-seven applications will receive €6.5m for programmes in the Irish language and bi-lingual programming. The Irish and English language programmes cover a wide variety of subjects under the relevant themes of Irish culture, heritage and experience and adult literacy. Programme genres such as documentary, drama features and series as well as animation are well represented in the awards.

Funding for programmes in radio will amount to €0.54m and will support a range of programmes under the relevant themes. Documentaries accounted for a high level of applications received from the radio sector, and this is reflected in the funding allocation. Six Irish language programmes and one on adult literacy were also approved for funding.

On a general basis, applications which did not receive funding were refused for a variety of reasons including lack of relevance to the programme themes, insufficient development and issues of quality.

Speaking about the announcement Chief Executive of the BCI, Michael O’Keeffe said “We are delighted to announce such a significant level of support for new programming which will increase the availability of programmes on Irish culture, heritage and experience and adult literacy to audiences in the State. In particular the funding being made available for Irish language programming is to be welcomed. Both the level and quality of applications received in this round underlines the interest in and commitment to the development of innovative programming in Ireland.”
The funding awards through Sound & Vision were approved at a meeting of the Commission on February 20th following consideration of the recommendations made by fourteen assessment panels. The assessment panels comprised of staff members of the Broadcasting Funding Division, experts in the broadcasting/film industry and subject experts from the relevant thematic areas.

The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland will now begin the process of contract negotiations and funding allocation with all successful applicants.

It is anticipated that a second call for applications to the Sound & Vision scheme will be launched in mid-late March.

An appendix to this press release details all the television and radio programmes that have been recommended for funding.

My own station has secured a nice chunk of funding out of this as did a lot of community radio stations.