[article] Eamon Ryans Broadcasting Bill 2008

mike65

Nicked straight from ireland.com

A new Bill governing the broadcast media has proposed special measures to protect the interests of viewers and listeners and creates a single regulatory body for broadcasting.

Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan published the Broadcasting Bill today and said it was a “modernising” piece of legislation that would meet the needs of Irish broadcasting in a new era of media and regulation.

The Bill provides for the establishment of a single content regulator, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), which will assume the roles currently held by the Broadcasting Commision of Ireland (BCI) and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission (BCC).

The BAI will have the power to fine broadcasters up to €250,000 for breaching codes. The establishment of an Oireachtas channel and a new film channel, is also proposed in the Bill.

The BAI will have two sub panels, the Contracts Award Committee which will have the role of licensing independent commercial and community broadcasters, and the Compliance Committee, which is intended to ensure that both public and private broadcasters comply with their licence conditions and with broadcasting standards.

In a new precedent, the Bill proposes that opposition parties will have a role to play in the appointment of members to the Boards of the BAI, RTÉ and TG4.

In the case of the BAI, there will be nine board members, five of which will be appointed by Government and four which shall be appointed on the advice of the Joint Oireachtas Committee dealing with broadcasting matters.

With regard to both RTÉ and TG4, it is proposed that there will be 12 board members, six of which will be Government appointed, while four shall be proposed by the Joint Oireachtas Committee. In addition, the director generals of both broadcasters will be appointed as will representative from the Department of Communications

"I am pleased to grant to my parliamentary colleagues from all sides the responsibility of appointments to such important boards. This marks a new departure in the power and roles of the legislature and the executive in Ireland." said Mr Ryan at the launch of the Bill this morning.

He acknowledged that the BCI has had limited means by which to deal with licence or code infringements by broadcasters but promised that the new broadcasting authority would have "real teeth" and would exert real influence over broadcasters.

"As part of the new bill, the authority will be able to fine broadcasters up to €250,000 for breach of broadcasting codes," the Minister said.

The legislation maintains both RTÉ and TG4 as statutory corporations but requires both broadcasters to publish annual public service broadcasting charters, strategic development plans and annual statement of commitments.

Mr Ryan said the Bill represents a consolidation of almost 50 years of Irish broadcasting legislation and repeals key Acts dating from 1960.

“In essence, the Bill aims to level the playing field of the broadcasting market in Ireland and place greater emphasis on the needs of viewers and listeners,” he said.

The legislation also includes a "right of reply" mechanism whereby individuals who feel their reputations have been damaged may have this corrected in a further broadcast.

There is also provision for the establishment by RTÉ and TG4 of audience councils to represent the views of listeners and viewers.

I suppose the Oireachtas channel can be justified (cough) as public service
and it might encourage better fitting suits and wigs but a film channel (FTV I presume)? FilmFour is junk for the most part these days. I doubt any Irish version will be worth the bandwitdth.


Mike.

Elmo

I suppose the Oireachtas channel can be justified (cough) as public service
and it might encourage better fitting suits and wigs but a film channel (FTV I presume)? FilmFour is junk for the most part these days. I doubt any Irish version will be worth the bandwitdth.

From what I can gather from what the IFB have suggested is that it will be free to air and that it will be Irish, European and International Films.

Film Four has changed significantly since its inception, and is more about US imports, hopefully the IFB channel will give us greater choice in International Film.

I don't see how Film Four and the IFB channel relate, perhaps we should just give the bandwidth to Film Four since we seem to giving up most of the bandwidth to other English Channels.

icdg

Basically the same as the proposed 2006 Bill. What took it two years to come to the Oireachtas I'm not quite sure:

Major changes:

Broadcasting Authority of Ireland

---

*Assumes powers of the BCI (becomes the Authority's Contract Awards Committee) and Broadcasting Complaints Commission (becomes Compliance Committee)
*Will award programme contracts for independent radio,TV much as the BCI does now.
*Given extra powers to create codes.
*Powers over RTÉ and TG4 in certain areas
*Extra DTT multiplex

Radio Telefis Éireann

---

*Continues in existance as statutory corporation, but loses the "Authority" moniker apparently. (Note, this is not expressely stated in the bill and open to interpetation) This is one of two major changes from the 2006 draft which would have seen RTÉ become a company limited by guarentee.
*Subject to BAI authority
*RTÉ Board will have 12 members including the Director-General.
*Name changed from Radio Telefís Éireann to Radio Teilifís Éireann. (Someone who speaks Irish please explain the point...)

Teilifis na Gaelige

---

*Continues in existance. "Ceannasai" becomes "Priomh-Sturiteor" but otherwise continues much as before.

Irish Film Channel and Houses of the Oireacthas Channel

---

*To be provided on a statutory basis by Irish Film Board and Houses of the Oireacthas Commission
*Must-carries on DTT mux 1 (RTÉ)
*No advertisments.
*Despite its name, the Irish Film Channel can screen non-Irish films...

DMC

Thanks for the condensing!

It took two years as they are now settled with what is going to happen with DTT.

As for Telefís/Teilifís, that's lost in the midst of time! Probably two irish scholars or schools of thought or dialects thought up the spelling :rolleyes:

byte

No advertisements on the IFB channel too? That might be a help.

mike65

How will this channel be financed? Cathal Black season in association with Samaritans?

Mike.

DMC

mike65 wrote: »

Cathal Black season in association with Samaritans?

Eat The Peach. Ad nauseum.

Ed: no wait, Isnt that on the HD trial DTT channel anyhoo? :pac:

mike65

QFT

Eat the Peach/Into the West/Intermission/I Went Down on a loop with a feature about Ardmore Studio twice a day.

Mike.

mandj@48m

From the IFB website

"Irish films screening on the channel are likely to have completed their own commercial cycle through theatrical, DVD and mainstream TV outlets before appearing on the film channel."

For 'likely' you can substitute 'certain'.

Even so, it could potentially be a very interesting addition to the home grown channels and well done to the IFB for taking it on.

Am I correct in assuming it would only be available on DTT and not available on satellite?

byte

I'd expect it to be DTT-exclusive. DTT will need some exclusive content, to attract adopters...

EDIT: That said, if UPC win the contract, it's possible it could appear on NTL/Chorus cable network.

Elmo

I'd expect it to be DTT-exclusive. DTT will need some exclusive content, to attract adopters...

EDIT: That said, if UPC win the contract, it's possible it could appear on NTL/Chorus cable network.

It would have to appear on UPC just in the same manner that RTE, TV3 and TG4 appear. I am surprised that UPC haven't added OTV to their EPG yet in perperation. I can imagine that Sky will also pick up IFBTV.

How will this channel be financed? Cathal Black season in association with Samaritans?

The Department of Arts will be funding this project, from what I have read. (Not sure about this, Cullen was prattling on about something again, I cann't beleive cullen is the minister for Arts).

It will have a budget of 3 - 4 million euro. I personally think they should show adds between each movie rather then during the movies. They may as well see if the can get a little more funding. There are plenty of worthwhile films from Hollywood that should be shown on the service, which would not annoy film buffs or alienate other viewers from the channel.

The funding should give the about 2000 hours of films each year, giving them about 2 movies per night. Also the IFB could own broadcast rights to many of the movies it has funded over the years.