Reply from Eamonn Ryan on Memorandum of Misunderstanding

carrolls

I just got a reply from the minister on why the text was changed on the BBC/RTE Memorandum Of Understanding in Feb 2010. Firstly, I would like to say fair play to him for replying.:)
Apparantly he is denying that the text was changed from "On A Free to view basis" to "On A Paid for basis" on his website, but that in fact the press reports were wrong.:pac:
Here is his reply.

Dear (carrolls)
I refer to your email concerning the Memorandum of Understanding on cross-border cooperation on digital broadcasting I signed earlier this year with my UK counterpart, Secretary of State Ben Bradshaw, M.P.

The change in text that you refer to was based on inaccurate press reporting in the first instance. So as to provide clear and accurate information, it was necessary to update the information.

As I explained in previous correspondence, there is no legislative requirement for BBC services to be carried in Ireland . The carriage of BBC in Ireland is primarily a matter for the BBC. That corporation has not indicated to me a desire to be carried on the RTÉ DTT multiplex.


Yours sincerely

Eamon Ryan T.D.

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Biffo The Bare

It makes you wonder why they are putting RTE and TG4 on the NI Multiplex for free if the BBC are not interested in recriprocating. Doesn't sound like a fair deal to me.
Also I remember there was proof offered on this board at the time that he did change the text on his website.

Deedsie

Biffo The Bare wrote: »

It makes you wonder why they are putting RTE and TG4 on the NI Multiplex for free if the BBC are not interested in recriprocating. Doesn't sound like a fair deal to me.
Also I remember there was proof offered on this board at the time that he did change the text on his website.

Maybe RTÉ want there service available to all Irish people North and south. Fair play to RTÉ...

Fingleberries

Deedsie wrote: »

Maybe RTÉ want there service available to all Irish people North and south. Fair play to RTÉ...

Increases the potential audience for RTÉ, too, perhaps meaning better potential revenue for them from advertising.

Sponge Bob

Biffo The Bare wrote: »

Also I remember there was proof offered on this board at the time that he did change the text on his website.

Ryan is lying, that specific "Free To Air basis" text was on his website or the DCENR website ( or both) for some time.

He also changed the text on his own website on the day after the budget, removing his promise to supply STBs to low income households. Not till a good few of us saw it here though

The Cush

The text of the press releases from the Irish and UK government Depts was changed (I posted the change of text previously if anyone cares to search). The MoU text was unchanged.

Edit: Link to post - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=64337941#post64337941

jamescc

to whom do the north pay there licence fees? to the uk? or to ireland?

and if the uk who is paying to this?

Digifriendly

jamescc wrote: »

to whom do the north pay there licence fees? to the uk? or to ireland?

and if the uk who is paying to this?

We pay here in Ni to the UK to help fund the BBC.

watty

No, RTE1, RTE2 and TG4 have to paid for by SOMEONE or they won't be in N.I. Freeview for Free customer viewing.

The "Someone" is not yet been identified.

RTE NL will prefer that people in NI watch via Saorsat. When they are doing only 51 sites here, rather than 52, 90, 145 or whatever other numbers mentioned originally and using Saorsat for "fill in" here.

Maybe Stormont will pay? I can't see London, Dublin, RTE, TG4 or RTE NL paying.

12 element

Any rough estimates on how much this will cost watty?

watty

No idea.

Mike 1972

Biffo The Bare wrote: »

It makes you wonder why they are putting RTE and TG4 on the NI Multiplex for free if the BBC are not interested in recriprocating. Doesn't sound like a fair deal to me..

Unfair it may be but as a UK licence funded channel the Beeb have zero incentive to facilitate RoI residents to recieve their services without charge. Its only by fortunate accident of physics/geography that so many can.

As a partially comercial service with a remit to serve the whole Island RTE would have somewhat of an interest in being recievable in NI (or as much of it as practicable)

watty

It's actually probably explicity against BBC Charter to fund Free Service outside UK of the regular BBC Channels.

Also RTE's Mandate (for N.I. Broadcasting) is because of the Historic "claim" to the Entire Island. The UK doesn't want the 26 counties back, so there is no similar mandate on UK PSBs.

Propellerhead

So why did the BBC agree to the carriage of BBC3, 4 and News 24 on the trial DTT service?

Shades of Orwellian manipulation of archival material to me, but should we be surprised?

watty

The BBC will allow BBC to be carried anywhere. As long as Royalty is paid, which they can decide what that is. For a test like the Political Beauty Demo, that Royalty can be low or non-existent.

What the BBC will not do is pay for Carriage. Someone has to pay for the Electricity, Maintenance and Feed costs even if BBC let us have the Content free. RTE or RTE NL is not going to pay those costs for an extra Mux for UK TV. They have already said we can have it from Freesat.