The Right Hook on Newstalk 5th April - Discussion on License Fee reform

lucernarian

Just heard, George Hook is to have a discussion shortly on a possible alternative TV license of some description, which would take in devices currently not covered by the license. Along the lines of mobile phones, IPTV etc. They could end up talking a load of baloney but I thought I'd give a heads up.

The Cush

From the Government Parties' Manifestos

Fine Gael

10.5 Broadcasting

TV Licence: We will change the TV Licence into a household-based Public Broadcasting Charge applied to all households and applicable businesses regardless of the device they use to access content. We will look a new ways of collection including the possibility of paying in instalments through another utility bill (electricity or telecom), collection by local authorities, the Revenue or a new contract with An Post. This will reduce the cost of collection and widespread evasion and could yield a further €20m per annum. TG4 will be funded from the charge by 2014.

Labour

Maintaining public service broadcasting

Labour supports and values public service broadcasting, which has always been a fundamental cornerstone of the Irish broadcasting system. It promotes diversity, social and cultural values that are essential to a properly functioning democracy. Labour will uphold these values as Ireland makes the transition to digital television and radio, ensuring that access to, and the quality of public service broadcasting, are protected.

Labour will examine the role, and the collection of, the TV license fee in light of existing and projected convergence of broadcasting technologies.

From the Programme for Government

We will examine the role, and collection of, the TV license fee in light of existing and projected
convergence of broadcasting technologies, transform the TV licence into a household-based
Public Broadcasting Charge applied to all households and applicable businesses, regardless of the
device they use to access content and review new ways of TV licence collection, including the
possibility of paying in instalments through another utility bill (electricity or telecom), collection
by local authorities, Revenue or new contract with An Post.

icdg

Moved to Broadcasting.

watty

you need a TV licence today for real IPTV. It's just same as Cable TV. Don't confuse Web TV, iPlayer, RTE Player and YouTube with real IPTV.

The Cush

Article in today's Irish Times

Household charge may replace TV licence fee
MARIE O'HALLORAN and RONAN McGREEVY

Wed, Apr 06, 2011

THE GOVERNMENT may consider the introduction of a universal household charge to replace the TV licence and take account of those using computers and mobile phones for television viewing.

Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte told the Dáil that “young people in particular are not necessarily at all accessing television through their television screen”.

He added that “not very far down the road” the “notion of some kind of universal household charge might well be worth considering”.

Mr Rabbitte said he had an “open mind” on the issue and it would be included in the review of funding of public and independent broadcasters, promised in the programme for government.

He was responding to Michael McGrath (FF, Cork South Central), who asked when the review of funding would take place, who would conduct it and its terms of reference.

Mr McGrath said independent broadcasters were asking that any new broadcasting charge to replace the licence fee should also fund radio stations. He asked if the charge would be used to fund independent broadcasting entities and if so would the Minister extend public service obligations to commercial broadcasters.

Mr Rabbitte, during his first Dáil question time as Minister for Communications, said there was a separate review ongoing in the department of the effectiveness of the licence collection system.

The Minister said the department was attempting to “measure the extent of evasion” and “to get a handle on the new ‘platforms’ that are there” for television viewing.

Mr Rabbitte said the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland would carry out a review of public funding of broadcasting along with a separate review of the funding scheme, available to independent producers and all free-to-air broadcasters and resourced through 7 per cent of licence fee receipts.

He said that authority’s two reports would be completed by the end of the year, as required by the Broadcasting Act.

Meanwhile, the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI) called yesterday for RTÉ Radio 1 to become an entirely publicly funded station without advertising revenue.

IBI chairman Scott Williams said replacing the licence fee with a new public broadcasting charge as set out in the programme for government was an opportunity to “level the playing pitch” in terms of public funding for broadcasters.

Mr Williams told the annual IBI conference that they will be seeking an early meeting with Mr Rabbitte to discuss the proposed charge.

Mr Williams said RTÉ Radio 1 should be entirely a speech radio station with high-end public service programming similar to BBC Radio 4.

DJ-led programmes would “have no place” in such a schedule, he added.


http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0406/1224294011566.html

Mr Rabbitte, during his first Dáil question time as Minister for Communications, said there was a separate review ongoing in the department of the effectiveness of the licence collection system.

The Minister said the department was attempting to “measure the extent of evasion” and “to get a handle on the new ‘platforms’ that are there” for television viewing.

Mr Rabbitte said the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland would carry out a review of public funding of broadcasting along with a separate review of the funding scheme, available to independent producers and all free-to-air broadcasters and resourced through 7 per cent of licence fee receipts.

He said that authority’s two reports would be completed by the end of the year, as required by the Broadcasting Act.

The BAI are currently tendering for a contractor to carry out annual reviews in 2011 and 2012 of "Public Funding Reviews for Public Service Broadcasters"

The Cush

This is the oral reply to a question in the Dáil yesterday

26. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide further details on the commitment in the Programme for Government to review the funding of public and independent broadcasters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6731/11]

Deputy Pat Rabbitte: The commitment in the programme for Government referred to in the question is in recognition of the pressures that the funding of both public service and commercial broadcasters has faced in recent years as a result of the serious decline in commercial revenues. Whereas this decline is primarily as a result of the impact of the recession over the past three years, revenues have also been impacted through the increasing fragmentation of the broadcast market as a result of the increasing number of channels available on satellite and cable, and through online and other developing platforms.

Funding of the public service broadcasters RTE and TG4 is met through a mix of licence fee revenues, Exchequer grant-in-aid and commercial revenues obtained largely from advertising. The public funding element is provided for the purpose of allowing these bodies to meet their respective public service broadcasting objects. These objects are set out in part 7 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, and they impose a wide range of public service obligations on each of these broadcasters. I am aware that the funding of the public service broadcasters has been subject to criticism by private sector broadcasters and, in particular, that there has been criticism of the dual public and commercial funding model as applied to RTE. The funding of privately owned independent broadcasters is, of course, derived from their own commercial activities.

Both public and independent broadcasters can also access funding from the broadcasting funding scheme, the purpose of which is to encourage the inclusion of additional programming of a particular character in broadcasters’ programme schedules. The fund is open to independent producers and all free-to-air broadcasters.

The broadcasting funding scheme is funded by way of a payment of 7% of net licence fee receipts.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

This is paid to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) in respect of this scheme. This amount was increased from 5% to 7% under the Broadcasting Act 2009. On the proposed review of funding, the Broadcasting Act 2009, which was enacted on 12 July 2009, provides mechanisms that may be used to facilitate this process.

Section 124(8) of the Act requires the BAI, within three years of enactment of the Act, to review the adequacy or otherwise of public funding to enable public service broadcasters to meet their public service objects. In addition, section 158(1) requires the BAI to review the operation, effectiveness and impact of the broadcasting funding scheme not later than three years after enactment. I understand that the BAI expects to complete both of these reviews before the end of 2011 and I look forward to receiving both reports from the BAI in due course.

It is my intention that the findings of these two reports from the BAI will be used to inform the review referred to in the programme for Government, which I can confirm will be carried out by my Department. This review, which will focus on the scope of funding of public service content provided by all broadcasters, public and private, will be undertaken in tandem with the review of the licence fee funding mechanism, which is also committed to in the programme for Government.

In conclusion, I accept that the broadcasting sector, in common with other sectors, is facing very challenging economic circumstances. In addition, change in the way content can be transmitted is adding to the challenging environment. Apart from the reviews referred to, I look forward to working with all of the sector to ensure that broadcasting can continue to play its important and distinctive role in Irish society and maintain quality standards in the process.

http://debates.oireachtas.ie/dail/2011/04/05/00007.asp#N2