Should private companies get some of the tv licence fee ?

Dom Phil Cobe

Alot of regional newspapers and local radio stations think they should get a slice of the tv licence. Their argument is that they provide a vital public service to the public unlike say rte two or 2fm which have little or no pubic service content. I don't think any private company should get a cent of the licemce fee, in fact i think the sound and vision fund should be scrapped.

ancapailldorcha

Only if they cut back on the advertising or get rid of it altogether. Otherwise, it's just greed.

L1011

No, but the licence fee should fund the BAI without them levying broadcasters.

craoltoir

Private broadcasters already get a portion of the licence fee which is given to the BAI to fund programmes on all licenced stations. I do not agree that private commercial broadcasters should get subsidised from licence fee money. Why did Red Rock get funding of €800,000 from the BAI?

STB.

Absolutely not. Private companies are commercial enterprises, and regardless of their initial ownership, they end up in the hands of one or two players. By their very nature their aims are to make money for the shareholders. Their services shouldnt be confused with the PSB responsibilites of RTE which are laid down in law. The realities of competing in the market havent changed since the day they got their licences (the so called PSB/News requirements was known when pitching for the original licences). The people who have bought these licences knew that also when buying these stations from the original oweners. The PSBs end up paying about 40-50% of the BAI levy in any event, so the independents have nothing to whinge about.

watty

It's criminal the Licence fee money wasted by TV3 and Setanta should not have got a cent as they are Pay TV. The "card scheme" is a puppy dog marketing scam.

So they are already getting licence fee money too easily!