RTE should be Privatised.

Who said forced? I said made available.

The sound and vision fund was set up in 2004 to provide funding to independent producers to produce radio and television show they would not normal get to produce.

Orginally TV3 where dead againist this idea for commerical reason and under canwest said they would not be interested in the funding.

The fund is provided to independent producers (not TV and Radio channels) which means that the independent producer must get the backing of a TV or Radio channel before they can have the funding. (This means that RTE, TV3, TodayFM, TG4, Setanta, BBC NI, UTV, Local Radio Stations, Channel Six and City Channel can all back an independent producer for this fund).

TV3 had great success last year with Diary of a Debutant.

A list of shows commission through this fund.
http://www.bci.ie/documents/sv_r2_appendices.doc

Orginally posted on boards on the 30/04/2005

€18m fund for commercial broadcasters is “of no benefit” to independent station

by Paul O'Kane

A new €18m state-sponsored fund that was supposed to make licence fee income available to commercial broadcasters is being snubbed by the state's only independent TV station TV3.

TV3 executives claim that the fund, which will be formally launched in a matter of weeks, is of “absolutely no benefit to the company”.

The rules governing the distribution of the monies from the fund are too narrow, and mean that it makes no sense for a commercial broadcasters such as TV3 to apply, said TV3 chief executive Rick Hetherington.

“There is absolutely no incentive for us to get incolved in this,” he said.

The broadcasting fund, which is open to both television and radio companies, was created under new rules that siphon off 5% of the licence fee into a separate cash pile that can be awarded to any broadcaster in the state that makes programmes that compy with key criteria. Monies began to flow into the fund two years ago and over €18m is waiting to be spent.

Hetherington said that under the proposed system it makes no commercial sense for TV3 to avail of the fund becase any financial contribution it would make in new programming underwritten by the fund would not be counted against its licence quotas. The additional homeproduced output that TV3 would show as a result of using monies from the broadcasting fund would not count either towards the television station's current quotas.

Hetherington also claimed that TV3 would be unable to recoup any of its additional costs through advertising income because of the stipulation that any programmes supported by the fund must be shown in prime time. The programmes must be about “Irish culture, heritage and experience”.

TV3 has indicated that unless the rules are changed it does not intend to seek money from the new fund, which is being administered by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland.

Under the rules of the fund, independent production companies can apply for funding only if the have agreed a deal with an Irish broadcaster to air the programme. With TV3 ruling itself out of the fund, some television sources have expressed concern that independent producers will have little option but to cut a deal with state broadcasters RTÉ.

Screen Producers Ireland, which represents the independent film and television sector, has already been critical of the delay in disbursing the cash from the Broadcasting Fund.

Well, Rick Hetherington is gone, replaced by one of Muck's favourite people, Dave McRedmond

Elmo, a link to the original article, with a time stamp, would be most helpful when judging that article you quoted.

TV3 are more concerned about selling air time for other channels (Living TV, Setanta etc)

DMC wrote:

Envy once again. Someone has to do it, and there will always be people like you to knock anyone who makes it in radio and TV. Sad fact of life.

So you can really stand there with a straight face and tell me that Gerry Ryan and Pat Kenny are worth paying half-a-million Euro for annually each? Really? If so, then colour me envious.

DMC wrote:

Income: €370 million (2005) (of which €199.8m or 54% was from commercial activity and advertising), the licence fee here is €155, but not all of it goes to RTÉ anymore (but still the vast chunk)

Citation? Including the exact percentage figure of 'the vast chunk'?

DMC wrote:

And that's why RTÉ is still an important player. We fund it, we want to see Irish programming (as much as you don't want to)

Oh I do. I just don't want to see shite such as that 'Paradise Lost' rubbish shown last night. Was that even what it was called? It was so bad I even forget the title. If that's your example of 'Irish programming' then I think I'll pass (out).

DMC wrote:

Nuke Montrose. Do any of you stupid whinging bastards not come up with a better solution? Please fuck off.

Anyhoo, back to the debate, and playing the ball not the man.

Sure you can trash TV3 till the cows come home, the fact is you're not being asked to pay for it whether you watch it or not.

If it wasn't for us 'stupid whinging bastards' then you'd still be paying two-grand in 1985 money for the privilege to fly Aer Lingus to Heathrow.

Sure you can trash TV3 till the cows come home, the fact is you're not being asked to pay for it whether you watch it or not.

If it wasn't for us 'stupid whinging bastards' then you'd still be paying two-grand in 1985 money for the privilege to fly Aer Lingus to Heathrow.

We the people give TV3 the licence to broadcast in Ireland. We can be critical of what it has done over the last 10 years which is nothing. TV3 have made no impact on Irish TV.

Why are you comparing the TV industry to the Air industry?

You have no arguement towards the sale of RTE other then well now isn't great what Aer Lingus are doing now, and those good people in Eircom (Did you keep your shares or sell early?).

TV3 is a national broadcaster its licence is there based on that fact and that fact alone.

When TV3 started I was looking forward to a new era of TV in Ireland, however what I got was cheap American Programming with even more cheap British Programming, A breakfast show isn't something to be proud of.

Yes TV3 make a profit, yes thats what TV3 are about but they are also about production something that they have done very little of.

TV3 is Ireland's National Indepenent Commercial TV Station
TV3 is Ireland's 2nd most watch TV Station

It could if it wanted be Irelands 1st most watch channel but it choose that it is easier not to compete.

Do you honestly think that TV3 would improve if RTE didn't have the Licence Fee.

It won't. Why? because it's easier to keep its share of the audience and make a PROFIT on that, rather then trying to make an even greater profit on a larger share of the market which if they wanted could. (But then they would have to spend more to earn more, and would that be worth it to share holder. NO. But to people in the industry YES)

TV3 just makes it over the SME mark but only barely. It could be a vast organisation but it is easier not to do anything.

RTE if privatised or if it had to go with out the licence fee, would aim at no more the 10% of the audience. Live Irish Sport would be axed. Current Affair Axed. News Cut. Children's TV slashed. Drama gone. BECAUSE IT WOULD BE EASIER.

I think if you had watched The View last night you would see that RTE aren't afraid to say when the have done wrong. The critics slaughter "Lost in Paradise". I didn't have a look, the adds didn't impress me. But over the last 10 years RTE have produced some wonderful dramas. They may not be to everyones taste, but at least they give people a chance. This year alone RTE have supported many top actors towards bigger careers, and isn't that part of it, giving someone the chance.

I never suggested that Pat Kenny or Gerry Ryan are worth their pay checks, but I don't know if Ray D'arcy or Ian Dempsey are worth it either and both are making just as much on Today FM. But then D'arcy and Dempsey don't get paid out of the Licence Fee. But then neither does Gerry Ryan.