Why is the broadcasting charge postponed ?

They should have went ahead and brought in the charge its not as if its a new charge so the only ones that would be complaining is the people who dont pay.

I suppose they dont ever consume RTE radio either as licence fee covers radio as well

lertsnim wrote: »

By that logic people who watch the BBC in this country would be happy to contribute to the UK TV license? Like hell they would.

It isn't the RTÉ license, it's the television license. It doesn't matter what you use it for.

Well said and the tv licence fee helps pay for programmes like aras Attracta last Tuesday & if it cost 200,000 to make, that was the best money ever spent to highlight awful treatment in our very own Country

bluemartin wrote: »

Maybe they are people out there who don't own a TV, why then should they be charged a tax just because they own a mobile smart phone?

They won't. That idea is scrapped for now.

18MonthsaSlave wrote: »

what's an orchestra got to do with a TV or DeVelera's obsession to force everyone to learn the Irish Language got to do with a TV?

As I said I'm glad the tyranny of the mob has been fended off but we must remain vigilant; only a few years to go until broadcast TV becomes irrelevant.

They could not teach us Irish in school let alone on TV. I do think they use the Licence fee to prop up all these pet projects like BAI SOUND & VISION & TG4

I believe it has been deferred for the present, not due to the fact that it is an ill-conceived piece of legislation, which is essentially a tax on the Internet, but for political expediency, given the Government’s record of blundering and backtracking in respect of recent ill-thought out legislation.

As proposed, this is an additional tax on persons who do not own a television set but who have a broadband connection for essential work or business related purposes. Its introduction would also bring the current licence evaders into the net, but there are methods of achieving this, other than the imposition of a universal broadband charge. The objective for its imposition seems to me to be a cynical attempt to raise additional revenues to fund 2 public service broadcasters and BAI. Additionally, its imposition may yet involve the establishment of yet another quango to administer the Broadband Charges.

I am of the opinion that Government would be better employed in reviewing the current structure of RTE, TG4 and BAI – is it necessary for such a small country to have 2 public service broadcasters which are inextricably linked? We all know that RTE re-invents itself every now and then, especially when there is a reduction in their advertising revenue, but the licence fee is guaranteed, irrespective of the level and quality of the service provided. Furthermore, RTE licence revenues were diluted by the current Government’s decision to fund TG4 through the TV licence revenue as opposed to direct Exchequer funding, coupled with the fact that RTE are obliged to provide TG4 with 1 hour’s programming per day, including the new service – RTE are apparently intent on recouping these amounts and are incapable of doing so through advertising revenue.

Perhaps I am a little naïve here but I do not believe that there are people out there who choose to watch television programmes on their smartphones/ipads/laptops, simply to avoid the necessity of having a TV licence. What is the rationale for having public service tv content available online – was it made available as a result of popular demand or some other motive by the broadcasters? Surely, if there is a cost involved in making this content available online, it should be possible to make it subscription based or password protected?

Sam Russell wrote: »

If I were bringing in a broadcasting charge, I would not call it that for a start, perhaps Media and Communication Charge - or something other than broadcasting.

I would structure it so that the cost per household would be €10 per month added to the electricity bill. If you get electricity, then you pay.

A second strand would be to levy broadband users by €2.50 per month.

A third strand would be to place a levy of €0.01 on each text message sent.

The overall charge would be limited to raising the same amount as currently raised by the Licence fee.

So, current licence is €160. New charge is €120, plus (for those with broadband) is €30. This is more than currently raised because 15% do not pay, and An Post get a fair bit as well. The text message bit is a bonus, but would be huge in total but trivial for each message.

ESB Networks collect the €10 per month, and the few broadband providers collect their bit. Mobile operators pay over the text message bit.

I think the Irish Water thing has spooked the politicos.

This kind of idea is frightening. Forcing people to pay for things in a sneaky manner. How about they simply find a model to fund themselves like every other commercial station.

Interesting to read over the weekend that RTE are considering the sale of part of the Montrose compound in light of the Government's decision to defer the introduction of the Broadcasting Charge! I was waiting for this - this is the third time they have played this trick over the years when things were getting tight.

I am sure the current Minister is as sympathetic to their plight as the previous Minister who initiated this crazy legislation, after all they have a vested interest in supporting this revenue guzzling organisation. I wonder did RTE ever hear of 'cutting your cloth to your measure' and stop crying wolf and get on with it.

I cannot understand why the current legislation isn't being enforced, if that is necessary? After all, the Dept. of Communications etc. etc. have a database of all unlicenced householders?

If the current penalties are not sufficient to ensure acceptable compliance, then these could be amended? After all, they will have the same problem with the proposed legislation, the ONLY difference being that the base will have been broadened to include a charge on the Internet - which the entire rationale for all of this.

As far as I remember the licence fee went up suddenly astronomically in the mid noughties - even the price we pay now is a total rip off.

Look at saorview - just the 4 domestic channels plus repeats and kids stuff.


Look at the UK freeview, now theres a platform its worth paying a licence for!