Communications Committee publishes report on Broadcasting Bill & Retransmission Fees

The report follows detailed and comprehensive examination of the public service broadcasting landscape in Ireland, in particular the requisite level of public funding required for stations to fulfil their public service objectives, the future of the licence fee and access to advertising revenue in an ever-evolving digital era.

It recommends that Public Service Broadcasters should be permitted to charge retransmission fees to service providers and outlines options for the collection of licence fee or any future broadcasting charge.

Committee Chair Hildegarde Naughton said: “As Public Service Broadcasters are State-funded, accountability and transparency are vital to ensure cost efficiency and effective operating procedures are in place while delivering value for money to the public. The current funding model is not fit for purpose in today’s highly technological advanced society where TV sets are no longer the only source of media content viewing. The Committee has made recommendations in relation to options for the collection of the licence fee or any future broadcasting charge and also for retransmission fees. The report represents the broad consensus of the committee. However, there were dissenting views from some members. I call upon the Minister to study this report, and recommend that the Minister bring forward all appropriate legislative amendments necessary to implement the recommendations in this Report.”

The full report and recommendations can be accessed here: https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/32/joint_committee_on_communications_climate_action_and_environment/reports/2018/2018-03-08_report-pre-legislative-scrutiny-of-the-general-scheme-of-a-broadcasting-amendment-bill-2017-and-retransmission-fees_en.pdf