Ireland
[IE] Minister designates new television channel as a public service
IRIS 2016-8:1/24
Ronan Ó Fathaigh
Institute for Information Law (IViR), University of Amsterdam
On 23 June 2016, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources signed an order designating recently established Irish TV as a television service “having the character of a public service” under section 130 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. The designation means that Irish TV will now be available on Saorview, the free-to-air digital terrestrial television service (see IRIS 2014-2/25).
Irish TV is a local and international channel, which offers live and recorded programming relevant to Irish people in Ireland and abroad. It began broadcasting in May 2014 under a licence issued by the UK communications regulator Ofcom; however, in September 2014, Irish TV entered into a broadcasting contract with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland under section 71 of the Broadcasting Act 2009.
Irish TV also submitted a request to the Minister for a designation as a public service, under section 130(1)(a)(iv) of the Broadcasting Act in June 2014, and the Minister has now published his decision, approving the request. The Minister took into account a range of factors, including the range and variety of programming, the contribution to democratic and public engagement, and support for local production and investment in local talent (see IRIS 2015-4/14).
References
- Broadcasting Act 2009 (Section 130(1)(a)(iv) Designation) Order 2016
- http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2016/si/328/made/en/print
- Decision of the Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources regarding the request from Irish TV for designation under section 130(1)(a)(iv), Broadcasting Act 2009
- http://www.dccae.gov.ie/communications/Lists/Legislations%20Documents/Decision%20of%20the%20Minister%20for%20Communications.pdf
Related articles
IRIS 2015-4:1/14 [IE] Minister Designates New Television Channel as a Public Service
This article has been published in IRIS Legal Observations of the European Audiovisual Observatory.