Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 16 December 2020

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht

Challenges facing Public Broadcasting and the broader Media Sector as a result of Covid-19: Discussion

Photo of Shane CassellsShane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome both the witnesses. My comments touch on a specific point which both of them touched on in their statements. Mr. Esslemont spoke of not wanting to replace or take away RTÉ's funding. He said RTÉ should have the "public funding required to meet its obligations" but that an equivalent amount of public funding should be shared between TG4 and other broadcasters. I note also Mr. Farrell's interesting choice of words when he spoke about "collaboration across the entire media ecosystem and a clear strategy on distribution platforms".

Taking those comments from Mr. Farrell, in particular, are we looking at duplicating the role of the State broadcaster? I ask that question because the State broadcaster has specific obligations and there are major costs involved in some of the productions it must carry out. I would like Mr. Farrell to flesh out what terms such as "media ecosystem" mean in pounds, shillings and pence. What is the request from Virgin Media in that respect? Where does it see its role with regard to some of the activities that RTÉ currently carries out? Is Virgin Media looking to duplicate or take away certain aspects of what RTÉ is doing and let Virgin Media do them?

From a financial perspective, is there room in the Irish market for two competing television stations, given the limited commercial revenue in play? Mr. Farrell also pointed out the threat not only to television but also to radio stations and newspapers posed by Google and similar platforms where people can get better bang for their buck. Is there room for an independent television station and is Virgin Media trying to duplicate certain aspects of what RTÉ is doing?

If TG4 is asking for an equivalent amount of public funding to be provided, is Mr. Esslemont seeking to have the television licence fee doubled to allow that to happen? How would that funding be raised?

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