Mr. John Purcell:

Sports programming is a huge part of the programme schedules of our member stations, which cover literally thousands of events at all levels of Irish sport every year in every county. Sport on our stations is unique. It reaches the parts other broadcasters do not or cannot reach. While sport is described as only a game, there can be no question but that sport provides important public service content for Irish audiences. We believe it deserves more attention at broadcasting policy level and so it is positive this meeting in is taking place.

In the report of the Future of Media Commission, which was published this time last year, specific recommendations on sport are quite limited. The role of radio in sports broadcasting is not extensively covered and the unique role of independent radio in the sports broadcasting ecosystem is barely dealt with at all. It is important to ensure sports broadcasting on independent radio is not forgotten in the understandable concern about national sports coverage and access of audiences to sport on television. The best pictures are on radio. While the Future of Media Commission has recommended a range of schemes to support media in general, there are no schemes specifically for sports broadcasting. Instead, it is envisaged sport may be covered under the news scheme along with European and international affairs, environment, social affairs, health, transport, agriculture, rural affairs, economics and culture. This needs to change because sports broadcasting is an area that is changing rapidly. We believe it requires a separate scheme.

Our members are market-leading companies, but they are also predominantly small- and medium-sized enterprises. They are regulated and operate under licence. Increasingly, they have to compete with all sorts of unregulated competitors in the area of sport. There is no immediate crisis, but there is no reason fro complacency. A situation could quickly emerge where it may not be viable to continue to provide what people currently take for granted. Now is the time to see what frameworks and supports, financial and otherwise, can be developed to ensure sports broadcasting can continue. Over the last few weeks, a new debate has emerged on the future of how public service broadcasting can be supported. We welcome this and believe it should include sport as well as all other areas. On the broad policy of sport, the Future of Media Commission noted Sport Ireland enjoys a good relationship with RTÉ. In his comments earlier, Mr. Paul McDermott, of Sport Ireland only mentioned viewers. Radio needs to be included as well. I emphasise policy and planning for sports broadcasting must involve radio as well and should not be confined to the national level or just to RTÉ; it must include everyone.