Seanad debates

Tuesday, 11 November 2003

Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003: Committee Stage.

 

Commercial broadcasters were then forced by the Government of the day to ensure that their programming would have a 5% current affairs content. That percentage of current affairs had to be presented in their peak time schedule and not shoved into the ghettos of the early morning or late night. Many of them railed against that requirement and continue to lobby to have it dropped, diluted, changed or in some way neutralised. The production of news costs money. It is a labour intensive operation. I have no doubt Senator O'Meara, through her sister's most distinguished career in public service broadcasting, can testify to the fact that news presentation is a labour intensive job. The 30 second clip which we see is preceded by, perhaps, a full day's work.

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