Broadcasting and Media

It is the role of Government to develop policy and regulation for broadcasting and media. This includes media such as television and radio but also new media, such as the internet.

The government is also responsible for overseeing the media mergers process and interacting with the EU and Council of Europe on broadcasting and media matters.

The government is responsible for providing the regulatory framework for broadcasting in Ireland. Regulation of Irish broadcasting services is managed by Coimisiún na Meán(CnM) and the Commission for Communications Regulation(ComReg). In the era of disinformation, it is important that all citizens have a reliable source of trusted information.

Coimisiún na Meán regulates content across all Irish broadcasting services.

It is also responsible for:

• licensing and broadcasting contracts

• compliance and enforcement

• media ownership

• the administration of the media fund

• preparing and developing broadcasting codes and rules

ComReg’s role is to:

• Regulate the electronic communications sector and the postal sector in Ireland

• plan and co-ordinate broadcast transmission networks for Ireland

• input into national broadcasting policy

• develop and issue licences to Coimisiún na Meán and RTÉ

• devise new licensing regimes as required and

• monitor and enforce compliance with licence terms and conditions

Comreg Oireachtas Enquiries

If you have a television set, you must have a TV Licence. Department of Culture, Communications and Sport arranges for the collection of the TV Licence Fee by An Post and the contribution from the Department of Social Protection (DSP) for free licences.

The monies collected are distributed to RTÉ and the Broadcasting Fund which is administered by Coimisiún na Meán and is financed by 7% of the net licence fee receipts.

RTÉ and TG4 are publicly-owned public service media organisations that provide public service content that informs, educates and entertains. They are the two statutory public service media providers in Ireland which have been assigned a statutory public service remit, through the public service objects set out in sections 114 and 118 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, to serve the interests of the public and to provide universally accessible content free at the point of consumption.

RTÉ and TG4 are funded through a combination of TV Licence fee receipts, Exchequer grants and commercial revenues.

Each year, RTÉ and TG4 are required to report on their activities. They publish a statement of performance commitments outlining the activities the corporations are committed to in that financial year and the associated performance metrics. RTÉ and TG4 produce annual reports outlining their performance and how they have spent public and commercial revenues. They further report to the regulator on what they have achieved in the year and how they have used public funding to meet their public service objects. The independent regulator Coimisiún na Meán reviews their performance and the adequacy of their funding, both annually and through 5-year reviews. RTÉ and TG4 must also seek Ministerial consent for certain activities, including the introduction of new services.

Significant reforms to this assessment framework and to corporate governance within RTÉ and TG4 form part of the General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill.

The General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill will enhance accountability, transparency and value-for-money in our public service media providers, RTÉ and TG4, establish a new statutory framework to support the provision of public service content by the wider sector, and protect Irish consumers of media content. More information on the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill’s background, key features of the Bill’s reforms to corporate governance, enhancements to the assessment framework for public service media and framework for funding public service content is available on the General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill page.

Coimisiún na Meán’s Sound and Vision Scheme supports the creation of high-quality audiovisual and audio programmes by independent producers and broadcasters. It is financed by the Broadcasting Fund, which is primarily funded by 7% of the net licence fee receipts.

Coimisiún na Meán operate a number of Exchequer funded support schemes that provide funding to media outlets to supplement and enhance public interest journalism. Current schemes include:

• Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
• Courts Reporting Scheme
• News Reporting Scheme

RTÉ and TG4 broadcast television services are available through the Saorview and Saorsat Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) platforms. Saorview and Saorsat are also available on subscription Pay TV services. Public Service Media (RTE and TG4) content can also be accessed online through the broadcasters’ respective players, apps and websites. RTÉ and its subsidiary (2rn) are responsible for the operation and maintenance of the transmission network and multiplexes for DTT services and distribution.

For the transmission of FM radio services, the competent authority (Coimisiún na Meán) authorises broadcasters to operate a transmitter and provide a broadcasting service under a broadcasting contract.

The Communications Regulator (ComReg) must also authorise broadcasting licence for a broadcasting contract to be put in place.

EU Member States can designate sporting and cultural events as being of major importance to society. Such events should be available on a free-to-air television service.

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media reviews the list of designated events every three years.

It is important that everyone has access to reliable and trustworthy news and current affairs content. This content should come from a variety of sources and be relevant to the whole of the Irish community.

The government created a process called the media merger process to safeguard against news and current affairs content becoming monopolised by companies or people. This process means that any transaction involving a media business in Ireland is examined by the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport before being allowed to take place.

Read more about Media Mergers.

Co-operation on broadcasting, audiovisual and other media matters has long been part of the relations between European countries.

Such co-operation has primarily taken place through two bodies:

• European Union

• Council of Europe

The Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) governs EU-wide coordination of national legislation on all audiovisual media including television broadcasting and on-demand services.

The Future of Media Commission report sets out the strategic direction for transforming and sustaining media in Ireland over the longer term. Following Government consideration and acceptance, in principle of 49 from the 50 recommendations made, the Future of Media Commission Report was published in July 2022.

The recommendations in the report focus on: the critical societal value of a plural, independent media landscape; the importance of adequate funding for public service media and content; enhanced transparency and oversight of public service media; provisions to bolster Irish language content and journalism; the impacts of the digital transformation; and, measures to ensure greater equality, diversity, inclusion and environmental sustainability.

Since the publication of the report, examples of progress on the implementation of its recommendations include: the transposition of the Copyright Directive; the publishing of the General Scheme of the Defamation (Amendment) Bill; the introduction of a zero rate of VAT for newspapers as part of the Budget 2023 taxation measures ; an extension of Section 481 supports incentivising film & TV production made in Ireland until the end of 2028; The designation of RTÉ and TG4 as NewERA bodies under the NTMA Act, which will allow for NewERA to formally engage with RTÉ and TG4 on the most appropriate framework for reporting on performance and financial outturns; and the provision of €6 million for the Media Fund for 2023.