📋 Tender Overview
Government approve Revised General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill
Minister ODonovan announces Government approval of the Revised General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill
No introduction of a content production levy without Ministerial consent
RTE to spend 25% of public funding by law on independent productions
Regulation of RTE and TG4 to extend beyond radio and TV content to podcasts and webpages
Direct funding under the Media Fund solely for independent producers and commercial media outlets
Greater transparency in funding of contractors
Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, Patrick ODonovan TD has today announced Government approval of the revised General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill that will enhance value-for-money, accountability and transparency in RTE and TG4, and provide for greater levels of funding for independent producers.
While retaining the totality of the initial General Scheme approved and published on 8 October 2024, the Minister has amended the General Scheme to:
ensure that the imposition of a content production levy which could impose costs on Irish consumers are subject to Ministerial decision;
further increase the accountability of RTE and TG4 for their performance and the content they publish and enhance their transparency; and
ensure that public funding is provided to RTE and TG4 for the purposes solely of meeting their statutory public service objects and, in that context, support the development of the wider audiovisual and audio production sector.
On further examination of the General Scheme Minister ODonovan has obtained Government approval for six key amendments:
Ensure that the imposition of a content production levy which could impose costs on Irish consumers is subject to Ministerial decision
RTE to be required by law to spend at least 25% of its public funding on content commissioned from the independent production sector and allow Coimisiun na Mean to increase this percentage, with Ministerial agreement, in the context of the 3-year reviews of the adequacy of public funding
Extend media codes, duties and rules to all content published by RTE and TG4
Tighter controls of RTE and TG4s Annual Performance Commitments by Coimisiun na Mean, starting in 2026.
Provide for the anonymised disclosure by RTE and TG4 of employee benefits and contractors remuneration
Exclude RTE and TG4 from applying for direct public funding under the Media Fund given that they are already in receipt of public funding to fulfil their statutory public service objects
Welcoming the approval of the amendments, Minister ODonovan said:
It is vital that Government consider the needs of the public and the media sector as a whole. These amendments will provide greater support for the independent production sector.
I have added a layer of protection for the Irish consumer by ensuring that Coimisiun na Mean may only impose a content production levy on broadcasters and video-on-demand providers following a direction of the Minister, which I have no intention of directing or allowing until such a time as I am satisfied that such a levy will not impose an undue burden.
Accountability will be enhanced by obliging RTE and TG4 to consider the recommendations of the regulator when setting their performance commitments in 2026 and 2027, and this will prepare the broadcasters for the new 3-year review system which will commence in 2028.
It is paramount that RTE and TG4 continue to adapt to the new media landscape. As more and more of us move beyond traditional TV and radio, the content RTE and TG4 publish by way of podcasts, on their website and streamed content must be held to the same high standards as that broadcast through linear channels. This Bill provides that such content will be subject to regulation.
These amendments will ensure that responsibilities on RTE and TG4 as public service media providers reflect the level of public funding provided to them and are part of a rolling programme for reform.
Link to revised General Scheme .
ENDS
Notes for Editors
On 8 October 2024 the Government published the General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill and it was referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee (JOC) on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media for pre-legislative scrutiny. The 33rd Dail was dissolved before the Committee could hold its first public session and therefore the General Scheme will be resubmitted to the new Oireachtas Committee responsible for media policy once formed.
The General Scheme is informed by the recommendations of the Future of Media Commission which was published in July 2022. Government accepted, in principle, 49 of the recommendations, and actions that would be taken to implement the recommendations. They were set out in January 2023 in the Implementation Strategy . The General Scheme provides a legislative underpinning for Recommendations 6 - 1 to 6 - 7 and 8 - 5 on the conversion of the existing Broadcasting Fund to a platform-neutral Media Fund; and Recommendations 5 - 1, 5 - 3, 8 - 2, and 8 - 3 as they relate to a more effective system to assess the performance and funding of public service media.
The General Scheme was further informed by the report of the Independent Review of the Governance and Culture of RTE . Government accepted, in principle, all of the reports recommendations and the Implementation Plan set out how to give effect to these recommendations. The General Scheme addresses Recommendations 6.31 and 6.37 on the assignment of the Comptroller and Auditor General as auditor of RTE, and Recommendations 4.1, 5.1, 5.15, and 5.19 as they apply to the Board, Board Committees and Directors General of RTE and TG4.
Further information regarding the provisions of the General Scheme are provided in the Press Release of 08 October 2024. In addition to describing the role of recommendation of the Future of Media Commission and the Independent Review, the Press Release sets out how the General S
