Ireland

RTE, Ireland's public broadcaster, is probably heading towards tougher times as in 1997 Ireland's first domestic commercial channel TV3 is expected to launch. Until today all other terrestrial channels in Ireland, which take ratings of about 35 % in total, are from the UK: BBC 1 and 2, ITV franchisee Ulster Television (UTV) and Channel Four. BSkyB is distributed in Ireland via satellite cable and holds a 5 % market share. RTE is financed to 60 % by advertising income.

TV3 already got its broadcasting licence in 1989 but stuck in a legal dispute until 1993. Due to quarrels over the control of the new private channel, UTV recently left the consortium which is intended to establish TV3 next year. The Independent Radio & Television Commission (IRTC) announced that UTV's claims regarding its programming input would undermine TV3's independence. As UTV was intended to provide programming and technical know-how, TV3 is now looking for other media investors, including UK broadcasters. It is not sure whether TV3, already having completed its programming and transmission plans, will be able to launch in time early next year.

In the meantime RTE launched Ireland's third public channel at the end of October. Teilifís Na Gaeilge (TnaG) will broadcast Irish-language programming for three hours a day with news and entertainment. Most of its programming will be from independent productions but in addition RTE is obliged to provide the station with one hour of programming each day.

Irish film production suffers from changes in Ireland's tax incentive rules earlier this year. Only nine films have been certified by the Department of Arts compared to eighteen films last year. The total funds have fallen by 12 % to $ 130 million. Fears that big-budget productions could be put off by the new tax scheme seem to become true, whereas the number of low-budget films is expected to increase.

© October 1996 by Jens Barkemeyer