| Free viewing of RTÉ on British
screens?  By
Niamh Hennessy
RTÉ could be provided free of charge when it is broadcast in Britain.
Ireland’s national broadcaster is holding talks with the Irish Department
of Foreign Affairs about possible funding for the channel.
It is understood that the outcome of those talks will have a bearing on
whether the channel is free in Britain.
Other areas still in negotiation include how the channel will be delivered
to British users with RTÉ expected to enter into talks with Sky and
various cable companies.
Ireland’s national broadcasting channel expects to start broadcasting
in Britain within 12 months with the Government giving it the go-ahead to
spend licence money from Ireland to pay for the move.
Under current legislation the state broadcaster is not allowed to use licence
payers’ money exclusively for a service for people living outside
Ireland.
But an amendment to the legislation has passed through the Seanad and is
soon expected through the Dáil and to be passed before Easter.
“The legal impediment will go very shortly, certainly before the General
Election we think,” a spokesman for RTÉ said.
A report by the Department of Foreign Affairs some years back recommended
that the issue of isolation for Irish people living in Britain could be
addressed in part by a television service.
The plans to set up a channel for Britain were drawn up over two years ago
but are now at an advanced stage with the state broadcaster putting together
mock schedules.
The new channel likely to be called RTÉ International or RTÉ
UK will incorporate programming from RTÉ 1 and RTÉ 2. But
programmes on the proposed channel cannot contain any material for which
RTÉ does not have the British rights such as Lost, ER or 24 and
numerous contracts with Irish producers have to be completed for the British
market.
“In areas like news or current affairs we would have the rights for
well in excess of 90 per cent of stuff that we would put out but there would
be the odd agency material which we would need clearance for,” the
RTÉ spokesman said.
Disappointingly for Irish people in Britain live major sporting events will
not be included as RTÉ does not own the rights.
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