Broadcasting Levy

Head of Broadcasting Authority to Face Oireachtas Committee to Discuss Increase in Levy for Independent TV & Radio Stations

2nd March 2010

The proposal to increase the levy paid by independent TV and radio stations to fund the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) will be debated with the BAI’s Chief Executive, Michael O’Keeffe, at tomorrow’s (3rd March) meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

The meeting will take place at 9:45 am in Committee Room 4 of Leinster House.

According to the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI), who represent 34 local and national radio stations, the BAI is seeking an increase in its anual budget from €5.2 million to €7.6 million . The IBI have claimed that this increase will cost jobs and is unsustainable, as the minimum levy bill will now be in the region of €90,000.

Committee Chairman, MJ Nolan TD said;
“Unfortunately, no sector, including the media, has been spared the effects of the current economic situation with many stations reporting significant falls in their adverting revenue.

As a result, there have already been jobs lost in the media and some operators have had to close. Therefore, claims that this new levy will cost more jobs in the sector must be taken seriously.

For this reason, the Committee is keen to speak to the head of the BAI to try to understand why this increase is being proposed. We want to establish why he believes there is a need for such an increase in the BAI budget, what this extra revenue will be used for and if he feels that jobs will be lost as a result. We will also be asking what savings the BAI itself can make to its operating costs.”

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) was established on October 1st 2009, as an independent regulator for radio and television broadcasters in Ireland.