Levy on Independent Broad Casting

Head of Broadcasting Authority to Update Oireachtas Committee Re Levy on Independent Media Sector


30th Mar 2010

The latest developments concerning the budget of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) and the proposed increase in the levy to be paid by independent media outlets will be on the agenda at tomorrow’s (31st) meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

The meeting will take place at 9:45 am in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House.

The Committee met earlier this month with the Chief Executive of the BAI, Michael O’Keeffe and passed a motion seeking the suspension of the increase to allow for the proper examination of the accounts of the BAI in to establish on what basis this increase is being sought and if it is necessary.

Committee Chairman, MJ Nolan TD said;
“The Committee was extremely concerned by the damaging impact a higher payment could have on the independent media sector, particularly local radio stations.

Many local radio stations are already struggling to survive and are operating on a knife edge owing to significant downturns in their advertising revenue. In many cases local stations have lost up to 35% in advertising income and have already had to make people redundant.

Therefore, we called for the annulment of the Statutory Instrument which would introduce the levy and asked that time be given to scrutinise the measure to review its cost effectiveness The meeting tomorrow will give us the up-to-date picture on the latest developments regarding this situation.”