Policy information
Broadcasting and Media
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
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From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
It is the role of Government to develop policy and regulation for broadcasting and media. This includes media such as television and radio but also new media, such as the internet.
The government is also responsible for overseeing the media mergers process and interacting with the EU and Council of Europe on broadcasting and media matters.
The government is responsible for providing the regulatory framework for broadcasting in Ireland. Regulation of Irish broadcasting services is managed by Coimisiún na Meán (CnM) and the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). In the era of disinformation, it is important that all citizens have a reliable source of trusted information.
Coimisiún na Meán regulates content across all Irish broadcasting services.
It is also responsible for:
• licensing and broadcasting contracts
• compliance and enforcement
• media ownership
• the administration of the media fund
• preparing and developing broadcasting codes and rules
ComReg’s role is to:
• Regulate the electronic communications sector and the postal sector in Ireland
• plan and co-ordinate broadcast transmission networks for Ireland
• input into national broadcasting policy
• develop and issue licences to Coimisiún na Meán and RTÉ
• devise new licensing regimes as required and
• monitor and enforce compliance with licence terms and conditions
If you have a television set, you must have a TV Licence . The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media arranges for the collection of the TV Licence Fee by An Post and the contribution from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) for free licences.
The monies collected are distributed to RTÉ and the Media Fund which is administered by Coimisiún na Meán and is financed by 7% of the net licence fee receipts.
Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) is provided by Saorview, Saorsat and Pay TV. RTÉ and TG4 are funded under legislation through a mix of licence fee revenues, Exchequer grants and commercial revenue. Each year, RTÉ and TG4 report on how they use public funding. Every so often, requests are made by RTÉ or TG4 for new channels and services. Coimisiún na Meán also reviews their performance each year and copies of the annual reviews are published here . 7% of the TV licence fee is allocated to the Media Fund .
Coimisiún na Meán supports:
• high quality programmes on Irish culture, heritage and experience
• programmes to improve adult literacy
• the archiving and preservation of Ireland’s broadcasting heritage
Funding can also be granted to support programmes relating to:
• the natural environment
• history
• programmes that raise public awareness and understanding of global issues
EU Member States can designate sporting and cultural events as being of major importance to society. Such events should be available on a free-to-air television service.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media reviews the list of designated events every three years .
It is important that everyone has access to reliable and trustworthy news and current affairs content. This content should come from a variety of sources and be relevant to the whole of the Irish community.
The government created a process called the media merger process to safeguard against news and current affairs content becoming monopolised by companies or people. This process means that any transaction involving a media business in Ireland is examined by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media before being allowed to take place.
Read more about Media Mergers .
Co-operation on broadcasting, audiovisual and other media matters has long been part of the relations between European countries.
Such co-operation has primarily taken place through two bodies:
The Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) governs EU-wide coordination of national legislation on all audiovisual media including television broadcasting and on-demand services.
The Future of Media Commission report sets out the strategic direction for transforming and sustaining media in Ireland over the longer term. Following Government consideration and acceptance, in principle of 49 from the 50 recommendations made, the Future of Media Commission Report was published in July 2022.
The recommendations in the report focus on: the critical societal value of a plural, independent media landscape; the importance of adequate funding for public service media and content; enhanced transparency and oversight of public service media; provisions to bolster Irish language content and journalism; the impacts of the digital transformation; and, measures to ensure greater equality, diversity, inclusion and environmental sustainability.
Since the publication of the report, examples of progress on the implementation of its recommendations include: the transposition of the Copyright Directive; the publishing of the General Scheme of the Defamation (Amendment) Bill; the introduction of a zero rate of VAT for newspapers as part of the Budget 2023 taxation measures ; an extension of Section 481 supports incentivising film & TV production made in Ireland until the end of 2028; The designation of RTÉ and TG4 as NewERA bodies under the NTMA Act, which will allow for NewERA to formally engage with RTÉ and TG4 on the most appropriate framework for reporting on performance and financial outturns; and the provision of €6 million for the Media Fund for 2023.