Findings from a new report commissioned by RTÉ and conducted by consultants in the UK Mediatique, has concluded that: “RTÉ could expect up to €19m from Sky and €11m from Virgin.”
These findings are in relation to retransmission costs that should be paid to the broadcaster by the pay TV operators who carry the RTÉ channels.
This new information regarding retransmission costs within the report has come to light, after an initial refusal was appealed under the Freedom of Information act by the Sunday Independent.
According to research undertaken in the report: “Pay-TV operators Sky and Virgin Media should pay RTÉ up to €30m a year in order to carry its channels.”
The Sunday Independent also reports that: “49pc of respondents to research said they would leave Sky if it did not carry free-to-air channels such as RTÉ and TV3, while 63pc said they would leave Virgin, formerly known as UPC. Many of those who would stay with the service would expect discounts if the channels were not available.”
Other Irish broadcaster such as TG4 and TV3 are also said to benefit from retransmission costs based on a detailed analysis of the financial benefit to Sky and Virgin of carrying free-to-air stations.
An RTÉ spokesman is reported to have said: "Across a number of countries now, much fairer systems exist whereby terrestrial broadcasters can negotiate fair compensation for the significant value they create for TV platforms."
He added that a "rebalancing" of Ireland's legislation was overdue.
Minister for Communications Denis Naughten is currently reviewing Irish broadcasting legislation and is considering introducing retransmission fees.
The previously unpublished report by Mediatique was completed at the end of 2014.
The full article posted in the Sunday Independent can be found online here.
