Yes, it does thanks but why did it take so long to copy/follow/emulate the increase of channels such as we had in the 90's?
Most of the new channels in the 90's were aimed both at the UK and Ireland. A lot of UK stations have an Irish version that is no different except for Advertising. There's even Channel 4 Ireland. This of course causes a major problem for any Irish TV station starting up. Most of the advertising revenue is heading towards London rather than staying in the state.
No Irish TV station has made a profit as such. RTE wouldn't survive only for the licence fee and Virgin Media television/TV3 has always been in heavy debt. Any operation that has tried has failed, the most recent one was Irish TV which had plans to go on Saorview, but went belly up owing millions.
The one exception to this might be Setanta Sports but that's a very long story.
I guess the point should also be made that until 1988, there was no provision for any broadcasting whatsoever, other than by RTE. That didn’t stop a thriving pirate radio scene emerging, and in fact the Radio and Television Act 1988 was driven largely by a desire to square pressure from RTE to close down the pirate sector with public support for independent broadcasting. The model that emerged was very much an IBA-inspired “heavy touch” regime, with the important difference that the IRTC never owned the transmission network. Nonetheless it was the same familiar “beauty contest” method for allocating ILR franchises - and TV3 - that the IBA used for ITV.
The 1988 Act only made provision for one commercial TV franchise. It would be another ten years before TV3 began broadcasting. The one franchise limit didn’t change until the Broadcasting Act 2001 came along and even then what was envisaged was a similar franchising process for what were called “cable-MMD” and “satellite content” contracts. It took a long while for the regulator to shift from the mindset that it set the parameters of any commercial broadcaster. The idea that broadcasters might apply for licences on demand for stations of their own design wasn’t catered for in that system.
:-(
A former member
How did RTE pay for Euro vision in the 90s when it keeps on winning?
How did RTE pay for Euro vision in the 90s when it keeps on winning?
At least one was part funded by a National lottery scratchcard (back in the day where the lottery was state owned, and operated by An Post - The Irish Post Office.
As well as an instant cash prize, there was a draw to win tickets for the live show.
I know some of the story but I'm sure there is plenty I don't!
