RTÉ is preparing to launch its new station in Britain by the end of the year, providing Irish-made programming to the emigrant population. The new station - RTÉ International - will be available on free-to-air satellite service Freesat. The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) is to examine a proposal from RTÉ on the station tomorrow.
RTÉ International will broadcast a mix of programming from RTÉ One, RTÉ Two and TG4. It will broadcast for 12 to 14 hours a day and will run Irish news and current affairs programming, as well as lifestyle content. It is also likely to show some Irish-made dramas such as popular soap Fair City, although programming rights will have a considerable impact on content.
It is understood that strict rights arrangements with the GAA, for example, mean that there will be little or no sports content on the new station. The details of programming and the various rights issues are being worked on by the broadcaster. The station will primarily have a public service role and is not expected to accept advertising.
The costs of setting up a sales office would be high, given that little interest from advertisers is expected. It will cost several million euro annually to run and, although RTÉ had been seeking extra funding for the service, it is expected to come out of its existing coffers. RTÉ International is on track to launch later this year and will have a low-key launch.
A service for the Irish diaspora has been touted for several years, but legislation fast-tracked through the Dáil, in 2006, explicitly required RTÉ to provide this service. The act did not limit the service to Britain, although it is understood there is no pressure on RTÉ to make the station available in other countries.
(Source: Sunday Business Post/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog )