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Initial briefing for the Future of Media Commission October 2020

NB. This briefing paper has been prepared by the Secretariat ahead of the inaugural meeting

of the Future of Media Commission. It is intended as a general orientation, lightly

introducing some of the issues pertinent to the Commission and signposting some further

research and information. It does not purport to be a definitive statement on, or

comprehensive analysis of, the media sector in Ireland or the challenges that it faces. Nor

does it represent government policy on any of the issues which the Commission will examine

during the course of its work.

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1 ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MEDIA COMMISSION ......................................................... 3

1.1 Establishment and Terms of Reference........................................................................................... 3

1.2 Membership of the Commission .................................................................................................... 4

1.3 Secretariat .................................................................................................................................... 5

1.4 Online presence ............................................................................................................................ 5

2 SETTING THE SCENE ................................................................................................ 6

3 PROFILE OF THE MEDIA LANDSCAPE IN IRELAND ..................................................... 8

3.1 Print media ................................................................................................................................... 8

3.2 Online media .............................................................................................................................. 10

3.3 Broadcast media ......................................................................................................................... 11

3.4 Ireland’s Public Service Broadcasters ........................................................................................... 12 3.4.1 RTÉ ..................................................................................................................................... 12 3.4.2 TG4 ..................................................................................................................................... 15

4 REGULATORY ISSUES ............................................................................................ 17

4.1 Revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive .............................................................................. 17

4.2 Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill ....................................................................................... 17

4.3 Regulation of Broadcasting in Ireland ........................................................................................... 18 4.3.1 BAI annual review of output targets ................................................................................... 18 4.3.2 BAI 5-Year Review of Funding of Public Service Broadcasters ............................................. 18 4.3.3 Governance of Public Service Broadcasters ........................................................................ 19

5 FUNDING OF PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING ...................................................... 19

5.1 TV Licence Collection ................................................................................................................... 19

5.2 Distribution of the Licence Fee ..................................................................................................... 19

5.3 The Broadcasting Fund and the Independent Production Sector .................................................... 20

5.4 Reforming funding of public service media ................................................................................... 20

ANNEX I – ADDITIONAL READING MATERIAL ................................................................ 22 5.4.1 International Examples ....................................................................................................... 23 5.4.2 Print ................................................................................................................................... 23

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1 About the Future of Media Commission

1.1 Establishment and Terms of Reference The Commission and its Terms of Reference are based on a Government Decision of 29

September 2020, and in line with a commitment in the current Programme for Government,

Our Shared Future.

The preamble to the Commission’s Terms of Reference describes the context for the

Commission’s work. It emphasises that well-functioning media systems, and in particular

public service broadcasting, deliver four important public services to Irish society, namely:

informing, educating and entertaining the Irish public with regard to matters of Irish

culture, identity, sport, language and other matters inherent to Ireland and the Irish

people;

ensuring that the public has access to high quality, impartial, independent journalism,

reporting on matters of local, regional, national, European and international

importance in a balanced way and which contributes to democratic discourse;

bringing the nation, and diaspora, together at moments of great national importance;

ensuring that creative Irish talent gets the opportunity to have their work reach

audiences in Ireland and, where possible, further afield.

The preamble continues by describing how, since the foundation of the State, these public

service aims have been, and continue to be delivered at local, regional and national level by

a wide number of media organisations including the two statutorily-established public

service broadcasters - RTÉ and TG4 - as well as independent broadcasters, producers and

print media. It identifies also the increasingly important role played by online media in the

delivery of public service aims.

The Terms of Reference then set out the goals of the Commission, as follows:

To identify what the Irish experience has been in delivering the above aims through

public service broadcasters, other broadcasters, print and online media at a local,

regional and national level and the challenges created for these media by new global

platforms and changing audience preferences in relation to how content is delivered;

To consider the extent to which the current models of delivery are the appropriate ones

the next 10 years;

To review best practice in other comparable jurisdictions, particularly across the

European Economic Area in terms of providing future-proofed models for meeting the

above four public services in light of changing audience expectations, in particular the

preferences and behaviours of younger audiences.

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Finally, the Terms of Reference set out the tasks of the Commission, which are to be

completed through a Report of the Commission, to be finalised within a nine month period.

The Commission’s report is expected to:

propose how public service aims should be delivered in Ireland over the next ten years;

describe how public service media should contribute to supporting Ireland’s cultural

and creative sectors;

how public service media can be funded in a way that is sustainable, gives greater

security of funding, ensures independent editorial oversight and delivers value for

money to the public;

make recommendations on RTÉ’s role, financing and structure within this framework;

set out how public service media is to be overseen and regulated, having regard to our

EU obligations including the requirements of the revised Audio-visual Media Services

Directive.

1.2 Membership of the Commission The Commission has been constituted as an independent body whose members have been

appointed on the basis of their expertise in broadcast, print and online media. The

composition of the Commission represents a balanced mix of experts in public service

media, independent journalism, social media, new technology platforms, media economics,

culture, language, creative content, governance and best international practice.

The Commission itself is not intended to be a stakeholder representative forum, and as such

none of its members have been appointed in an ex-officio capacity.

It is envisaged that the Commission will engage comprehensively with key stakeholders,

including journalists and their representatives, publishers, regional media, and the wider

public. The membership of the Commission includes:

Professor Brian MacCraith, Chair of the Commission. Former President of Dublin City

University

Sinéad Burke, Director of Tilting the Lens, writer and academic active in social media,

and member of the Council of State

Alan Rusbridger, Chair of the Steering Committee of the Reuters Institute for the Study

of Journalism at the University of Oxford, and former Editor-in-Chief of Guardian News

and Media

Lynette Fay, freelance broadcaster with an academic background in applied

communications

Nuala O’Connor, co-founder of South Wind Blows, writer and documentary filmmaker

in the areas of music and the Arts

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Dr. Gillian Doyle, Professor of Media Economics at the University of Glasgow

Mark Little, CEO and co-Founder of Kinzen, and Founder of Storyful

Stephen McNamara, Director of Communications with the Irish Rugby Football Union

Dr. Finola Doyle-O’Neill, Broadcast Historian at University College Cork

Two additional members to be appointed subject to Government Decision

1.3 Secretariat Secretary to the Commission is Andrew Munro, Assistant Secretary at the Department of

the Taoiseach.

The Secretariat to the Commission is provided by the Department of the Taoiseach (Prime

Minister’s Office) in liaison with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport

and Media. The Secretariat includes:

Cathal O’Regan, Principal Officer, Protocol and Civic Policy Division, Department of the

Taoiseach

Tríona Quill, Principal Officer, Broadcasting & Media Division, Department of Tourism,

Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

Liz Lyne, Administrative Officer, Protocol and Civic Policy Division, Department of the

Taoiseach

The Secretariat can be contacted at secretariat@futureofmediacommission.ie.

1.4 Online presence The Commission’s website, www.futureofmediacommission.ie, will go live on 29 October,

coinciding with the inaugural meeting of the Commission. The website will include a secure

area where members of the Commission can access all relevant documentation pertaining

to meetings etc., as well as a library of relevant reading materials.

mailto:secretariat@futureofmediacommission.iehttp://www.futureofmediacommission.ie/

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2 Setting the scene

While one of the aims of the Future of Media Commission will be to elaborate its view of

what Public Service Media (PSM) currently is, and how it may evolve in the years ahead, the

following offers a brief introduction to the question.

Defined in its narrowest sense, PSM includes statutory public service media organisations

in direct receipt of public funding in accordance with the Broadcasting Act 2009, of which

there are currently two just: RTÉ and TG4. A broader interpretation of the term also

encapsulates a wide range of companies that operate media organisations (broadcast, print

and online), providing varying levels of public service content to their audiences. Such public

service content is sometimes commissioned by RTÉ, TG4 or the Broadcasting Authority of

Ireland (using public monies), while at other times is produced on a commercial or voluntary

basis.

PSM have played an invaluable role in Irish society over many decades, supporting and

promoting civic and political discourse, culture, the Irish language and many other

objectives.

Over the last decade, innovative technologies and new business models have led to

transformative changes in the broadcasting, print and online media sectors in Ireland.

Mirroring the trends seen internationally, consumer behaviour and preferences in Ireland

are changing fundamentally, with important implications for media providers and

publishers, content creators, journalists, broadcasters, advertisers and consumers alike.

For example, the 2019 BAI Reuters Digital News Report on the broadcasting sector in Ireland

shows that among those aged 65 and over, TV is the main news source for 52%, while radio

is the main news source for another 18%. In sharp contrast, among 18-24 year olds, only

18% rely on TV and 6% radio as their main news source, with 71% relying on online sources.

Similar trends are revealed in the October 2019 TAM Ireland survey, which reports that

adults aged 55+ watch TV for >250 minutes per day, adults aged 35-54 watch >150 minutes

per day, while those in the 15-24 years age group watch just over 50 minutes per day of TV.

While these trends are broadly in line with international comparators, there is evidence that

the Irish public still has a relatively high level of consumption of traditional media. For

example, 2019 JNLR figures for radio listenership show that a large majority of Irish adults

(81%) listen to the radio on an average day, with 55% tuning into their local or regional

station and 43% listening to a national station. Among the younger, 15 to 34-year market,

71% listen daily. Overall consumption by Irish radio audiences is high, with listeners tuning

in, on average, for almost 4 hours (226 minutes) per day during the prime 7am to 7pm time

Mon-Fri.

In relation to news and current affairs, the latest Digital News Ireland Report 2020 (Dublin

City University FuJO, BAI, Reuters Institute) shows that, over the last five years, Irish

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consumers’ interest in news has remained consistently high, with just under 70% declaring

themselves either extremely or very interested in news. Those aged 18-24 show the least

interest in news content and these levels rise for each successive age group, with 55-64 year

olds showing the highest levels of interest. More Irish people are extremely interested in

news (26%) compared to the UK (14%) and the EU average (20%).

The trends in media consumption have important implications for public service media in

Ireland. Important questions arise about the future capacity of public service media to

create specifically Irish content that reflects our individual culture, art, music and sport, and

to reach their target audiences with that content. Similar issues arise regarding news and

current affairs, especially important in light of topical challenges such as online

disinformation and the erosion of public confidence in information sources.

A concurrent phenomenon is the erosion of traditional advertising markets and the

inexorable shift towards digital advertising, which is significantly impacting the financial

situation and competitiveness of public and private media organisations. Recent research

on the Irish advertising market suggests that, in a market valued at approximately €1 billion

in 2019, Google and Facebook collected an estimated 40 per cent of total advertising spend

and 81% of total online advertising spend.

For RTÉ, which depends both on public funding derived through the TV licence fee and

advertising revenues, the current trends are having a critical impact on its revenues. For the

national, regional and local print media, the shift of advertising revenues to digital

platforms, exacerbated by the precipitous drop in circulation and advertising revenues

during the pandemic, are a cause of significant concern for the industry. As well as impacting

on the capacity of the broadcasting, print and online media sectors to deliver public service

objectives, these long-term structural changes have implications for future

competitiveness, employment, plurality of ownership, and editorial independence.

Meanwhile, in an era of extensive online disinformation, and at a time when the global

pandemic has caused unparalleled disruption to social and economic systems, the role of

public service media in educating, informing and entertaining the public in a way that

protects the fundamental underpinnings of a healthy democracy and society has arguably

never been greater.

Previous analysis and research on the future of public service media

Over recent years, issues around the future of public service media in Ireland have been

subject to considerable debate and analysis, including by successive governments, the

Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) and by academia. While beyond the scope of this initial

briefing paper, the Secretariat will provide Commission members with access to the various

debates and analyses that are available.

For example, the financial challenges facing public service broadcasting and the role of the

TV Licence Fee have been examined, inter alia, by:

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the interdepartmental Working Group on the Future Funding of Public Service

Broadcasting;

the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (through its Five Year Reviews of Public Service

Broadcasting Funding);

the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications;

NewERA (the Government’s New Economy and Recovery Authority, which provides

financial and commercial advice to Government Ministers in relation to State

companies);

RTÉ; and

various consultancies.

While the preponderance of analysis already undertaken has been in relation to the future

funding of public service broadcasting, the Terms of Reference of the Future of Media

Commission include an examination of public service media including print and online, as

well as broadcast media.

3 Profile of the media landscape in Ireland

3.1 Print media Ireland’s print media has a long tradition of independent journalism at national, regional

and local levels, operating in what is a competitive and challenging sector of the economy.

As well as indigenous publications, there is strong competition from UK publications in

particular, with a number of UK newspapers producing editions for the Irish market. Irish

newspapers are increasingly expanding their reach through digital editions supplemented

with audiovisual content. Ireland has a higher rate of consumption of printed newspapers

relative to many other European countries.

The print sector has been subject to a series of consolidations and mergers in recent years,

with a consequent impact on plurality of ownership. The sector is being impacted

significantly by changing patterns of media consumption and advertising, including the

impact of digital advertising.

While the print sector is not subject to statutory regulation, the majority of publishers are

members of the Press Council of Ireland, and subscribe to the Press Council’s Code of

Practice and to the complaints investigation functions of the Office of the Press

Ombudsman.

Though not exhaustive, the following tables provide a good overview of the range of

publications available in Ireland, and available circulation figures.

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National Daily Publications with circ (average daily circulation, Jul-Dec 2019)

The Irish Times

(circ 54,147)

Irish Independent

(circ not available)

Irish Sun

(circ 45,487)

Irish Daily Star

(circ 38,383)

Irish Daily Mail

(circ 26,265)

Irish Daily Mirror

(circ 26,158)

Herald

(circ not available)

Irish Examiner

(circ 23,387)

National Weekly Publications with circ (average circulation, Jul-Dec 2018)

Sunday Independent

(circ 165,334)

Sunday World

(circ 123,095)

The Sunday Times

(circ 66,039)

Irish Mail on Sunday

(circ 62,630)

Business Post

(circ 26,652)

Irish Sunday Mirror

(circ 20,220)

Irish Farmers Journal

(circ not available)

Local Newspapers (Print and digital editions)

Bray People Carlow Nationalist Clare Champion Connacht Tribune Connaught

Telegraph

Derry News Donegal Democrat Donegal News Donegal People's

Press

Donegal Post

Drogheda

Independent

Dublin InQuirer Dundalk Democrat Enniscorthy

Guardian

Fingal Independent

Gorey Guardian Inish Times Kerry's Eye Kildare Nationalist Kildare Post

Kilkenny People Laois Nationalist Leinster Leader Leinster Express Leitrim Observer

Limerick Leader Longford Leader Mayo News Meath Chronicle Midland Tribune

Munster Express The Nationalist Nenagh Guardian New Ross Standard Northern Standard

Roscommon Herald Sligo Champion Southern Star The Anglo Celt The Argus

The Avondhu The Clare Echo The Corkman The Echo The Kerryman

The Leader Tipperary Star Tuam Herald Tullamore Tribune Waterford News &

Star

Western People Westmeath

Examiner

Westmeath

Independent

Wexford People Wicklow People

Magazines (Print and digital editions)

Accountancy Ireland Business Plus Euro Times Hotpress Irish Country Magazine

Irish Medical Times Law Society Gazette RTÉ Guide Siochain Stubbs Gazette

The Gloss The Irish Field The Irish Journalist Woman's Way Work & Life Magazine

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3.2 Online media The online media market in Ireland is characterised by a combination of ‘born-online’ media

outlets and traditional media organisations with an online presence. The table below shows

a selection of the online-only media in the Irish market:

Online-only media

TheJournal.ie Joe.ie breakingnews.ie Extra.ie

Her.ie Buzz.ie Carlowlive.ie Corkbeo.ie

Donegallive.ie DublinLive.ie Echolive.ie Evoke.ie

KildareNow.com OffalyExpress.ie OffalyLive.ie Rollercoaster.ie

TipperaryLive.ie WaterfordLive.ie DerryNow.com

However, a number of traditional media organisations are competing successfully in the

online market, as evidenced by the latest FuJO / BAI / Reuters Institute Digital News Ireland

Report 2020, which shows that the top ten digital brands for news consumption include a

mix of traditional and online-only media organisations:

1. RTÉ News Online (broadcaster)

2. Independent.ie (newspaper)

3. TheJournal.ie (online-only)

4. Breakingnews.ie (online-only)

5. Sky News online (broadcaster

6. BBC News online (broadcaster)

7. Irishtimes.com (newspaper)

8. Any local radio news stations (broadcasters)

9. Yahoo news (online)

10. Irish Examiner online (newspaper)

The sector faces important questions about its business model. As reported above, recent

research on the Irish advertising market suggests that, in a market valued at approximately

€1 billion in 2019, Google and Facebook collected an estimated 40 per cent of total

advertising spend and 81% of total online advertising spend.

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3.3 Broadcast media Broadcast media in Ireland comprise the public service broadcasters (RTÉ and TG4), and

independent broadcasters, across radio and TV, at national, regional and local level.

The independent broadcasting landscape has developed over the past 25 years with the

licensing of commercial, community, institutional and temporary sound broadcasting

services and commercial and community television services.

The BAI provides a list of the various entities licenced in the Broadcast Sector, including:

National TV Broadcasters

RTÉ TV

RTÉ One, Two, News Now

TG4 Virgin Media

Virgin Media One, Two and Three

eir Sport

National and Regional Radio

RTÉ Radio

Incl. RTÉ Radio One, 2FM, Lyric FM, Raidio na Gaeltachta

Newstalk Today FM

FM104 98FM C103 / Cork's 96FM Beat 102 – 103 Clare FM

Cork's 96FM / C103 East Coast FM WLR FM Spin 103.8 Galway Bay FM

Highland Radio iRadio NE &

Midlands

iRadio NW KCLR 96FM KFM

Limerick's Live

95FM

LM FM Mid West Radio Midland's 103 Classic Hits 4FM

Northern Sound /

Shannonside

Ocean FM Q102 Radio Kerry Radio Maria Ireland

Radio Nova Red FM Shannonside /

Northern Sound

South East Radio Spin South West

Spirit Radio Sunshine 106.8 Tipp FM UCB

Community TV and Radio Stations

Athlone

Community Radio

Claremorris

Community Radio

Community Radio

Castlebar

Community Radio

Kilkenny City

Community

Radio Youghal

Connemara

Community Radio

Cork Community TV DCTV Dublin South FM Dundalk 100 FM

Liffey Sound FM Near FM Phoenix FM Raidio Corca

Baiscinn

Ros FM

Tipperary Mid-

West

West Limerick 102

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3.4 Ireland’s Public Service Broadcasters

3.4.1 RTÉ

RTÉ (Raidió Teilifís Éireann) is a semi-state company and Ireland’s primary public service

broadcaster, on television, radio and online. The radio service began in 1926, and TV

broadcasts in 1962, making RTÉ one of the oldest continuously operating public service

broadcasters in the world.

RTÉ, which is part-funded by the licence fee and part-funded by commercial revenue, has a

broad remit, with responsibility for the provision of radio and television services in both the

English and Irish languages.

Its television services are RTÉ One, RTÉ One HD, RTÉ One +1, RTÉ 2, RTÉ 2 HD, RTÉ 2 + 1,

RTÉjr and RTÉ News Now. RTÉ operates four primary radio stations (RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ 2fm,

RTÉ lyric fm and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta) with five additional digital radio services (RTÉ

Radio 1 Extra, RTÉ Pulse, RTÉ Gold, RTÉ 2XM, and RTÉjr Radio). RTÉ, through 2rn, also

manages the free-to-air digital terrestrial television service, Saorview.

RTÉ is required to be responsive to the interests and concerns of the whole community

within the island of Ireland, and to have special regard for elements that distinguish that

culture and, in particular, the Irish language.

Statutory Objectives

The Broadcasting Act 2009 sets out the statutory objects of RTÉ, as follows:

(a) to establish, maintain and operate a national television and sound broadcasting service

which shall have the character of a public service, be a free-to-air service and be made

available, in so far as it is reasonably practicable, to the whole community on the island of

Ireland,

(b) to establish and maintain a website and teletext services in connection with the services

of RTÉ

(c) to establish and maintain orchestras, choirs and other cultural performing groups in

connection with the services of RTÉ

(d) to assist and co-operate with the relevant public bodies in preparation for, and execution

of, the dissemination of relevant information to the public in the event of a major

emergency

(e) to establish and maintain archives and libraries containing materials relevant to the

objects of RTÉ

(f) to establish, maintain and operate a television broadcasting service and a sound

broadcasting service which shall have the character of a public service, which services shall

be made available, in so far as RTÉ considers reasonably practicable, to Irish communities

outside the island of Ireland,

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(g) to establish, maintain and operate, in so far as it is reasonably practicable, community,

local, or regional broadcasting services, which shall have the character of a public service,

and be available free-to-air,

(h) to establish and maintain non-broadcast non-linear audio-visual media services, in so far

as it is reasonably practicable, which shall have the character of a public broadcasting

service (such consent not being required in respect of such services which are ancillary to a

broadcasting service

(i) to establish, maintain, and operate one or more national multiplexes,

(j) so far as it is reasonably practicable, to exploit such commercial opportunities as may

arise in pursuit of the objects outlined

Funding

As a public service broadcaster, RTÉ is funded through a mix of licence fee revenues and

commercial revenues (largely derived from advertising). Commercial income continues to

decline, primarily due to the rise of digital advertising on the social media platforms, Brexit

uncertainty and the impact of COVID on advertising. While RTÉ’s licence fee income has

risen since 2016, this has mainly been achieved through replacing licence fee funding for

TG4 with exchequer funding and the increase in free licences underpinned by contributions

from the Department of Social Protection, rather than organic growth in income from direct

TV Licence sales. In 2019, RTÉ was allocated €197m from the TV Licence Fee.

Between 2008 and 2014 RTÉ reduced operating costs by €127m (c.30%). These reductions

were achieved by tiered pay reductions, a pay freeze, content cuts (in-house and

commissioned) and other efficiency savings. Despite this, with the exception of a small

profit in 2014 and break even in 2015, operating losses continue to be recorded in most

years.

The total number of employees at year end 2019 was 1,714 which is a 7% reduction

compared to December 2016. The reduction was incentivised by a voluntary exit

programme launched in 2017. The target reduction under this scheme was between 200

and 300 staff. However, the take up was below expectations, at 180 staff.

RTÉ has a borrowing limit of €100m under the Broadcasting Act 2009. Total borrowings are

€95m as of October 2019 so this, coupled with its challenging underlying financial position,

means their ability to raise additional funding is restricted

RTÉ Strategic Response

RTÉ wrote to the Minister in November 2019 to propose a revised strategy in response to

the seriousness of their financial situation. The revised strategy included a number of radical

measures to cut costs and raise revenue:

Pay

A 15% reduction in the fees of top presenters from January 2020.

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RTÉ Board to waive fees.

A paycut of 10% for top executives.

A pay freeze for other staff.

Reducing headcount by a further 200 through voluntary redundancies and movement

of NSO staff to National Concert Hall.

Further work practice reforms.

Services

Closure of the teletext service Aertel (requires statutory change).

Closure of digital stations such as RTÉ Gold, RTÉ Choice, RTÉ Pulse, RTÉ 2XM, RTÉ Jr

radio (this requires a formal application by RTÉ, a sectoral impact analysis by the BAI

and Ministerial consent)

More flexibility for advertising minutage (Ministerial consent has been sought and the

BAI is currently analysing the sectoral impact of the proposed changes).

Asset Disposal

Sale of part of the Donnybrook campus (requires Ministerial consent).

There are a number of risks and challenges to delivering these measures including

negotiated reforms, substantial industrial relations risks and timing risks linked to service

closures and content cuts. In order to develop the proposals further, RTÉ engaged PWC to

review its strategy. They have engaged with the Unions regarding the reduced headcount,

pay issues and workplace reforms

Ministerial consent is required for a number of the measures proposed. While RTÉ

considered the sale of a further 9 acres of the Donnybrook campus, Government requested

that this decision be deferred until after the Commission reports.

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3.4.2 TG4

TG4 (pronounced in Irish as TG Ceathair - see https://www.teanglann.ie/en/fuaim/ceathair

for pronunciation)) is the free-to-air Irish-language public service TV channel. TG4, which is

funded mainly by the Irish Exchequer, with additional income from the sale of commercial

air-time, has responsibility for the provision of a television service whose range of

programming is primarily in the Irish language, reflecting the varied elements which make

up the culture of the whole of the island of Ireland with special regard for elements that

distinguish that culture and, in particular, the Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) regions.

Statutory objectives of TG4

The Act sets out the statutory objects of TG4, as follows:

(a) to establish, maintain and operate a national television broadcasting service, which shall

have the character of a public service, be a free-to-air service and be made available, in so

far as it is reasonably practicable, to the whole community on the island of Ireland,

(b) to establish and maintain a website and teletext services in connection with the services

of TG4

(c) to establish and maintain choirs and other cultural performing groups in connection with

the services of TG4

(d) to assist and co-operate with the relevant public bodies in preparation for, and execution

of, the dissemination of relevant information to the public in the event of a major

emergency,

(e) to establish and maintain archives and libraries containing materials relevant to the

objects of TG4 under this subsection,

(f) to establish, maintain and operate, in so far as it is reasonably practicable, a television

broadcasting service, which shall have the character of a public service, to be made available

to Irish communities outside of the island of Ireland,

(g) to establish, maintain and operate in so far as it is reasonably practicable, community,

local, or regional broadcasting services, which shall have the character of a public service,

and be available free-to-air,

(h) to establish and maintain non-broadcast non-linear audio-visual media services, in so far

as it is reasonably practicable, which shall have the character of a public broadcasting

service (such consent not being required in respect of such services which are ancillary to a

broadcasting service provided under

(i) so far as it is reasonably practicable, to exploit such commercial opportunities as may

arise in pursuit of the objects outlined

https://www.teanglann.ie/en/fuaim/ceathair

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TG4’s five year strategy

TG4’s five year strategy seeks to extend its national reach while also meeting the needs of

its core audience. In contrast with RTÉ, TG4 can rely on significantly more predictable

income streams. It is less dependent on commercial revenue and is largely exchequer

funded since 2019 which protects from the impact of licence fee variations. TG4 will receive

€34.2m current and €3m capital in exchequer funding in 2020. A revision of its accounting

rules means that some content can be funded through capital funding.

As a publisher broadcaster TG4 relies to a greater extent on independent production of

content and, as such, it retains more control over its cost base. While TG4 carries no debt

and does not run deficits, it has, however, been constrained in its capacity to grow audience

share due to financial limitations. Financial constraints also mean TG4 is less able to prepare

for future challenges such as the need for increased online content.

Funding

All TG4’s public funding comes directly from the Exchequer rather than the TV licence fee.

In 2020 this amounted to €37.233m. The BAI 5 year review published in 2018 recommended

an increase of €6 million in public funding to TG4 over its 2017 funding. In 2018, TG4 was

allocated an additional €2m ongoing exchequer funding, comprising €1m current and €1m

capital funding. In 2019, TG4 was allocated €443,000 in new Exchequer funding and in the

Revised Estimates for 2020; TG4 has been allocated an additional €1m capital funding. This

gives a combined total of €3.443m of the €6m recommendation that TG4 has received in

ongoing additional public funding since 2017.

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4 Regulatory Issues

4.1 Revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive The current version of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive was agreed in 2008 and

contains rules and requirements that form the minimum standards that television

broadcasting services and on-demand audiovisual media services must follow in the EU.

Such services include the RTÉ player, Netflix and Now TV.

The revised Directive includes, for the first time specific rules and requirements for video

sharing platform services such as YouTube. The revised Directive takes a principles-based

approach and requires Member States to ensure that video sharing platform services take

appropriate measures to protect minors from harmful content, and all users from hate

speech and certain criminal content. The approach set out in the Directive is, therefore,

systemic in nature and the role of national regulators is to ensure that the measures taken

by video sharing platforms are adequate in practice to address these requirements.

The revised Directive will require the regulation of any video sharing platform service

established in Ireland for the entirety of the European Union. This is likely to include very

well-known and large online services such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

4.2 Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill The Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill transposes the Audiovisual Media Services

Directive, which has a due date of September 2020. The General Scheme of the Bill was

referred to the Office of the Attorney General for detailed drafting in January 2020. The

proposed legislation brings together a number of initiatives, including the transposition of

the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive and certain actions from the Action Plan

for Online Safety 2018-2019. Broadly speaking, the proposed Bill would:

Establish a Media Commission which will have all the present functions of the

Broadcasting Authority of Ireland;

Dissolve the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland;

Transpose the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive, including those provisions

of the Directive relating to the regulation of video sharing platform services;

Establish a framework for the regulation of online safety to address the proliferation of

harmful online content, encompassing the regulation of video sharing platform

services, to be administered by an Online Safety Commissioner as part of the Media

Commission;

Establish a framework for the regulation of on-demand audiovisual media services to

be administered by the Media Commission;

18

Provide the Media Commission with appropriate compliance powers, including the

power to issue information requests, initiate authorised officer-led investigations and

to audit the complaint or issues handling mechanisms operated by online services; and

Provide the Media Commission with appropriate sanction powers, subject to court

oversight, including administrative financial sanctions, the power to compel

compliance and the power to block online services.

4.3 Regulation of Broadcasting in Ireland The primary legislation governing broadcasting in Ireland is the Broadcasting Act 2009,

under which the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is established as the independent

regulator for broadcasting.

The Act sets out the public service remit and operation of the two public service

broadcasting corporations - RTĖ (the original and largest TV and radio broadcaster in the

State) and TG4 (the Irish language television broadcaster). The Act also sets out the licensing

requirements for commercial radio and TV broadcasting, which is overseen by the BAI.

The Act sets out the statutory basis for the Television Licence fee. The fee, which has been

frozen at €160 p.a. since 2008, raised €163m in direct sales in 2019, and additional revenues

of approximately €60m were derived from the issuing of free licences by the Minister for

Employment Affairs and Social Protection to qualifying applicants under the Household

Benefit Scheme. In total, the value of licence fee revenues in 2019 was €223m.

The Act specifies the criteria for the Broadcasting Fund, which is financed by 7% of net

licence fee receipts, generally worth €13-14m p.a.. The Broadcasting Fund, administered by

the BAI, currently has two schemes in operation, namely the Archiving Scheme and the

Sound and Vision Scheme – the latter which funds content production.

4.3.1 BAI annual review of output targets

Under the Broadcasting Act 2009, the BAI is required to undertake an annual review in

regard to the extent to which RTÉ and TG4 have met their public service commitments in

the previous year, and on foot of that review to make a recommendation to the Minister

regarding a licence fee modification for RTÉ, or the amount of funding paid to TG4.

4.3.2 BAI 5-Year Review of Funding of Public Service Broadcasters

In addition to the Annual Reviews, the BAI is obliged to conduct Five Year Funding Reviews.

The first 5-Year Review of the funding of public service broadcasting was conducted by the

BAI in 2012-2013 and the second in 2018 for the period 2018-2022. It recommended

additional funding of €30m per annum to RTĖ and €6m to TG4. Of this RTĖ has got

approximately €20m to date and TG4 €3.443m.

19

4.3.3 Governance of Public Service Broadcasters

RTÉ and TG4 are each subject to the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies,

which requires Oversight Agreements to be signed by the Department and the broadcasters.

The Oversight Agreements do not include any additional obligations; rather they describe

the roles, responsibilities and obligations of the Department, RTÉ and TG4, as set out in the

Broadcasting Act.

RTÉ and TG4 provide detailed financial analysis to D/TCAGSM on a monthly basis including

revenues, costs and deficit/surplus by channel, service and broadcasting genre and between

public-service and non-public service activities. This information is consolidated at year-end

and published in RTÉ’s and TG4’s annual reports.

5 Funding of Public Service Broadcasting

5.1 TV Licence Collection Since a low point in 2012, TV licence sales have gradually improved year on year with direct

sales in 2019 of 1,025,534 licences. The system is not without its challenges, with the

current evasion rate estimated be 12.57%%. While this rate has fallen from 15.25% at the

end of 2014, it is still at an unacceptable level considering its UK counterpart has an evasion

rate of 7%. Evasion equates to a loss of up to €33.7m per annum to public service

broadcasting in Ireland. In addition to evasion, the number of households required to have

a licence under current legislation is declining due to a departure from traditional viewing

habits, with recent TAM (television audience measurement) estimates suggesting that

approximately 10% of homes do not have a traditional TV.

Total TV Licence receipts in 2019 were €222.72m consisting of €162.8.54m in direct sales

and a €59.9m contribution from DEASP for free TV licences issued under the household

benefits package. Out of the total TV licence receipts received by the Department in 2019

RTÉ received €196.54m, An Post €11.38m and the Broadcasting Fund €14.79m. The Fund is

administered by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) which receives 7% of licence

fee funds to support an archiving scheme and the independent production of high quality

indigenous content based on Irish culture and language.

An average of 455,439 free TV licences were recorded on the DEASP database for 2019. It

was decided as part of Budget 2020 that DEASP would increase their annual contribution by

€10m. This has benefitted both RTÉ and the Broadcasting Fund. RTÉ will gain approximately

€9m additional public funding as a result of this in 2020.

5.2 Distribution of the Licence Fee In 2019, a total of €222.7 million was generated by a combination of direct TV Licence Sales

and receipts from the Department of Employment and Social Protection. €196.5 million was

20

distributed to RTÉ, €11.3 million to the collection agent (An Post), and €14.8 to the

Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

As of end September 2020, TV Licence receipts stand at almost €163 million, of which total

payments to RTÉ have been ≈ €138.8 million, and total payments to the BAI in respect of

the Broadcasting Fund were ≈ €9.6 million (7% of total licence fee revenues).

5.3 The Broadcasting Fund and the Independent Production Sector

The Broadcasting Act 2009 provides that 7% of net television licence fee receipts are

payable into the Broadcasting Funding Scheme. The Fund, which is administered by the

Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), supports two distinct schemes: the Sound and

Vision (S&V) scheme, and the Archiving scheme. The schemes are open to independent

producers and all broadcasters.

The total allocated to the S&V Scheme Fund to date in 2020 is €9,621,408.80

The BAI established a Covid-19 funding round (Round 35) under the Sound and Vision

Scheme of €2.5m for commercial radio stations. The BAI received a total of 32 applications

from independent commercial radio stations across the country. The applications were

evaluated according to the COVID-19 Fund assessment criteria, and all 32 applications are

being allocated funding.

The BAI is currently inviting applications from community radio stations for awards totalling

€750,000. On 8 September, BAI launched an open funding round of the scheme, for which

€2m in exchequer funding was secured as part of the July Stimulus and which will amount

to €4.5m in total. Applications to this round closed on 7 October and decisions will be made

in November regarding successful applicants. This round is open to all commercial and

community television broadcasters and public service broadcasters.

5.4 Reforming funding of public service media There has been considerable debate and analysis over recent years about how best to

reform or replace the TV Licence mechanism for funding public service broadcasting, and

whether or not to extend funding for other types of public service media. While overall TV

licence revenues have remained relatively stable over the last decade, the static quantum

allows no meaningful scope for additional investment in public service media, nor can it

serve to address the decline in commercial revenues.

In their November 2017 report, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications,

Climate Action and Environment recommended the replacement of the TV licence with a

broadcasting charge.

Subsequently, an interdepartmental Working Group on the Future Funding of Public Service

Broadcasting examined the options and identified a number of challenges relating to the

21

introduction of a broadcasting charge. In its report of April 2019, the working group

recommended a phased approach to funding reform, starting by putting the collection of

the television licence fee out to public tender for a 5 year contract; a medium-term

replacement of the TV Licence Fee with a device-independent Broadcasting Charge, and a

communications strategy to inform the public of planned changes.

22

Annex I – Additional reading material Funding

2013 VFM Introduction of Public Service Broadcasting Charge and Public Consultation re

same. https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-

ie/communications/consultations/Pages/Consultation-on-Public-Service-Broadcasting-

Charge.aspx

Olsberg Report: Economic Analysis of the Audiovisual Sector in the Republic of Ireland,

2017. https://www.chg.gov.ie/app/uploads/2018/06/economic-analysis-of-the-

audiovisual-sector-in-the-republic-of-ireland.pdf

Joint Oireachtas Committee Report on Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting

https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/32/joint_committee_on_commu

nications_climate_action_and_environment/reports/2017/2017-11-28_report-on-the-

future-funding-of-public-service-broadcasting_en.pdf

2018 Report of the Working Group on the Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting

https://www.dccae.gov.ie/documents/Working_Group_on_Future_Funding_of_Public_Se

rvice_Broadcasting-Final_Report_2019.pdf

Irish Newspaper circulation numbers, July 2020. https://www.ilevel.ie/print/abc-irish-

newspaper-circulation-july-2020/

Statistics

Broadcasting Services Strategy 2018-2022 https://www.bai.ie/en/consultations/draft-

broadcasting-services-strategy-bss/

A Report on market structure, dynamics and developments in Irish Media, Mediatique on

behalf of the BAI, December 2017

https://www.bai.ie/en/media/sites/2/dlm_uploads/2018/04/180410-Mediatique-

Report.pdf

TAM Ireland TV review 2019 https://www.tamireland.ie/downloads/2019tamtvreview/

JNLR Listenership Figures February 2020 https://www.bai.ie/en/latest-jnlr-figures-

released-15/

“Old, Educated, and Politically Diverse: The Audience of Public Service News,” Anne Schulz,

David A. L. Levy, and Rasmus Kleis Nielsen Reuters Institute Report September 2019

https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2019-

09/The_audience_of_public_service_news_FINAL.pdf

Reuters Digital News Report Global 2020 http://www.digitalnewsreport.org/

https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/consultations/Pages/Consultation-on-Public-Service-Broadcasting-Charge.aspxhttps://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/consultations/Pages/Consultation-on-Public-Service-Broadcasting-Charge.aspxhttps://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/consultations/Pages/Consultation-on-Public-Service-Broadcasting-Charge.aspxhttps://www.chg.gov.ie/app/uploads/2018/06/economic-analysis-of-the-audiovisual-sector-in-the-republic-of-ireland.pdfhttps://www.chg.gov.ie/app/uploads/2018/06/economic-analysis-of-the-audiovisual-sector-in-the-republic-of-ireland.pdfhttps://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/32/joint_committee_on_communications_climate_action_and_environment/reports/2017/2017-11-28_report-on-the-future-funding-of-public-service-broadcasting_en.pdfhttps://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/32/joint_committee_on_communications_climate_action_and_environment/reports/2017/2017-11-28_report-on-the-future-funding-of-public-service-broadcasting_en.pdfhttps://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/32/joint_committee_on_communications_climate_action_and_environment/reports/2017/2017-11-28_report-on-the-future-funding-of-public-service-broadcasting_en.pdfhttps://www.dccae.gov.ie/documents/Working_Group_on_Future_Funding_of_Public_Service_Broadcasting-Final_Report_2019.pdfhttps://www.dccae.gov.ie/documents/Working_Group_on_Future_Funding_of_Public_Service_Broadcasting-Final_Report_2019.pdfhttps://www.ilevel.ie/print/abc-irish-newspaper-circulation-july-2020/https://www.ilevel.ie/print/abc-irish-newspaper-circulation-july-2020/https://www.bai.ie/en/consultations/draft-broadcasting-services-strategy-bss/https://www.bai.ie/en/consultations/draft-broadcasting-services-strategy-bss/https://www.bai.ie/en/media/sites/2/dlm_uploads/2018/04/180410-Mediatique-Report.pdfhttps://www.bai.ie/en/media/sites/2/dlm_uploads/2018/04/180410-Mediatique-Report.pdfhttps://www.tamireland.ie/downloads/2019tamtvreview/https://www.bai.ie/en/latest-jnlr-figures-released-15/https://www.bai.ie/en/latest-jnlr-figures-released-15/https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2019-09/The_audience_of_public_service_news_FINAL.pdfhttps://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2019-09/The_audience_of_public_service_news_FINAL.pdfhttp://www.digitalnewsreport.org/

23

How are PSBs Delivering against the PSB Aims

BAI Five-Year Review of Public Funding for Public Service Broadcasters and BAI Report and

Recommendations to the Minster for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

June 2018 https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-

ie/communications/publications/Documents/71/Five_Year_Review_of_Funding_of_Public

_Service_Broadcasting_2018.pdf

BAI Annual Review of Performance and Public Funding of Public Service Broadcasters, 2018

A report for the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland FINAL REPORT November 2019

https://www.dccae.gov.ie/documents/Annual_Review_of_Public_Funding_for_Broadcasti

ng_2018.pdf

Annual Report TG4 2019 [forthcoming]

Annual Report RTÉ 2019 [forthcoming]

Younger Audience/Gen Z

https://fujomedia.eu/how-are-young-irish-people-engaging-with-journalism/

Reuters Digital News Report Ireland 2020 https://fujomedia.eu/wp-

content/uploads/2020/06/DNR-2020-Report-Web-version_DMB.pdf

An exploration of people’s relationship with PSB, with a particular focus on the views of

young people, Qualitative Research Report, July 2020 Ofcom

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/199104/exploration-of-peoples-

relationship-with-psb.pdf

EU Examples

EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESS RELEASE Brussels, 20 November 2013 State aid:

Commission approves Danish support scheme for written media

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_20_793

5.4.1 International Examples

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Digital Platforms Enquiry Final Report

Executive Summary 26 July 2019

https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Digital%20platforms%20inquiry%20-

%20final%20report%20-executive%20summary.pdf

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Digital platforms inquiry - final report

26 July 2019 https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Digital%20platforms%20inquiry%20-

%20final%20report.pdf

5.4.2 Print

Report on Ownership and Control of Media Businesses in Ireland 2015-2017

https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-

https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/publications/Documents/71/Five_Year_Review_of_Funding_of_Public_Service_Broadcasting_2018.pdfhttps://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/publications/Documents/71/Five_Year_Review_of_Funding_of_Public_Service_Broadcasting_2018.pdfhttps://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/publications/Documents/71/Five_Year_Review_of_Funding_of_Public_Service_Broadcasting_2018.pdfhttps://www.dccae.gov.ie/documents/Annual_Review_of_Public_Funding_for_Broadcasting_2018.pdfhttps://www.dccae.gov.ie/documents/Annual_Review_of_Public_Funding_for_Broadcasting_2018.pdfhttps://fujomedia.eu/how-are-young-irish-people-engaging-with-journalism/https://fujomedia.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/DNR-2020-Report-Web-version_DMB.pdfhttps://fujomedia.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/DNR-2020-Report-Web-version_DMB.pdfhttps://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/199104/exploration-of-peoples-relationship-with-psb.pdfhttps://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/199104/exploration-of-peoples-relationship-with-psb.pdfhttps://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_20_793https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Digital%20platforms%20inquiry%20-%20final%20report%20-executive%20summary.pdfhttps://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Digital%20platforms%20inquiry%20-%20final%20report%20-executive%20summary.pdfhttps://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Digital%20platforms%20inquiry%20-%20final%20report.pdfhttps://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Digital%20platforms%20inquiry%20-%20final%20report.pdfhttps://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/publications/Documents/60/BAI%20%20Report%20Ownership%20Control%20Media%20Businesses%202012-2014.pdf

24

ie/communications/publications/Documents/60/BAI%20%20Report%20Ownership%20Co

ntrol%20Media%20Businesses%202012-2014.pdf

THE CAIRNCROSS REVIEW: A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR JOURNALISM 12TH FEBRUARY 2019

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/atta

chment_data/file/779882/021919_DCMS_Cairncross_Review_.pdf

Government Response to the Cairncross Review

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-cairncross-review-a-sustainable-

future-for-journalism/government-response-to-the-cairncross-review-a-sustainable-

future-for-journalism

Irish Media for the Centre of Media Pluralism and Freedom: Roderick Flynn (Dublin City

University), October 2015 https://cmpf.eui.eu/mpm-2015/ireland/

PSB in the Digital Age: Ofcom March 2018

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.ofcom.or

g.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/111896/Public-service-broadcasting-in-the-digital-

age.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwi0u7WqufLrAhVfaRUIHeCyBrEQFjASegQICBAB&usg=AOvVaw3nKh7

535tvdeZzEyHaZmrw

Auntie Knows Best? Public Broadcasters and Current Affairs Knowledge Stuart Soroka et al

B.J.Pol.S. 43, 719–739 Copyright Cambridge University Press, 2012

Globalization and Pluralism The Function of Public Television in the European Audiovisual

Market Teresa La Porte, Mercedes Medina and Teresa Sádaba The International

Communication Gazette 2007

The significance of small differences: Cultural diversity and broadcasting in Ireland Jim

Rogers, Neil O’Boyle, Paschal Preston and Franziska Fehr European Journal of

Communication 2014, Vol. 29(4) 399–415

Comparative Papers

Donders K. Public service media beyond the digital hype: distribution strategies in a

platform era. Media, Culture & Society. 2019;41(7):1011-1028.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0163443719857616

Adapting Public Service to the Multiplatform Scenario Hans Brudow Institute 2012

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.hans-

bredow-

institut.de/webfm_send/661&ved=2ahUKEwj5lOb3vfLrAhWRWhUIHR0BBAMQFjABegQIA

RAB&usg=AOvVaw3ZWUjB2hW14x-l7rFaEr1P

Harnessing public broadcasting for Canadians in the digital age International benchmark

study for the CRTC Study by Cullen International November 2019

https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports/2019-cullen/clln19.htm

https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/publications/Documents/60/BAI%20%20Report%20Ownership%20Control%20Media%20Businesses%202012-2014.pdfhttps://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/publications/Documents/60/BAI%20%20Report%20Ownership%20Control%20Media%20Businesses%202012-2014.pdfhttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/779882/021919_DCMS_Cairncross_Review_.pdfhttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/779882/021919_DCMS_Cairncross_Review_.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-cairncross-review-a-sustainable-future-for-journalism/government-response-to-the-cairncross-review-a-sustainable-future-for-journalismhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-cairncross-review-a-sustainable-future-for-journalism/government-response-to-the-cairncross-review-a-sustainable-future-for-journalismhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-cairncross-review-a-sustainable-future-for-journalism/government-response-to-the-cairncross-review-a-sustainable-future-for-journalismhttps://cmpf.eui.eu/mpm-2015/ireland/https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/111896/Public-service-broadcasting-in-the-digital-age.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwi0u7WqufLrAhVfaRUIHeCyBrEQFjASegQICBAB&usg=AOvVaw3nKh7535tvdeZzEyHaZmrwhttps://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/111896/Public-service-broadcasting-in-the-digital-age.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwi0u7WqufLrAhVfaRUIHeCyBrEQFjASegQICBAB&usg=AOvVaw3nKh7535tvdeZzEyHaZmrwhttps://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/111896/Public-service-broadcasting-in-the-digital-age.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwi0u7WqufLrAhVfaRUIHeCyBrEQFjASegQICBAB&usg=AOvVaw3nKh7535tvdeZzEyHaZmrwhttps://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/111896/Public-service-broadcasting-in-the-digital-age.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwi0u7WqufLrAhVfaRUIHeCyBrEQFjASegQICBAB&usg=AOvVaw3nKh7535tvdeZzEyHaZmrwhttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0163443719857616https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.hans-bredow-institut.de/webfm_send/661&ved=2ahUKEwj5lOb3vfLrAhWRWhUIHR0BBAMQFjABegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw3ZWUjB2hW14x-l7rFaEr1Phttps://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.hans-bredow-institut.de/webfm_send/661&ved=2ahUKEwj5lOb3vfLrAhWRWhUIHR0BBAMQFjABegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw3ZWUjB2hW14x-l7rFaEr1Phttps://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.hans-bredow-institut.de/webfm_send/661&ved=2ahUKEwj5lOb3vfLrAhWRWhUIHR0BBAMQFjABegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw3ZWUjB2hW14x-l7rFaEr1Phttps://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.hans-bredow-institut.de/webfm_send/661&ved=2ahUKEwj5lOb3vfLrAhWRWhUIHR0BBAMQFjABegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw3ZWUjB2hW14x-l7rFaEr1Phttps://crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports/2019-cullen/clln19.htm

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EU Audio Visual Observatory

Yearbook 2019/2020 Key Trends Television, Cinema, Video and on-demand Audiovisual

services -The pan-European picture https://www.obs.coe.int/en/web/observatoire/-

/yearbook-2019-2020-key-trends#62890456_32492842_True

https://www.obs.coe.int/en/web/observatoire/-/yearbook-2019-2020-key-trends#62890456_32492842_Truehttps://www.obs.coe.int/en/web/observatoire/-/yearbook-2019-2020-key-trends#62890456_32492842_True