A brief history of Broadcasting Regulation in Ireland
| 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 |
| 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
Radio and Television Act, 1988
Provides for a network of independent radio stations and one television station to be established under the control of the newly created Independent Radio and Television Commission (IRTC).
Minister for Communications establishes IRTC which is to have ten members, each serving for a term of five years. The first meeting is held in Newbridge House on 17 October. It receives its Seal of Office from the then Minister, Ray Burke.
Sean Connolly is appointed Secretary to the Board of the IRTC.
Broadcasting and Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1988 aims at ensuring the cessation of illegal broadcasting with effect from 31 December 1988.
EU Television Without Frontiers directive comes into effect.
First round of licenses are given out. The process involves conducting application processes for both local radio and a national station and holding public hearings throughout the country. This work culminates in licenses being awarded to one national radio station, one national television station and twenty one local stations.
TV3 is awarded a contract as a national television station to broadcast on cable and MMDS.
Century Radio is awarded a contract as the national radio station.
Capitol Radio (later to become FM104) and Mid West Radio are the first two commercial stations to go on air in July 1989.
Sean Connolly becomes CEO of the IRTC.
Broadcasting Act, 1990.
This Act leads to (a) a cap being placed on RTÉ’s advertising minutage; and (b) permission is given for a national television service to be broadcast on a free-to-air basis on UHF and VHF transmitters.
Under Section 8.2 of the Radio and Television Act, 1988, the IRTC begins its consideration of applications for temporary licenses for educational and/or institutional organisations.
The Association of Independent Radio Stations (AIRS) is established (later to become the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI)).
Michael O’Keeffe becomes Secretary to the IRTC.
IRTC joins Joint National Listenership Research (JNLR) committee. Is instrumental in expanding this survey to include all local stations.
1991
First national radio station, Century Radio, ceases broadcasting.
IRTC is invited to become a member of the Advertising Standards Authority Complaints Committee and is represented on that Committee by the Chief Executive.
IRTC commissions a report on the prospects of a Central Sales Agency to represent non-Dublin stations to national advertising agencies (later this becomes Independent Radio Sales (IRS)).
Michael O’ Keeffe becomes CEO of the IRTC after the departure of Sean Connolly in late 1990.
Offer of contract is withdrawn from TV3.
IRTC expands its policy on awarding temporary licenses for special events.
IRTC approves that the news services being operated by Independent Radio News (IRN) and Network Radio News (NRN) be made available to independent local radio stations, pending the establishment of a permanent service.
First Irish language radio station, Raidió na Life, is awarded contract.
IRTC joins with independent radio stations in fund raising campaign for Somalia.
First Community of Interest station, Anna Livia, is awarded license.
Following a request from the Minister for Communications, a detailed submission was made by the IRTC on proposed changes to the existing broadcasting legislation. More particularly, this focused on aspects of local radio and production funding.
AIRS negotiates agreement with IMRO on mutually acceptable royalty rates.
Independent Radio Sales (IRS) is established. This was seen as a major boost to the local radio stations in their campaign to increase national advertising agency spend.
CEO represents the IRTC on an advisory panel for independent television production commissioned by Film Makers Ireland.
Minister for Arts Culture and the Gaeltacht appoints new Board to the IRTC.
IRTC commissions market research survey on the potential demand from listeners and advertisers for a new national independent radio station to replace Century Radio.
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Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht decides not to renew order under Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act, 1960 which had prohibited proscribed organisations and their members from speaking or being interviewed on Irish radio and television.
IRTC takes decision that a minimum of 30% Irish music content is to be played by all independent radio stations spread over a broadcast day.
Series of promotional campaigns are launched – for example, for the IRTC magazine, Contact, and for the JNLR.
Community Radio Pilot scheme launched.
Board of the IRTC asks the National Rehabilitation Board (NRB) to survey independent stations in relation to disabled access and to make recommendations on the improvement of such facilities.
Pilot Community Radio Forum is established.
Eleven community radio stations participate in the IRTC’s pilot scheme.
First community radio station starts broadcasting (June).
Government’s Green Paper, Active or Passive – Broadcasting in the Future Tense, is published.
Under Section 4.1 of the Broadcasting Act, 1990, the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht introduces new Codes of Standards, Practices and Prohibitions in Advertising, Sponsorship and other forms of Commercial Promotion in Broadcasting Services.
IRTC holds first Irish Radio Conference, Radio ’95, at the Riverside Centre, Dublin.
IRTC goes on-line with the launch of its web site.
IRTC launches New Adventures in Broadcasting - £50,000 scheme for pilot programme initiatives.
The IRTC, in conjunction with University College Galway and Connemara West plc, establishes the Women on Air project. The overall aim of this initiative is to promote equality of opportunity for women in the independent radio sector through training, research and policy development (part funded by the European Social Fund’s ‘New Opportunities for Women’ (NOW) programme).
Pilot scheme on Community and Community of Interest radio is concluded but Pilot Community Radio Forum continues.
Second national radio station, Radio Ireland, goes on air (name later changed to Today FM).
EU Television Without Frontiers directive revised.
BCI Community Radio policy is published.
IRTC holds its second conference on broadcasting, The Future of Broadcasting.
IRTC hosts the 5th meeting of the European Platform for Regulatory Authorities (EPRA) in Dublin on 23 April 1997.
IRTC hosts meeting of the European Institute of Media (EIM) in Dublin.
Minister for Arts Culture and the Gaeltacht appoints new Board to the IRTC.
First national commercial television station, TV3, goes on air.
IRTC holds its third conference on broadcasting, Broadcasting into the Millennium.
IRTC establishes a Community Support Scheme to provide support for the development of the community radio sector.
IRTC and the Arts Council establish a joint commissioning fund, Critical Writing Project, to enable a local radio station to commission a piece of critical writing from a local artist, writer or critic.
IRTC, in conjunction with the Ireland Fund, the National Union of Journalists and the Association of Independent Radio Stations, provides financial support for the new initiative, Co-operation Ireland – Local Radio Project.
IRTC establishes training workshops for local radio journalists.
IRTC, in conjunction with Bord na Gaeilge, establishes an Advisory Committee to look at methods for increasing the profile and the amount of Irish language programming on independent services.
Two surveys are undertaken to ascertain: (a) the current status of Irish language programming on independent stations; and (b) the views of independent stations on the potential for Irish language programming.
BCI, in conjunction with the Independent Television Commission (Northern Ireland), establishes the Television Broadcasters in Ireland Group to provide an opportunity for those involved in television broadcasting on the island of Ireland to discuss matters of mutual interest and concern.
The operative date for the Freedom of Information Act, 1997 comes into effect for the BCI.
Éist, the Independent Broadcasters’ Association, is established.
IRTC Training and Development policy is launched.
IRTC establishes a working partnership with eleven local stations in order to design and implement a pilot Human Resources initiative.
IRTC holds its fourth broadcasting conference, From Radio Waves to Digital Days - building on a decade of success in independent radio.
Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) is established, enhancing the roles and functions of the IRTC.
BCI introduces new policy on ownership and control of commercial independent broadcasting services.
BCI hosts Building Training Partnerships.
BCI, in conjunction with Foras na Gaeilge, organises the Éist Seminar for Programme Controllers.
BCI hosts the European Film and Television Forum in Dublin.
Advisory Committee on Irish language programming issues policy document, Irish Language Programming in the Independent Broadcasting Sector. Nathanna Cainte don Raidío/Irish Phrases for Radio is also released.
BCI holds fifth broadcasting conference, Developing an excellence of culture in broadcasting.
BCI advertises the country’s first regional broadcasting license.
Transmission grant scheme is established.
BCI participates in Forum on Broadcasting.
BCI, in conjunction with Foras na Gaeilge, appoints the first Comhordaitheoir Gaeilge/Irish Language Coordinator at the BCI.
BCI holds sixth conference on broadcasting, Fast Forward: Development in an Ever-Changing Irish Broadcasting Landscape.
BCI Training and Development document, Training Needs Analysis, is released.
Decision to establish a Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is announced by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
Broadcasting (Funding) Act, 2003
Interim BCI Board appointed until the establishment of BAI.
BCI begins work on the Children’s Advertising Code: (i) the report, Advertising and Children, is released; and (ii) a three phased consultation process is launched.
BCI starts work on the Access Rules: (i) the report, Accessing Television, is released; and (ii) consultation with stakeholders to assist devising these rules begins under the guidance of independent chairperson, Kieran Mulvey, CEO of the Labour Relations Commission.
Chief Executive of the BCI, Michael O’Keeffe, is elected for a two year term of office as Chairperson of the European Platform of Regulatory Authorities (EPRA).
BCI commissions an evaluation of the Community Radio Support Scheme.
Réalt DJ, a competition aimed at finding DJ talent among secondary school students, is launched.
Work on the Access Rules continues, culminating in the launch of the new rules: (i) the Access Consultative Forum Report is submitted to the Commission for consideration; (ii) public consultation on draft Access Rules takes place; and (iii) the Access Rules come into effect.
Ox Report is released by the Department of Communications, Marine and National Resources.
First regional license is awarded to Beat FM.
BCI launches its Strategic Plan 2004-2008.
BCI releases its Television Licensing Policy. Licenses for Local Television are first offered.
BCI Engineering division is represented among the Irish delegates at the first session of the International Telecommunication Union Regional Broadcasting Conference.
Learning Waves is established. FETAC accreditation is given to trainers and to courses in the areas of Communications, Business Management, Customer Service and Human Resource Management.
BCI holds its seventh broadcasting conference, Regulating for Change: Are you being served?
Work in the area of Irish language broadcasting include launching the following initiatives: (i) Blúriní Gael Linn (in conjunction with Gael Linn); (ii) the Irish language chart show, Top 40 Oifigiúil na hÉireann; (iii) Giotaí, one minute pieces in Irish focusing on various topical subjects; and (iv) the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources launches a revised version of Nathanna Cainte don Raidío accompanied by the CD-Rom.
Consultation on the Broadcasting Funding Scheme takes place.
Children’s Advertising Code comes into effect on 1 January.
BCI, in association with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Foras na Gaeilge, releases the results of a nationwide survey on perceptions and attitudes towards Irish language radio programming in Ireland.
BCI Ownership and Control Policy is reviewed.
BCI News and Current Affairs Policy is reviewed.
BCI begins work on the Code of Programme Standards: (i) the report, Taste and Decency – a review of national and international practice, is released; (ii) it launches its three phased consultation process for the devising of this new code; (iii) consultation with broadcasters on the proposed provisions of this code takes place; and (iv) the BCI releases results of nationwide attitudinal survey on issues of taste and decency (conducted by Lansdowne Market Research).
The Broadcasting Funding Scheme, Sound and Vision, is launched on 8 November.
If you have any queries which are not addressed in this section, please do not hesitate to send in your request to info@bci.ie.