Licensing
The Commission currently licenses a range of different TV and radio services in Ireland.
The Commission has also embarked on the process of licensing additional television services on digital, cable, MMD and satellite systems. To date we have licensed thirteen contractors providing content on satellite and cable/mmd platforms.
We are responsible for the licensing of:
- a national television programme service (TV3),
- a national radio service (Today FM)
- a quasi national service (Newstalk)
- 2 regional radio services (Beat FM & Spin South West)
- a total of 52, local, community, community of interest and institutional radio services.
The Commission also issues temporary licences, allowing applicants to broadcast for 30 days in any 12 month period.
All national, regional, local, special interest and television content services are licensed for a period of 10 years. Community, community of interest and institutional services are licensed for 5 years. Temporary services are licensed for 30 days in a 12 month period.
All services licensed by the BCI are governed by legislation, namely the Radio and Television Act, 1988 and the Broadcasting Act, 2001.
- The Radio and Television Act, 1988 gave the BCI responsibility for the development of the independent radio and television sector in the State. Analogue services licensed by the BCI are provided for in this piece of legislation.
- The Broadcasting Act, 2001 increased the remit of the BCI to allow the Commission to licence content on digital, cable, MMD and satellite systems. The Commission has decided to prioritise the licensing of television services and will begin work on the licensing of additional radio services in the second half of 2005.
The Licensing section of the site contains information on:
Please click on any of the above links for further information on these services.