Television

Section 36: Satellite Content Contracts

These contracts allow for the licensing of a broad range of television content, targeting national, international or smaller local, regional and/or community audiences. It allows for the re-transmission of services carried on other platforms and for services offered to viewers on a subscription or pay-per-view basis. These services are carried on satellite television.

The Licensing Process
The Commission will accept applications for this service at any stage. In general terms, the level of information required is less arduous that that for services licensed under the 1988 Act. The information required is consistent with the requirements of the 2001 Act and the EU Television Without Frontiers Directive and other information which the BCI considers important. All applicants for content contracts will be required to present their proposals and to elaborate on their rationale for the service proposed, in the context of the provisions of Section 11(2) of the Broadcasting Act 2001.

Carriage of Services
All contracts entered into with the BCI are content contracts. This means that the BCI will only licence the actual programming of the television service. It will be a matter for the applicant and the carriage operator to negotiate for the service to be carried on satellite.

Please click on the links below for further information on Section 36 contracts:

Guidelines for Section 36 Contracts

Television Licensing Policy Document

Television Licensing Application Fees