asked the Minister for Communications if, prior to granting approval to the Cablelink proposals in respect of the permanent range of satellite services on cable, he had any discussions with that company about the inclusion of TV5, the French language service, and RAI UNO, the Italian language service; if his attention has been drawn to the public demand for such services in the interest of improving proficiency in continental languages; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteann—Questions. Oral Answers. - Television Service.
1.
I am aware that there was a limited sectoral demand for the services mentioned primarily from foreign language teachers and that this was brought to the attention of Cablelink some time ago. However, there is no evidence of any significant public demand for TV5 and RAI UNO in preference to the other satellite services currently being relayed.
As I have indicated recently, with regard to the relay of satellite channels, it is a matter for cable companies to decide which, if any, services they wish to relay bearing in mind the channel capacity limitations of their systems.
Would the Minister agree that he should be making every effort to facilitate and encourage a system under which people who want to learn a continental language be afforded maximum opportunity of doing so? Furthermore, would he not agree that television would be the more appropriate medium through which this could be done? Is he aware that the cabling company in Cork are utilising the satellite language service programmes in the Cork area but that people in Dublin — served by the Cablelink company — are not afforded that opportunity? I personally regret that that service is not being made available to them. The Minister said there was a limited demand for it. Is he aware that there were over 3,000 signatories representing the lobby seeking transmission, particularly of TV5, the French language service station? Would he say what market research was conducted and what evidence he has available to him to underpin the decision taken to retain all the other stations that Cablelink transmit and intend continuing to transmit?
I fully support the Deputy's viewpoint in relation to the maximum availability of the language stations. However, there is a limitation in relation to channel capacity. The cable companies made their choices in relation to which stations they would carry. I have available to me market research in relation to the various stations. However, it is the wish of the companies that details of this market research be kept confidential for commercial reasons and I accept that point. I assure the Deputy that I share his view that, for example, as far as possible, we should have TV5 in the Dublin region. It is not available at present but one would hope circumstances might change and allow it to be made available.
If it is a question of capacity I should say that at present the Cablelink company are transmitting something like ten general entertainment programmes through the channels they are putting out through cable. It is reasonable to suggest that perhaps one of those could have been dropped in the interests of transmitting the language service programmes with an educational content. Would the Minister agree that it would be very worthwhile that such facilities be made available to people who want to improve their proficiency in continental languages?
I would not disagree with the viewpoint expressed by the Deputy. There might be scope for even a sharing of a particular channel, so that they could have, for example, one station of an entertainment content transmitted for some hours of the day and, say, TV5 for others. There could be a share-out, which is what happened when they were experimenting. I fully accept the Deputy's point in relation to the desirability of greater availability and usage of foreign languages.
Will the Minister go back to the Cablelink company and put that proposal to them?
Yes, I will talk to them.
Would the Minister envisage at some stage establishing some form of criteria to which the public could have access as to what stations would be transmitted, or how public demand could give expression to a real desire among the viewing public for particular stations. This will become a problem. I should like to know what are the Minister's views on that?
It is a question of which channels are being transmitted for nothing to the cable companies because, if they have to start paying for them, they will have to pass on those charges to their customers. It is quite obvious that customers are not anxious to pay for the satellite stations. It is a question, therefore, of which services are coming free, gratis and for nothing. They are the ones that have been given the permit to allow them continue in the future. There will be a discretionary charge, for example, for film channels that are available — Premier is one. It is a matter for the individual consumer to decide whether he or she wants to pay the companies for that service. I have not really gone into the details suggested by the Deputy.
2.
asked the Minister for Communications the reason for the delay in licensing the micro-wave multi-channel television distribution system; when he proposes to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The matter is receiving attention and I will make a decision on it in due course.
I seem to have received a similar reply to a similar question some time ago. Could the Minister be more specific and tell us when he would hope to license this system?
The situation is receiving attention. It is being examined and I will be taking a decision on it shortly.
Would that be a matter of weeks or months?
Shortly.
It is causing considerable annoyance in those areas which do not have multi-channel.
I accept that fully.