asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the steps he has taken to secure programme rights for a second television network for the whole country; and the reasons why negotiations to date have proved more protracted than was originally envisaged.
Ceisteanna——Questions. Oral Answers. - Second Television Network.
101.
Negotiations on this matter have been going on with the British authorities concerned since May, 1973.
To answer the second part of the Deputy's question, would necessitate a breach of the confidentiality condition attached to these negotiations.
102.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state (a) the progress made to date in the provision of a second television transmitter network for the rebroadcasting of BBC(NI) or UTV throughout the whole country, (b) the estimated cost of providing this transmitter, and (c) the expenditure to date.
(a) Examination is almost completed of tenders received for the supply of the transmitters and the microwave link equipment for the second television transmission network which could be used for rebroadcast of BBC1 or UTV programmes here and it is expected that contracts for supply of this equipment will be placed next month. A site for one new transmitter has been acquired and development work on it has commernced. Surveys for two other new transmitter sites are being carried out. Frequency planning for the network is also well advanced.
(b) The estimated cost of the transmitters and microwave link equipment is £3.6 million.
(c) £23,500 has been expended to date.