asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the date on which RTE applied to his Department for permission to start RTE 2; the date permission was granted, and the reason for the delay in granting it.
Written Answers. - RTE 2.
652.
The Broadcasting Review Committee Interim Report on Cable Television and Programme Choice submitted on 22 February 1973 recommended that RTE should have a second television channel on which it would broadcast throughout the country a selection from BBC, ITV and other programmes, as well as a content of home-produced programmes. Following the interim report, RTE sought on 18 April 1973 a decision which would enable them to plan and establish a second national television service by the end of 1975.
The Government agreed on 16 October 1973 that the necessary arrangements for the provision of a transmitter and a microwave link network should proceed to facilitate the provision of a second television channel. The then Minister conducted negotiations with the United Kingdom authorities between May 1973 and July 1975 on the possibility of rebroadcasting a British television service on this network.
In August 1975 it was decided that a public opinion survey should be carried out on the question of programme choice for the second television network. The result of the survey indicated a strong preference for a second RTE television service and the Government decided on 7 November 1975 that the new network should be used for this purpose.