Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 14 May 1991

Vol. 408 No. 4

Written Answers. - Multi-Channel TV System.

Ivan Yates

Ceist:

205 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if he has any proposals to allow the current deflector multi-channel TV system to continue in operation in any part of the country; and the measures he will take to ensure that charges of MMDS clients are not too high.

Ivan Yates

Ceist:

206 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if he will consider, in order to lower the costs to potential MMDS clients of the multi-channel television services, that there would be two different packages on offer, namely (1) a selection of four channels at a reasonable fee of say £70 per annum and (2) an additional level of channels including satellite services, in view of the high cost of the total package as currently envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications (Mr. S. Brennan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 206 together.

The reason for not licensing rebroadcasting systems have been dealt with in a number of replies to questions in this House. In particular, I refer the Deputy to Question No. 65 on 18 May, 1988, columns 1791-92, volume 380, Official Report No. 8 for that day, and to Question No. 87 on 20 November, 1990 columns 1802-3, volume 402, Official Report for that day.

Charges for MMDS services are primarily a matter for MMDS operators. It is likely that MMDS operators will offer a range of services including the four UK terrestrial television channels and some satellite channels as a basic service. However, I understand that the capital costs associated with the introduction of MMDS are such that the level of charge suggested by the Deputy would not be economically viable.