Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 5 Feb 1998

Vol. 486 No. 5

Written Answers. - Broadcasting Rights.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

35 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the current position regarding pay per event television; if she has assessed the impact on sporting organisations in this regard; and the discussions, if any, which have taken place with her Department regarding the implementation of EU Directive 97/36/EC in preparing a list of Irish sports events to be protected against the pay per view system being developed by the Sky television organisation and the further threat being posed to sport by the development of digital television. [21590/97]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 49 on 27 November 1997.

The Attorney General has advised that it will be necessary to introduce primary legislation in order to establish a system of listing events of major importance to society with a view to ensuring their continued availability on free-to-air televisions envisaged by article 3a of Directive 97/36/EC. Officials of my Department and the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation have recently discussed the possible mechanics of the transposition measures and further work is planned. Consultation with RTE and the Independent Radio and Television Commission on the matter has been initiated by my Department.

The primary purpose of these measures will be to ensure continued access by viewers to free-to-air television coverage of events of major importance. With this proviso, the general relationship between sports organisations and broadcasters who offer coverage to viewers on pay-per-view basis is not a matter in which I will have a function and will remain essentially a matter for commercial negotiation between the organisers of the events and the operators of the pay-per-view channels.