Section 54 of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022 provides for the imposition of a content production levy (termed the ‘European works levy’) on media service providers (i.e. providers of broadcasting and video on demand services) to fund a scheme (termed ‘the European works scheme’) to support the production of European works, including Irish works. The Bill provides that both the levy and the associated scheme would be administered by Coimisiún na Meán.
I am aware that the French authorities have imposed investment obligations on certain audiovisual media service providers. For the purposes of consistency and transparency it was determined that a content levy was the most appropriate approach to the issue in the Irish context. As with the existing Sound and Vision scheme, the model envisaged in the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill would allow producers to compete for funding on a transparent and competitive basis in line with objective criteria. This would not be the case with investment obligations, where decisions on the nature of content to be funded would lie with the company subject to the investment obligation.
It is not envisaged that the content production levy would be put into effect until Coimisiún na Meán has carried out independent research into the viability of such a levy in an Irish context. Accordingly, upon its establishment next year, I expect that research into the design and incidence of the levy will be priority for Coimisiún na Meán. An Coimisiún will need to identify all the consequences associated with the levy, including the impact on our broadcasters who may be liable for the levy, and on the price of audiovisual media services in the State.
