A group of senior television executives has approached the Government with a proposal to set up a United Nations television service in Dublin which could lead to the creation of more than 300 jobs.
The Government, several State agencies and numerous senior civil servants have been approached by the group, The Irish Times has learned.
A formal feasibility study for such service has been submitted in recent months to the Department of the Taoiseach. This plan envisages the service being broadcast via various digital platforms across Europe.
The 300 jobs would be generated directly in the station, in a related call centre, at a digital management centre and among various independent producers who would work for the station on commission.
However for the service to secure approval from the United Nations, a member state must provide backing.
It is thought that Ireland, as a neutral state, would be an ideal backer of the project. The Irish Ambassador to the UN, Mr Richard Ryan, has also been briefed on the proposal.
The executives involved have met the former minister for foreign affairs, Mr Brian Cowen, about the idea. Talks have also taken place with the secretary-general of the Department of the Taoiseach, Mr Dermot McCarthy, and the secretary-general of the Department of Communications, Mr Brendan Tuohy.
The service would be a not-for-profit operation, but it would cost €13 million to set up and operate. The group have requested a loan of €13 million from the Government. The group behind the project, UN World TV Network, believes advertising and other commercial revenue streams would allow it to re-pay these funds by 2010 at the latest.
Already several companies have given support to the project, including RTÉ and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The group claims the service would bring the role of the United Nations into people's living rooms and help to explain issues in the developing world.
The UN's archive, which spans several decades, would be used to provide a significant portion of the programming. Proceedings of the New York-based body would also form part of the schedule.
The team promoting the concept is led by Mr Rod Large, an Irish national with 20 years' experience in international television.
Also involved is Mr Craig Bury, who has 30 years' experience managing TV services.
Mr Herb Granath, chairman of the large US sports network ESPN and a former president of ABC, is also supporting the idea.
According to a feasibility plan submitted to the Department of the Taoiseach: "In hosting such a channel network, Ireland not only secures high-end skilled jobs and raises continent wide revenues for UN causes but it also demonstrates its use of digital technologies, its creative story telling traditions and what smaller countries can do to support the UN and its many causes."
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