More than 30 organisations, individuals and companies have expressed an interest in providing new channels on cable or satellite television in the Republic, the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) said yesterday.
Local channels for Dublin, Galway, Kildare and Limerick, a farming channel and an education channel targeting second- and third-level students are among 48 new services proposed by groups that responded to a call for proposals from the BCI last month.
Although none of the organisations or firms were identified by the BCI yesterday, it has been established that the cable firm Chorus and a group called Dublin Community Television (DCTV) have submitted expressions of interest.
Several deflector firms that supply television services in local areas are also thought to have put forward proposals to offer television channels, although many would not run a 24-hour service.
The greatest interest was expressed by groups wishing to provide programming over NTL and Chorus's cable and microwave distribution systems, which serve about 500,000 Irish homes. Some 18 separate submissions were made for access to these platforms.
Twelve were received for satellite and local contracts, while six expressions were received for community television contracts.
A variety of television services were proposed across all the platforms, targeting specific age markets, subscriber groups and several special interests.
These included: a youth television station aimed at 15 to 24 year olds; a 24-hour music video service; a parliamentary channel; and a news-based channel for greater Dublin.
Mr Michael O'Keeffe, chief executive of the BCI, said the executive would undertake further consultation/analysis and research in coming months. He said the commission expected to be in a position to start the licensing processes within the first half of 2003.
Industry sources said there would be a market for some local television services despite the high cost of developing TV programming. Local radio's success suggested advertising would be available, said one source.
Chorus, which has more than 200,000 subscribers, expressed an interest in obtaining a licence to continue supplying Chorus Sports, which provides regional and local sports programming in Co Cork.
It remains unclear whether any of the proposed television services could be provided free to air over RTÉ's existing network, or any future digital terrestrial television. A previous competition to set up a national digital television network was recently scrapped.
A full list of the proposals is available on the website: www.bci.ie
