Media regulators should take more risks to develop a dynamic broadcasting arena in Ireland, it was claimed today.
Noel Dempsey, Communications Minister, said he hoped the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) would take more chances when deciding licensing policy for the coming year.
"Independent broadcasting, in common with so many other areas of Irish life, is now subject to continuous change - and risk-taking's the only way to embrace that," Mr Dempsey said.
"We're a diverse society. We need diverse media, not just more media. One of the real challenges for the future is to ensure that more stations actually means more diversity."
The Minister told the BCI annual conference there needed to be variety on the nation's airwaves in terms of categories licensed, franchise areas, formats and ownership.
But he commended the BCI, which he said had already moved away from its role of simply awarding licences.
"It has taken a quantum leap away from simply awarding licenses - and it will have to continue to move and develop, informing standards in a positive developmental way," Mr Dempsey said.
An alternative rock radio station licence for the Dublin area was awarded by the Commission in the last number of weeks.
The Minister said next year's Broadcasting Bill would bring a consistent standard of codes and rules to both public and private broadcasting.
He added his department would examine a series of submissions, including how licenses were awarded, as part of plans to improve media regulation.
But he cautioned that the final decision on the granting of broadcasting rights ultimately had to rest with a single body.