RTE and unions oppose single regulator

RTÉ management and trade unions expressed opposition yesterday to the concept of a single content regulator for the broadcasting industry.

The initiative is being sought by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI), whose chief executive, Mr Michael O'Keeffe, told the Forum on Broadcasting there was "no real reason" why a single regulator should not be allowed to police both public and commercial broadcasters.

He claimed the Broadcasting Act 2001 had begun the process of creating such a single regulator in the BCI by transferring new monitoring responsibilities to it. He said there should be a further transfer of content monitoring functions currently held by the RTÉ Authority to the commission.

Under a single regulatory system, the RTÉ Authority would continue to exist but would act as board of directors to RTÉ, and would have reporting responsibilities to both the BCI and the relevant Minister, said Mr O'Keeffe.

Arguing against the proposal, RTÉ's director-general, Mr Bob Collins, said there would be a serious difficulty with a single regulator because of the fundamental differences in values and broadcasting philosophies of commercial and public broadcasters.

In particular, he said, a content regulation role for the BCI was "incompatible" with the commission's existing remit to develop and promote the private sector.

Mr Eoin Ronayne, of the National Union of Journalists, expressed reservations about the BCI's ability to police the area.

He said staff would only go along with the idea of a single content regulator if it was given "real teeth" and could demand the sort of information from broadcasters which the public deserved.

The forum heard that the BCI recently refused a Freedom of Information request from Filmmakers of Ireland for details on information the commission had received from TV3 on the amount of money spent by the broadcaster on domestic production.

Mr O'Keeffe said there was a difficulty in disclosing such information because of commercial sensitivities.

His point was underlined by Mr Rick Hetherington of TV3, who said it did not want details of confidential commercial contracts in the public domain.

Opening the debate on "Regulation and Technology", Ms Patricia Galvin of NTL stressed the need for a flexible regulatory environment which was "transparent and proportionate", and did not unduly hinder commercial developments.

She noted that in the area of broadcasting platforms there was not a level playing field as cable operators were under a greater degree of regulatory control than other service providers.

Of the issue of a possible merger of content and infrastructure regulators, Mr O'Keeffe said the BCI favoured the latter role being maintained by the Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation. However, he stressed there was a need for closer liaison between the two bodies.