A NEW national television station targeted at older viewers should be set up once Ireland’s new digital television system is in place by 2012, an Independent Senator has suggested.
The heritage channel would show RTÉ archival film, old much-loved television series and chat and light entertainment shows designed for over-65s, Senator Ronan Mullen will today tell the Seanad.
He will propose a series of amendments at today’s Committee Stage debate of the Broadcasting Bill in the Seanad.
NUI Senator Mr Mullen has called on the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan, to provide for a dedicated ‘‘heritage channel’’ in the Bill.
“There are over 25,000 people in our nursing homes at present, to take one group, and they shouldn’t be stuck with Judge Judy or The Bill during their evening-time viewing,” he said.
“Lyric FM is an example of public spending on the needs of a relatively elite section of society and the Houses of the Oireachtas channel will provide the same.
“The heritage channel would cater for the needs of a much larger, but somewhat less vocal, section of public opinion.” Mr Mullen said it would attract significant audience if it included middle-of-the-road programming.
He also proposed amendments to Section 41 of the Broadcasting Bill which would ban advertisements by fortune-tellers, psychics and tarot card readers.
“It is strange that this Bill would prohibit the Franciscans from promoting religious events, or vocations to the religious life, but chat-line operators out to fleece gullible people would be free to do their thing,” he said.