1. THE CONTEMPORARY BROADCASTING ENVIRONMENT FOR CHURCHES Michael O’Keeffe Chief Executive BCI

2. INTRODUCTION Background Regulatory Functions of the BCI Broadcasting Environment for Churches

3. LEGISLATION Radio and Television Act 1988 – IRTC Broadcasting Act 2001 – BCI Broadcasting (Funding) Act 2003 Broadcasting (Amendment) Act 2007 Broadcasting Bill (BAI) – 2008 ?

4. CURRENT REGULATORY FUNCTIONS Licensing – Radio and Television Broadcasting Standards – Codes and Rules Compliance and Monitoring – General / Programming Training and Development Funding Support for Programmes Research and Information Engineering

5. TYPES OF SERVICES CURRENTLY LICENSED National Radio Regional Radio Local Commercial Special Interest Commercial Community and Community of Interest Institutional Temporary

6. KEY LICENSING PRINCIPLES Diversity of Services Efficient Use of Spectrum Viability

7. LICENSING Increase range of commercial (3 year plan) Expand community sector New television services – cable, MMD, satellite

8. LICENSING (2007 Act) Digital Terrestrial Television - DTT Digital Audio Broadcasting - DAB

9. STANDARDS – CODES AND RULES Children’s Advertising Code Access Rules Code of Programme Standards General Advertising Code Minuteage Rules Fairness, Balance, Impartiality

10. STANDARDS - PROCESS Phased Approach to Introduction of Codes Public Consultation Workshops/Seminars with Broadcasters Advertisers Guidelines at Implementation

11. COMPLIANCE FUNCTION New Compliance Policy 2006 Annual Performance Reviews Monitor Programme Recordings Guidance to Stations General Contractual Obligations

12. TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT Desire to develop a training culture with a view to improving standards BCI to work strategically in partnership with industry

13. RESEARCH To undertake and produce research to support policy development in all broadcasting-related areas of the Commission’s work To co-ordinate and manage the commissioning of external research projects To monitor broadcasting-related research developments at a national and international level

14. INFORMATION FUNCTION General point of contact for press, industry and general public queries Management and co-ordination of BCI publications and events BCI website Administers BCI’s Freedom of Information requests

15. ENGINEERING Frequency Planning Licensing Compliance Technical Interface

16. BROADCASTING (FUNDING) SCHEME Production of new radio and TV programmes – 5% of license fee Irish culture, heritage, experience, adult literacy, Irish language First round launched November ’05 €40M allocated in four rounds 175 TV programmes; 231 radio programmes

17. BROADCASTING ACT 2008 ? Establishment of BAI Regulation of all Content

18. BROADCASTING ENVIRONMENT FOR CHURCHES Licensing Standards

19. LICENSING Quasi-National Service Primarily Medium Wave and FM Fill-in Frequencies Spirit Radio - 70:30 Music:Speech - Donations/Advertising Funding Model - Commence Broadcasting 2009

20. LICENSING – OTHER FM Service in Cork Special Event Licences Limited Opportunities on FM Programming within Local Radio Stations DAB may offer greater potential

21. CODE OF PROGRAMME STANDARDS Objectives - Responsible Broadcasting - Acknowledge Diversity of Tastes and Interests Principles - General Community Standards - Context is Key Factor Rules - Eight in Total - Persons and Groups in Society

22. PERSONS AND GROUPS IN SOCIETY “Broadcasters shall take measures to prevent undue offence in the treatment of religious views, beliefs or images during programme material. This is not intended to prevent the critical scrutiny of religion. ”

23. STANDARDS – GENERAL ADVERTISING CODE Objectives, Principles, Rules Religious Advertising Political Advertising Trocaire Issue

24. STANDARDS – CODE ON FAIRNESS, BALANCE AND IMPARTIALITY Currently being developed Research, consultation, implementation

25. BROADCASTING COMPLAINTS COMMISSION (BCC) Separate Role to BCI Provision of Secretariat BCI Codes used as Benchmark to Assess Complaints

26. CONCLUDING REMARKS Information on all of the Functions on Website www.bci.ie Resource Centre Thank You