The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (“BAI”) is inviting expressions of interest from broadcast content providers and other interested parties for the provision of free-to-air broadcasting services for transmission on the RTÉ DTT Multiplexes.
The Authority has been directed by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to seek expresssions of interest and issue a report and recommendations further to Statutory Instrument 67 of 2011. RTÉ is planning to launch its free-to-air DTT service “SAORVIEW” by June 2011. SAORVIEW will operate alongside the existing analogue terrestrial TV network until such time as the analogue network is switched off. There is capacity to include additional services on the SAORVIEW system and the purpose of inviting submissions is to ascertain the level of interest that may exist in the provision of content on the RTÉ multiplexes. Following receipt of the BAI’s report and recommendations as to the extent of interest from service providers the Minister will decide on the additional content to be carried on the RTÉ multiplexes. The closing date for completed submissions is 28th March 2011. Speaking about the announcement, Michael O’Keeffe, Chief Executive of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland said: “This call for expressions of interest offers relevent parties an opportunity to outline proposals they may have as to the type of content services that could be provided to audiences in the State.”
A Guide to Submissions document is available on the BAI website www.bai.ie or by telephoning the offices of the BAI on +353 1 6441200.