The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has today (28th June 2017) announced details of its new Short News Reporting Code of Practice, which will come into effect on 1st September 2017.
As provided for under the European Union’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), the BAI’s Code of Practice sets out the requirements for Irish broadcasters regarding the use and availability of short news extracts. These extracts involve coverage of an event that is of high interest to the public, which is retransmitted by a television broadcaster that does not hold the rights to the broadcast of the event.
Under the Code of Practice, a television broadcaster that has acquired exclusive television broadcasting rights for an event of high interest to the public must ensure that all other television broadcasters in the State, or in other EU member states, have access to short extracts for inclusion in general news programmes. The Code of Practice also provides that television broadcasters must be allowed to freely choose the short extracts they use and that access to such extracts is provided free of charge.
Commenting on the launch, Chief Executive of the BAI, Michael O’Keeffe said: “This Code of Practice is designed to ensure that the public are informed of major news, sporting or cultural events, regardless of who owns the broadcast rights. The provisions of the Code of Practice fully reflect the informal, co-operative arrangements which have been in place between broadcasters in Ireland for a number of years.”
The Short News Reporting Code of Practice can be found here.
ENDS
Contact: Joanne Ahern / Sebastian Enke, DHR Communications, Tel: 01-4200580 / 087-9881837 / 087-3239496.
Notes to Editors:
- The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment designates sporting and cultural events of major importance to society. A list of these events can be found on dccae.gov.ie.