Ireland's Independent TV To Get €15.5m Boost

With the Irish Broadcasting Bill concluding its Committee Stage last week, the Communications Minister Eamon Ryan has announced that he will increase funding for the state's Sound and Vision programme by 2% on the previous allocation.
As one of the primary amendments made to the Bill, this increase will bring total investment in Ireland's independent television production to almost €15.5 million in 2009.
The Sound and Vision programme, delivered by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, offers funding to independent television producers for various genres of programming including documentaries, children's programming and film-production. Previous projects which received funding from the fund include the films Kings, Garage and 32A, as well as children's television series Aifric.
Commenting, Minister Ryan said: "The independent production sector is an important creative source as well as a significant employer and as Communications Minister, I am committed to helping it further develop.
"This increase in the Sound and Vision fund from five to seven percent combined with the increase in the RTE statutory independent production spend to €40 million from €32 million a year gives some certainty to this sector in a tougher economic climate," he said, noting that he welcomed the contribution and support of all parties in the development of the Broadcasting Bill.
"I am confident that the amendment on Sound and Vision funding will bring significant benefits next year for the independent sector and I look forward to seeing what I am sure will be very impressive results," he concluded, adding that the allocation has increased from €11 million to €15.5 million
(BMcC)