Broadcasting Commission of Ireland announces details of DTT Multiplex Licensing Process

The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) has today announced details of its application process for three national Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) multiplex contracts. The three multiplex contracts will be advertised in tomorrow’s national press and each contract is for a period of 12 years. The commencement of the process marks an important step in the development of digital terrestrial television in the State, to replace the delivery of television services by analogue means.

The contracts arising out of this process will facilitate the provision of a minimum of twenty-four new television services. The legislation which provides for DTT has also assigned responsibility for the provision of a single multiplex television service by RTÉ, which will be established separately to the multiplexes licensed by the BCI. The RTÉ multiplex will ensure the continued delivery of the RTÉ services, TG4 and TV3 on a free-to-air basis.

Speaking at a media briefing, Michael O’Keeffe, Chief Executive of the BCI said “the commencement of this process is a significant step both in terms of the Commission’s work on DTT, but also in planning for a terrestrial broadcasting future which is digitally based. We are confident that through this licensing process consumer choice will be further facilitated, both in terms of content available to view and in terms of service delivery. There are a number of agencies involved in the roll-out of Digital Terrestrial Television, and the Commission looks forward to working in tandem with them and to playing our part, as a regulator, in ensuring there is awareness among the general public of DTT and its implications. We now look forward to receiving applications from interested parties for these three multiplex contracts”.

The BCI’s application process for the DTT multiplex contracts will run for a period of eight weeks, with a closing date of 12 noon on Friday May 2nd. The application document seeks a considerable amount of information including: proposals for programming; financial and business plan; the transmission/multiplexing proposals as well as details regarding the shareholding and management of the applicant group.

Applicants will be invited to make presentations to the Commission on the 12th of May. It is anticipated that decisions with regard to the award of contracts will take place at the July 21st meeting of the Board.