Coimisiún na Meán has opened a public consultation on the future shape of broadcasting in Ireland, and while sport is not the specific subject of the exercise, the outcome should interest rights holders, broadcasters and governing bodies.
The regulator launched consultation on its proposed new Broadcasting Services Strategy yesterday, September 28.
It is intended to establish a multi-year approach to television and radio licensing and to examine whether the regulatory framework remains fit for a media environment increasingly defined by streaming, digital distribution and global platforms.
Areas under consideration include future television licensing and Digital Terrestrial Television, FM and DAB+ radio, multi-platform delivery, AI and emerging technologies, local and community value, and possible future reform of the regulatory framework.
The consultation remains open until November 9.
“The media landscape has changed dramatically over the past several years,” said Broadcasting and Video-on-Demand Commissioner Aoife MacEvilly.
“Behaviours have evolved; new technologies and distribution methods have emerged; broadcasters operate as multiplatform media providers; and competition from global digital services has intensified.”
That description could equally apply to sports broadcasting.
TG4 is a television broadcaster but also distributes sport through TG4 Player. RTÉ distributes through linear television, radio, RTÉ Player, digital news and social platforms. Premier Sports combines conventional subscription channels with streaming.
Governing bodies and leagues increasingly produce and distribute their own content, as we will hear from leaders in the field at Thursday’s Sport for Business Sport and Creativity Conference.
Audiences do not necessarily distinguish between the different categories.
Their question is simply: where can I watch the game?
Sport is particularly relevant to this debate because live events remain one of the strongest reasons audiences watch scheduled television.
We saw elsewhere today that 478,000 tuned into RTÉ’s stripped-back coverage of the Republic of Ireland vs Israel game on Sunday. 1.6 million watched on RTÉ2, and a further 552,000 on the RTÉ Player as Katie Taylor said farewell to Boxing at Croke Park earlier this month.
A live match, race or final retains its value because people generally want to see it as it happens.
That gives sport continued importance to terrestrial and subscription broadcasters even as other viewing habits fragment.
At the same time, digital distribution has allowed sports properties that might once have struggled to secure television coverage to build their own audiences.
Sport for Business Perspective
Media distribution is now part of the commercial strategy of almost every significant sports property.
The questions being considered by Coimisiún na Meán, those of licensing, DTT, multi-platform distribution, new technologies, and the sustainability of independent media will therefore eventually reach the pitch, track, and court.
Sport also has an opportunity to contribute to the consultation.
Rights holders have first-hand experience of the changes taking place.
They know how audiences move between television, streaming and social platforms.
They know the difference that free-to-air exposure can make.
They also know the commercial trade-offs between maximum reach and maximum rights revenue.
The consultation is open until November 9.
Irish sport has a stake in the media environment that emerges.
It would be worth making its voice heard.
RTÉ, TG4, Sky Ireland, Nemeton and Iris are full members of Sport for Business.
If you would like to be part of the Sport for Business community and see your organisation in our content, on our stages, and in the conversation happening every day around the commercial world of Irish Sport, email us today and let’s see what is possible.
Image Credit: Coimisiún na Meán
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