The new code of practice published by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland will come into effect on September 1st 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.
Michael O’Keeffe, Chief Executive, BAI:
“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.”
