PRE-tax profits at the UTV-owned Limerick’s Live 95FM radio station last year decreased by 40% from €1.79 million to €1m.

TV and radio stations will have to pay a €5.7 million levy to fund the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland this year in a move that broadcasters have warned could cost jobs in the sector.

A LEVY to fund the new Broadcasting Authority of Ireland is being imposed on all broadcasters licensed in the state at the worst possible time, the head of the new independent regulator admitted yesterday.

Dublin: A research report has found that there is a need for a coherent approach to the development of digital radio in Ireland.

IN his letter (August 31), Dr Bobby Smyth accuses the drinks industry of “bombarding” children with alcohol adverts, and questions our bona fides in regard to addressing alcohol misuse.

A TEENAGER with muscular dystrophy who makes his screen debut tomorrow has been hailed as an example to others with a disability.

BROADCASTERS have welcomed clarification of their responsibilities ahead of the Lisbon Referendum and regulatory clearance not to be compelled to split coverage 50/50.

The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland has made two changes to its guidelines for the media in the run up to the second Lisbon Treaty referendum.

Funding of almost €960,000 was today awarded to 89 radio projects.

RTÉ’s policy of giving equal airtime to both the pro and anti supporters in referendum campaigns was described as “extraordinary” by Europe Minister Dick Roche.

THE media interests of billionaire entrepreneur Denis O’Brien are not enough to create competition concerns in the Irish market, the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) has ruled.

The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland has found that Denis O'Brien does not have control of an undue number of media outlets in this country.

A NUMBER of outdoor advertising companies have been rapped on the knuckles for allowing alcohol ads to be displayed too close to schools.

VIEWERS face the prospect of paying more for their TV licence to help offset potential losses of €68 million at RTE.

THE Independent News & Media (INM) board is likely to be granted more time to reach a refinancing deal regarding its €200 million bond, which reaches deadline next Monday.

A GROUP of investors led by Clare FM managingdirector Liam O’Shea yesterday confirmed a deal to purchase a majority stake in radio station Kfm – the licensed local radio service for Kildare.

PLANS for the introduction of commercial digital TV in Ireland have suffered a major setback after it was confirmed that the consortium which had won three licences to provide digital terrestrial television will not proceed with its plans to launch a service this year.

AN Irish short film could be in line for an Oscar after scooping an important win at the prestigious Aspen Shortsfest in the United States.

A Co Waterford woman who chased fishing pirates in the Mediterranean is being featured in a new TG4 documentary.

CONTROVERSIAL author Jeffrey Archer delivered the keynote address at the Thomas Crosbie Holdings annual business dinner in the company’s South Mall headquarters last night.

THERE is a need to change broadcasting legislation following the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland decision to disallow the most recent Veritas advert.

THE ban on Veritas radio advertising radio is a complete nonsense.

I AGREE with your editorial (December 6) that the decision by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) to ban a Christmas radio advert by Catholic booksellers Veritas is “utterly, mind-numbingly stupid”.

IT SEEMS we’ve swapped the tyranny of the crozier for the far more subversive tyranny of political correctness.

A FORMER tánaiste and a number of ex-ministers are on the Government panel from which the six major banks and building societies covered by the guarantee scheme are to select additional board members.

TV3 and the 32 independent radio stations have called for an end to the practice of equal coverage for opposing sides in referendum debates and the scrapping of the ban on coverage on the last day before polling.

Top executives from RTE, TV3 and Newstalk will today appear before an Oireachtas Joint Committee.

THE 28th meeting of the European Platform of Broadcasting Regulatory Authorities (EPRA) will be held in Dublin at the invitation of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland.

A FORMER mayor of Limerick has been nominated by the Transport Minister Noel Dempsey to the board of Shannon Foynes Port Company.

BARNEY may be a blessing and Dora just adorable but parents are being urged to think twice before they allow their pre-schoolers to watch the antics of their favourite TV characters.

TV3 is to buy Channel 6 in a deal worth up to €10m, it emerged tonight.

Ireland’s newest television station broadcasting a range of drama, documentaries and current affairs programmes will be officially launched today.

Arts Minister Martin Cullen today congratulated the cast, crew and producers of Maze Prison hunger-strike film 'Hunger'.

THREE rival bidders have outlined how they will offer digital TV services here as an alternative to existing cable and satellite providers.

Television licence fee evaders are to face significantly heavier fines but will get a last chance to avoid court, under planned new laws unveiled today.

THE country’s first fully licensed Christian radio station was launched yesterday vowing to spread its message of hope over the airways.

A CONSORTIUM featuring Thomas Crosbie Holdings (TCH) and the Irish Times has been awarded the country’s latest multi-city music radio licence.

THE Mahon Tribunal is paying out more than three-quarters of expenses and costs being claimed by third parties, according to bills settled so far with individuals and companies.

THE two bidders for the multi-city over-45s radio licence have differed over the potential revenue the new station could generate.

Cardinal Sean Brady has described the controversy surrounding the use of the word 'crib' in a radio advertisement as political correctness gone crazy.

RTÉ is to get a €14m windfall from licence fee payers, it emerged today.

The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) has today announced details of the fifth funding round of Sound & Vision, the Broadcasting Funding Scheme, for television.

Thomas Crosbie Holdings Ltd (TCH) is part of a consortium which has applied for a radio licence to broadcast to people in the 45+ age group.

The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) has today approved the proposed sale by EMAP to Communicorp of Today FM and Highland Radio, but has not approved the proposed sale of FM104 to Communicorp.