Sky and Virgin Media will drop RTÉ if required to pay

Sky and Virgin Media Ireland have said they will not pay to be allowed to carry RTÉ channels even at the risk of losing those channels from their platforms.

A number of pay-TV operators have outlined their strong objections to the joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications which is examining the introduction of retransmission fees.

RTÉ is currently looking for the removal of legislation that states that Irish free- to-air broadcasters “must offer” their standard definition channels to pay-TV operators free of charge. It argues that, as its channels are the most popular on the pay-TV platforms here, they should be allowed to charge for their use.