Independent broadcasters: RTE have unfair advantage

The Independent Broadcasters of Ireland has said RTE has an unfair funding advantage.

The IBI said the €200m generated by the licence fee goes exclusively to RTE, even though commercial radio also provides public service broadcasting content.

The organisation, which represents 34 independent stations around the country, has said that at least €5m of the State broadcaster's funding should go to its members.

IBI chairman Scott Williams of Q102 in Dublin called on the Government to overhaul the system.

"We're looking for the funding of the regulator to be paid for out of the new public broadcasting charge (and) we want a fund to support public service broadcasting," he said.