The Irish Film Board (Bord Scannán na hÉireann) is proposing to setup a “free to air” film channel with a strong focus on Irish produced films.
The proposal was put forward at the end of last month and has been welcomed by the Irish minister of Communications, Eamon Ryan.
Ireland’s terrestial television services will be switching to digital over the next two years and the number of channels available will increase significantly.
The proposed new channel will provide Irish audiences with an opportunity to view award winning independent Irish, European and World Cinema in prime time TV slots. It is envisaged that the new channel will be a non commercial, free to air service, available to all Irish households and to be included as part of the new multi channel digital transmission system that will eventually replace the existing 4 channel system.
It sounds a small bit like Film Four, but with an Irish flavour. However if it is “non commercial” then it will have to rely on state aid to stay on air. One of the people behind the new venture was interviewed on Irish national radio this evening and suggested that the running cost could be as low as 2 or 3 million euro per annum.
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