TV, radio & on-demand
Coimisiún na Meán is responsible for overseeing the regulation of broadcasting and video-on-demand services in Ireland.
We are committed to ensuring viewers and listeners in Ireland have access to diverse services, programming, and perspectives that meet their needs and reflect their diversity. We actively encourage and support Irish broadcasters to realise this objective, because diverse viewpoints are vital to a vibrant broadcasting landscape.
Broadcasting
The current Irish radio and television landscape is a mix of national, regional, and local services. These can be public, commercial, or community services, and offer varied content.
Our broadcasting regulatory functions include
1. Regulation of Public Service Media
We have overall responsibility for the regulation of Irish public service broadcasters. Public Service Media are publicly owned, publicly funded media organisations that provide content related to the democratic, social and cultural needs of Irish society that is free at the point of consumption.
2. Licensing of broadcast services
We are responsible for the licensing of independent radio and television services, as well as those provided by RTÉ, TG4 and the Houses of the Oireachtas Channel.
Our key licensing objective is to ensure that broadcasting services in the State are inclusive and pluralistic, and best serve the needs of the people of the island of Ireland. This takes into account the diversity of languages, experiences and traditions, and religious, ethnic and cultural identities in Ireland today.
We monitor broadcasters’ compliance with the terms of their broadcasting contracts and Codes and Rules. This includes conducting compliance audits/ reviews and listening to and/or watching broadcast content and audience complaints.
3. Handling complaints from viewers and listeners
If you are concerned by something you’ve seen or heard on public or independent broadcast services or on video-on-demand, please visit our dedicated Report & Complain section.
4. Development of Codes & Rules
We develop Codes & Rules to govern the standards and practices of broadcasters and video-on-demand platforms based in Ireland.
The codes and rules cover a wide range of matters, including fairness, objectivity and impartiality in news reporting, rules for advertising and sponsorship, the protection of audiences from harmful content, and ensuring that the media services being provided are accessible to the public.
On-demand
Coimisiún na Meán is responsible for regulating audiovisual on-demand media (video-on-demand) services where the providers of the services are established in Ireland. Video-on-demand refers to video content which can be selected by the viewer from a catalogue of programmes offered by the service providers to watch at a moment chosen by them.