Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Hugo Keenan and Harry McNulty in Paris as Ireland Men's Rugby 7s secure Olympic quarter final. Dan Sheridan/INPHO

RTÉ to resume broadcasting news bulletins in Northern Ireland after clash over Olympic TV rights

An edited version of the programme will be made available on RTÉ Player.

LAST UPDATE | 25 Jul

RTÉ HAS CONFIRMED it will resume broadcast of its news bulletins in Northern Ireland, including news from the 2024 Olympic Games.

The station’s TV news bulletins were geo-blocked last night, preventing viewers from watching due to licensing restrictions on footage from the Olympics.

Some viewers took to social media to express their frustrations at being unable to watch the news bulletin, with one person describing the geo-blocking as “censorship”.

In a statement this evening, RTÉ said it will resume broadcast of its news bulletins in Northern Ireland.

It had earlier told The Journal that they were unable to show footage of the Olympics in Northern Ireland as they hold the rights to “broadcast the 2024 Olympic Games in the Republic of Ireland only”.

“While RTÉ has sought permission to make our broadcasts of the 2024 Olympic Games available in Northern Ireland, this has not been possible,” it said.

Earlier, the broadcaster stated that while efforts had been made to make their broadcasts available in Northern Ireland, it was not possible as the “exclusive free-to-air broadcast rights for Northern Ireland for the 2024 Olympic Games are held by the BBC, who were licensed those rights in a UK Olympics rights deal agreed between the BBC and the pan-European rights holder, Discovery back in 2016”.

RTÉ also confirmed that viewers in Northern Ireland would be blocked from watching the entire RTÉ News programme live and not just the specific segments that contained footage of the Olympics.

However, an edited version of the programme will be made available for viewers in Northern Ireland and internationally each night on the RTÉ Player.

Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan Brendan Smith said that “it is unacceptable that citizens in Northern Ireland are unable to access RTÉ’s news programming. As a public service broadcaster, RTÉ has a duty to provide comprehensive news coverage to all people across Ireland, regardless of geographical location”.

“The people of Northern Ireland have a right to access the same public service broadcasting as their fellow citizens in the Republic”, he continued, calling on RTÉ to address the issue to allow full access for viewers in Northern Ireland and “stand by its commitment to serve the entire island of Ireland”.

Sinn Féin MP for Newry and Armagh Dáire Hughes also described RTÉ’s decision as unacceptable, saying “geo-blocking of northern viewers has become increasingly prevalent over recent years”, locking viewers from Northern Ireland out from important news coverage.

He also accused RTÉ of treating “northern citizens with contempt” and called on the broadcaster to reverse their decision.

The SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he had written to the RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst to “underscore the broadcaster’s obligation to provide services across the island of Ireland”. 

The Foyle MP also said that “the decision to geo-block news programming for RTÉ viewers in the North represents a new low” and “creates a hierarchy of Irish citizens”, adding that “commercial custom and practice shouldn’t be allowed to get in the way of something as basic as getting the news”. 

The Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games will take place on Friday 26 July and will feature a river parade through Paris along the Seine.

Team Ireland will be hoping to bring home the gold medals with their 133 athletes across 16 different sports.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Author
Conor O'Carroll
View 18 comments
Close
18 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel

     
    JournalTv
    News in 60 seconds