As Ireland's Broadcasting Regulator, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland
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ANNUAL REPORT 2014 Broadcasting Authority of Ireland 2–5 Warrington Place, Dublin 2, Ireland T: +353 (0)1 644 1200 F: +353 (0)1 644 1299 www.bai.ie @BAItweets BAIreland TABLE OF CONTENTS About the BAI 5 Chairperson’s Statement 7 CEO Review 9 The Authority 11 Contract Awards Committee 12 Compliance Committee 13 Finance Audit & Risk Committee 14 Organisational Structure and Staff of the BAI 15 Ensuring Diversity 17 Ensuring Plurality 27 Influencing and Communicating 29 Strengthening the Transparency and Accountability of Broadcasters 35 Facilitating Learning and Development in the Broadcasting Sector 41 Promoting Responsible Broadcasting and Empowering Audiences 45 Governance and Organisational Development 49 Still from An Bronntanas Produced by: ROSG and De Facto Films Broadcast by: TG4 BAI BAI MISSION VISION As Ireland’s broadcasting The BAI is recognised as a regulator, the Broadcasting strategic and professional Authority of Ireland (BAI) is an regulator, serving the viewing independent statutory body, and listening needs of the people committed to serving Irish of Ireland and respected by the society by regulating, shaping broadcasting sector and other and supporting the broadcasting relevant stakeholders. environment, so that broadcasting reflects Ireland’s diverse and democratic nature. ABOUT THE BAI The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland was established — providing a regulatory environment that: under the Broadcasting Act 2009 (“the 2009 Act”) – sustains independent and impartial journalism on 1st October 2009, to regulate content across all – sustains compliance with employment law broadcasting. It assumed the roles previously held by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) and the – protects the interests of children Broadcasting Complaints Commission (BCC). – facilitates a broadcasting sector which is responsive to audience needs and accessible to The 2009 Act sets out a range of general and specific people with disabilities objectives for the BAI and specifies that its constituent – promotes and stimulates the development of parts, in performing their functions, “shall endeavour Irish language programming and broadcasting to ensure: services. — that the number and categories of broadcasting 2014 marked the launch of the BAI’s second Strategy services made available in the State best serve the Statement for the period 2014-2016. The changing needs of the people of the island of Ireland, bearing character of the media landscape has raised challenging in mind their languages and traditions and their questions about what constitutes a viewer or a listener religious, ethical and cultural diversity, and about how the existing regulatory framework can — that the democratic values enshrined in the relate and respond to the present and the emerging Constitution, especially those relating to rightful future. The implications of these changes have served liberty of expression, are upheld, and to underscore the validity of the organisation’s present — the provision of open and pluralistic broadcasting priorities, specifically that the interests of the audience services.” constitute a core concern. Consequently, the 2014 – 2016 Strategy Statement is a continuation of the The Act also sets out a range of other objectives for the developments and achievements of the BAI Strategy Authority which include: Statement covering 2011-2013. — stimulating the provision of high quality, diverse, and The BAI Strategy contains seven themes which capture innovative programming the organisation’s competencies under the statute. — facilitating public service broadcasters in the The organisation’s strategic goals are captured under fulfilment of their public service objects these themes and, together, set out what the BAI aims — promoting diversity of control in the commercial and to deliver for viewers and listeners in Ireland. It is an community broadcasting sectors ambitious strategy that, while remaining grounded in statute, seeks to ensure that the reality of the changing environment is fully reflected within all our activities. The BAI Annual Report 2014 uses the seven strategic themes outlined in the Strategy Statement as a framework to report on the activities undertaken and the progress made on its work plan for the year. BAI | ANNUAL REPORT 2014 5 “This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is only wires and lights in a box.” Edward R Murrow CHAIRPERSON‚S STATEMENT It is an honour for me as incoming chairman to present Murrow was speaking to radio and TV directors. His the annual report of the BAI for 2014. My first task speech was a challenge to fulfil the potential of the is to acknowledge the sterling service of Bob Collins, broadcasting medium. That challenge remains as Chairman, and the other members of the outgoing relevant today as it was sixty years ago. If anything, Authority. This report documents their endeavours with dramatic social change in Ireland and the impact of during the year under review and provides ample globalisation and new technology, it is even more so. A evidence of cumulative achievement during their healthy, vibrant democratic republic is dependant on a five-year term of office. New structures have been healthy, vibrant and diverse broadcasting sector. created and embedded and key policies and procedures developed and implemented. As the inaugural Authority The BAI has an important strategic as well as a appointed under the Broadcasting Act 2009, they regulatory function. The Strategic Plan for the years have done much to protect, support and enhance the 2014–2016, which I enthusiastically endorse, focuses broadcasting environment in Ireland at a particularly on serving the needs of Irish society and ensuring that difficult time. viewers and listeners have access to a diverse range of broadcasting voices and services. The underlying core These achievements were the product of a collaboration values include protection of the public interest; fairness between the Authority, statutory committees, the and proportionality; independence and impartiality; full-time staff of the BAI and the wider stakeholders. I professionalism and commitment to learning; would like to record the appreciation of the Authority accountability, transparency and cost-effectiveness; and for the leadership of the CEO and Deputy CEO of the cultural and linguistic diversity. The overall vision is that BAI and the whole-hearted engagement of the staff. the BAI should be trusted by the public, broadcasters Staff reductions and financial constraints required and legislators to service the viewing and listening needs flexibility and creativity: both have been forthcoming in of Irish society. large measure. The main body of this report is structured in a 2014 marked the first year of a new three-year transparent manner to highlight progress and strategic plan adopted by the Authority after development under the main themes of the Strategic extensive consultation. In reviewing some of the main Plan in its first year of operation. Inevitably there are developments over the past year, it may be useful if I and will be significant challenges in implementing this look forward as well as back, reflecting on the strategic strategy. It is the function of the Authority to ensure plan as a whole. that these are anticipated and successfully negotiated. In October 1958, Edward R Murrow – the doyen of Structurally, the BAI comprises two statutory broadcast journalists – said in relation to television: committees, Contract Awards and Compliance – each with its own remit prescribed by the Broadcasting This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, Act. The statutory committees completed significant and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to programmes of work during the year in an efficient and the extent that humans are determined to use timely manner. Notable benchmarks included completion it to those ends. Otherwise it is only wires and of the implementation of the current licensing plan, lights in a box. reviews of the performance of a number of broadcasters and processing of 152 complaints. Mindful of the BAI | ANNUAL REPORT 2014 7 independence of these committees, it is my responsibility The BAI will continue to encourage and support high as Chair to ensure that the governance structure as a quality programmes through the Sound & Vision scheme whole works together as a strong, cohesive organisation. which is having a significant cumulative impact. More than €70 million was allocated under this scheme in the If the BAI is to be a trusted and informed voice on five years from 2009 – this at a time when investment broadcasting and other media matters, it will need from other sources was declining due to the financial to engage more with the public and with other collapse and budgetary cuts. Total budgets for projects stakeholders. The incoming Authority intends to address funded over these years was €158 million meaning that this issue actively. In fulfilling its regulatory brief, the BAI funding facilitated leveraging of over 50 percent of BAI will need to be adaptable and reduce unnecessary final cost. More than 3,000 applications were received bureaucratic and administrative burdens, both on in seventeen funding rounds and, in all, 1,110 radio those who make programmes and those who view or and 336 TV projects were supported. Notable recent listen to them. Following extensive consultation, the examples