Three local radio stations in the west of Ireland have been awarded more than €250k in Covid-19 funding from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.
The fund is aimed at commercial radio stations supporting information and understanding of Covid-19, at a time when the media has taken a hit alongside other industries in this crisis.
Galway Bay FM has been awarded €85,000, while Mid-West Radio and Clare FM have been allocated €95,000 each.
Galway East TD Seán Canney congratulated the three stations on their funding, saying that local radio is a “vital source of information”, making it an essential service for communities.
The Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, where Seán Canney is a Minister of State, has asked the BAI to consider this initiative, which is being implemented through the Sound and Vision fund.
“Like most businesses, local radio is facing financial challenges as a consequence of the economic downturn during the COVID-19 crisis.”
“These allocations recognise the important role of local radio in our daily lives,” Canney said.
The BAI will also be running a separate round of funding for community radio stations in the summer, and another later in the year for commercial and community television broadcasters and public service broadcasters, including RTÉ radio services.
The broadcasting levy had already been waived for a period of six months by the BAI in light of the impact of the Covid-19 crisis.
“A financial assessment of the impact of Covid-19 on the independent radio sector is due to be delivered to the Department at the end of the process.”
