New Irish Film Channel receives Green Light in New Broadcasting Bill
New Irish Film and World Cinema TV Channel Welcomed Today after receiving Green Light in New Broadcasting Bill
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen, multi award winning film director Jim Sheridan, and Board Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB) Chair, James Morris today welcomed the new Irish Film and World Cinema TV Channel, which was confirmed yesterday as part of the new Broadcasting Bill.
For the first time ever Irish audiences will be provided with an opportunity to view award winning independent Irish, European and World Cinema in prime time TV slots free of any commercial charges. The Film channel will be a non commercial channel available to all Irish households on the free public service digital transmission system that will replace the existing 4 channel system by 2012.
The channel will fill a gap by providing a platform for Irish films and award-winning European and World cinema that Irish audiences rarely have the opportunity to see or know about. Irish films screening on the channel are likely to have completed their own commercial cycle through theatrical, DVD and mainstream TV outlets before appearing on the film channel.
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan "The Broadcasting Bill, which I published yesterday, paves the way for the introduction of The Irish Film Channel, which I believe will be mutually beneficial to both the Irish viewing public and the Irish filmmaking community. The new channel will provide viewers with access to a wide range of both home produced and international cinema, whilst at the same time providing a new avenue for our filmmakers to deliver their work to a wider audience. I am confident that by working in conjunction with the Irish Film Board, this free-to-air Channel will be up-and-running on the Digital platform by the end of 2009."
Minister for Arts Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen commented "This free to air public service will showcase the best of Irish European and World cinema. It is yet another important initiative in our ongoing support for the Irish film sector. This is a fine example of joined up government with our own Department working closely together with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, and the Irish Film Board to bring this new and exciting service free to the public."
James Morris, IFB Chairman said "This film channel is about providing a choice and alternative to mainstream commercial television in prime time which is the time of day when most people are free to watch TV. Perhaps only a few people will be watching a film at any one time, but everyone will watch the Irish film channel some of the time. Because the channel is about showing films that have already been made and released and not about funding new production it will by any standards by a low cost operation."
The morning and afternoon schedules will be specifically programmed with films designed to complement the primary and secondary school curriculum, transition year projects and third level film studies.
The channel will also build key strategic relationships with Irish film festivals, local film societies, schools, third level colleges and universities around the country. Each film will have a pre- recorded introduction by a well known Irish or International film critic, film director, actor or personality. Each introduction will give the audience a short background and context to the film before it is shown.