Power wars
Broadband levy will not replace TV licence fee »»Yuno undercuts main larger rivals
Online television
REPLACING the TV licence fee with a new “broadband” levy is not being considered as a “serious option”, the Irish Mirror understands.
It comes amid fears that a levy on broadband services could raise “questions of fairness” due to varying quality across the country.
The Business Post reported on Sunday that plans to overhaul the fee could see a new levy of €10 to €15 placed on monthly broadband subscriptions.
As we reported earlier this month, TV licence fee revenue fell by €19million following the financial scandal that engulfed RTE last year.
The Government will unveil plans to overhaul the system this year.
OPTION
Following the publication of the Future of Media Commission’s report in
2022, a technical working group was established to consider how public service broadcasting should be funded.
A broadband levy was suggested as an option, but it is believed not to be favoured by Government as it is not being used in any other country.
It is also deemed “tricky” to administer as there are dozens of broadband firms operating across the country and the Government would have to figure out how to introduce exemptions for pensioners and low-income families.
The Irish Mirror understands the only viable options being considered to replace the licence fee are direct exchequer funding or a charge which could be collected by Revenue.
Media Minister Catherine Martin said she is in favour of direct exchequer funding but it was rejected by the Government in July 2022.
Tanaiste Micheal Martin said: “I have real reservations about media generally being funded by Government in its entirety.”
Energy bills should start to reduce
Cost per annum to Yuno customers which is the cheapest on the market
Rates under 30 cent are a vast improvement on the 50 cent rate it was during 2023 DARRAGH CASSIDY FROM BONKERS.IE ON NEW ENERGY PRICE REDUCTIONS
HOPES soared of an energy price war after Yuno again reduced its rates to undercut Electric Ireland and Bord Gais Energy.
Yuno claims its latest drop yesterday, which sees the unit charge fall by 5.4% and is fixed for a year, will make it the cheapest company in the market and could save householders up to €524 per annum.
It is the second time in a month it reduced fixed rate prices.
Yuno boss Cathal Fay said: “Wholesale markets have decreased recently, but are still volatile, so the new rate we’re announcing might be particularly appealing to those that want to be sure they can lock in the benefits of recent price reductions.
“If you haven’t changed in a year or more you will save a minimum of €341 by joining Yuno.”
Last week Electric Ireland announced cuts to electricity prices by 8% and gas prices by 7%.
The reductions will take effect from March 1 and will benefit the firm’s 1.1 million household customers. Bord Gais Energy will also be decreasing prices from February 29 with a 10% fall in electricity unit rate, 9.5% drop in gas unit rate, and 8% cut in standing charge.
It means a residential dual fuel customer will save an estimated €331 per annum.
Darragh Cassidy from price comparison site Bonkers.ie said: “Strong wind output and in particular falling gas prices have helped reduce wholesale electricity prices and these reductions are finally being passed on to consumers.
“Yuno Energy only launched a new fixed-rate offer at the start of January.
“So the fact it’s launching an even cheaper offer so soon is pretty remarkable. And of course in recent weeks
A SPRINKLING of stardust was not enough to give the Late Late Show a ratings boost as Room To Improve was the most watched show on RTE over the weekend.
Despite actors Jamie Dornan, Paul Mescal and Adrew Scott joining host Paddy Kielty, Friday’s edition had 19,000 fewer viewers than the previous week.
A spokeswoman for RTE said: “Friday night’s Late Late Show was watched by an average audience of 460,000 on RTE One and RTE One+1.
“It was watched by 42% of the available audience on RTE One.
“On RTE Player, Friday’s episode has generated almost 30,000 streams so far and across The Late Late Show social accounts.
“There were over 200,000 total interactions, with clips from the show getting over three million views.
AUDIENCE
“Sunday’s Room To Improve was watched by an average audience of 549,000 viewers on RTE One and RTE One +1 with 47% of the available audience watching on RTE One.
“On RTE Player, it has generated 18,000 streams.”
Tommy Tiernan also saw a jump of 75,000 people tuning in as the comedian’s Saturday night chat show was watched by an average audience of 475,000 viewers.
The source added: “Saturday’stommy Tiernan Show was watched by an average audience of 475,000 viewers on RTE One and RTE One +1 with 42% of the available audience watching on RTE One.
“On RTE Player, this programme has generated 26,000 streams to date.”
And Sunday’s Dancing With The Stars saw 543,000 people tuning in to see Rory Cowan become the first celebrity ditched.
The spokesman said: “Episode 3 was watched by an average audience of 543,000 viewers on RTE One and RTE One +1 with 41% of the available audience watching on RTE One.
“On RTE Player, it generated 27,000 streams.”
NETFLIX has released the first teaser of Andrew Scott’s upcoming thriller series, Ripley.
Set in Italy in the 1960s, the lavishly shot limited series promises to be “a suspense-filled journey”, with Dublin star Scott in the lead role.
He plays Tom Ripley, “a grifter scraping by in the early 1960s”, who gets caught up in “a complex life of deceit, fraud and murder”.
The series will launch on Netflix on April 4.