Ireland has emerged as a potential haven for channels currently using the UK as their base to broadcast to Europe after the UK leaves the European Union.
Last week, business organisation IDA Ireland and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) met with potential investors in London. They’re looking to encourage some of the over 1,000 ‘exported’ channels currently broadcasting under an Ofcom licence to make the move to the Irish Republic.
Shane Nolan, Senior Vice President IDA Ireland said: “IDA sees the broadcasting sector as another regulated sector, alongside financial services, technology and pharma that may require a post-Brexit solution, depending on how the Brexit negotiations proceed.
“UK-based international broadcasters face serious challenges post-Brexit, with any potential Brexit deal likely to put the UK outside the current Audio-Visual Media Services Directive licensing regime and, by extension the Country of Origin (COO) principle.”
Since the emergence of direct-to-home satellite television in the late 1980s, the UK has built up a sizeable business in exported channels, a point not lost on the prime minister in her Mansion House speech earlier this month.
However, Theresa May acknowledged that the UK could not maintain its existing arrangements.
