The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has announced details of the latest funding awards under The Sound & Vision 3 Broadcasting Funding Scheme.
Following a detailed assessment process, funding amounting to €5.5m has been allocated to 119 projects. Of this, just over €5m has been allocated to 31 TV projects, while 88 radio projects will benefit to the value of €480k. Some 220 applications for funding were received in this Round of the scheme, seeking funding of €20.3m.
As with previous rounds, documentary is by far the most popular format for which funding was sought. In terms of genre, history/heritage and contemporary society remain the most popular. Some notable projects supported in the current round include:
- A new six-part crime series for TV3 entitled Darklands.
- A second series of the successful Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope for RTÉ 2 and the IFTA-winning Striking Out for RTÉ One.
- An Irish language children’s entertainment series, Lurgan 2K17, for broadcast on TG4.
- Support for three feature films (Dark Lies the Island, The Hole in the Ground, and Never Grow Old) , which will be broadcast on RTÉ channels. These feature films are also supported by the lrish Film Board.
- A radio drama package of 15 projects, eight of which will be produced and broadcast by community radio services. This includes four Irish language projects for Raidió Na Life.
- A documentary for Oireachtas TV, Women of the Oireachtas, which will follow artist Noel Murphy as he embarks on a project to create a painting of all female members of the Oireachtas.
Since the launch of the new Broadcasting Funding Scheme – Sound & Vision 3 – in early 2015, the BAI has just under €27m allocated to support 586 projects (141 for TV and 445 for radio). We are pleased to be able to allocate a further €5.5m in this round.
While there is a slight decrease in the number of applications in this round, once again the amount sought far exceeded the funding available. The scheme is financed from the Broadcast Fund, which comprises 7 per cent of the annual net receipts from television licence fees. At a time when measures are under consideration to counter television licence evasion, it is worth bearing in mind that any increase in revenue will also lead to an increase in the amounts available to support more projects of the type we are announcing today, and make a further contribution to the quality of the content available to Irish audiences.
Michael O’Keeffe – Chief Executive of the BAI
The BAI will now commence contract negotiations with all successful applicants. A full list of the projects being offered funding is available to download here.
For more information, visit www.bai.ie.