Laois Netflix and Disney Plus users get boost

The decision to postpone indefinitely a levy on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and streaming services will benefit Laois consumers, Fine Gael Deputy William Aird has claimed.

Deputy Aird said the decision was made as the Government announced a Revised General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill.

The Portlaoise-based TD said this will enhance value-for-money, accountability, and transparency in RTÉ and TG4 and will also provide greater funding for independent producers.

In a statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live the Fine Gael representative said he believed that Laois people should not have to pay more to watch streamed stations.

“People in County Laois are working hard enough and paying for a range of bills already and any levy on these companies would end up being passed on through a hike in their subscriptions.

“I welcome this intervention by Minister Patrick O’Donovan, and it will be a relief to people in Laois and across the country to know that this potential for higher bills won’t be happening”, said Deputy Aird.

Dep Aird highlighted six key amendments:

• Ensure that the imposition of a content production levy, which could impose costs on Irish consumers, is subject to Ministerial decision.
• RTÉ to be required by law to spend at least 25% of its public funding on content commissioned from the independent production sector and allow Coimisiún na Meán to increase this percentage, with Ministerial agreement, in the context of the 3-year reviews of the adequacy of public funding.
• Extend media codes, duties and rules to all content published by RTÉ and TG4.
• Tighter controls of RTÉ and TG4’s Annual Performance Commitments by Coimisiún na Meán, starting in 2026.
• Provide for the anonymised disclosure by RTÉ and TG4 of employee benefits and contractors’ remuneration.
• Exclude RTÉ and TG4 from applying for direct public funding under the Media Fund, given that they are already in receipt of public funding to fulfil their statutory public service objectives.

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Dep Aird welcomed the added layer of protection for the Irish consumer that ensures that Coimisiún na Meán may only impose a content production levy on broadcasters and video-on-demand providers following a direction of the Minister who will not do so a levy will be shown to not impose an undue burden on people.