Broadcasting Act, 2001

Transmission of digital and other broadcasting services by transmission company.

13.—(1) The transmission company—

(a) shall, if requested to do so by the body or contractor concerned, enter into arrangements with each of the following, namely, the Authority, Teilifís na Gaeilge and the television programme service contractor whereby the company transmits, by analogue means, free-to-air services comprising compilations of programme material supplied to it by the body or contractor for that purpose,

(b) shall, if requested to do so by the multiplex company, enter into arrangements with that company to transmit, by digital terrestrial means, programme material and related and other data in a digital form,

(c) shall, if requested to do so by the Authority or the contractor concerned, enter into arrangements with the Authority and each sound broadcasting contractor whereby the company transmits, by analogue terrestrial means, a sound broadcasting service comprising a compilation of programme material supplied to it by the Authority or contractor concerned for that purpose.

(2) The transmission company, on being notified by the Commission that the Commission has terminated a television programme service contract or sound broadcasting contract, as the case may be, or that such a contract has expired and has not been renewed, shall forthwith discontinue any arrangements it has entered into under subsection (1) with the former holder of the contract in so far as they relate to the transmission of a broadcasting service or sound broadcasting service, as the case may be, comprising programme material supplied pursuant to that contract.

(3) The transmission company may impose charges on a person in respect of the entering into of arrangements under subsection (1) with that person.

(4) For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing the transmission company from providing services other than those referred to in subsection (1) in accordance with the requirements (if any) imposed by any enactment relating to the provision of the services concerned which is for the time being in force.