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LAST UPDATE | 25 Jul 2024
RTÉ HAS CONFIRMED it will resume broadcast of its news bulletins in Northern Ireland, including news from the 2024 Olympic Games.
The station’s TV news bulletins were geo-blocked last night, preventing viewers from watching due to licensing restrictions on footage from the Olympics.
Some viewers took to social media to express their frustrations at being unable to watch the news bulletin, with one person describing the geo-blocking as “censorship”.
In a statement this evening, RTÉ said it will resume broadcast of its news bulletins in Northern Ireland.
It had earlier told The Journal that they were unable to show footage of the Olympics in Northern Ireland as they hold the rights to “broadcast the 2024 Olympic Games in the Republic of Ireland only”.
“While RTÉ has sought permission to make our broadcasts of the 2024 Olympic Games available in Northern Ireland, this has not been possible,” it said.
Earlier, the broadcaster stated that while efforts had been made to make their broadcasts available in Northern Ireland, it was not possible as the “exclusive free-to-air broadcast rights for Northern Ireland for the 2024 Olympic Games are held by the BBC, who were licensed those rights in a UK Olympics rights deal agreed between the BBC and the pan-European rights holder, Discovery back in 2016”.
RTÉ also confirmed that viewers in Northern Ireland would be blocked from watching the entire RTÉ News programme live and not just the specific segments that contained footage of the Olympics.
However, an edited version of the programme will be made available for viewers in Northern Ireland and internationally each night on the RTÉ Player.
Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan Brendan Smith said that “it is unacceptable that citizens in Northern Ireland are unable to access RTÉ’s news programming. As a public service broadcaster, RTÉ has a duty to provide comprehensive news coverage to all people across Ireland, regardless of geographical location”.
“The people of Northern Ireland have a right to access the same public service broadcasting as their fellow citizens in the Republic”, he continued, calling on RTÉ to address the issue to allow full access for viewers in Northern Ireland and “stand by its commitment to serve the entire island of Ireland”.
Sinn Féin MP for Newry and Armagh Dáire Hughes also described RTÉ’s decision as unacceptable, saying “geo-blocking of northern viewers has become increasingly prevalent over recent years”, locking viewers from Northern Ireland out from important news coverage.
He also accused RTÉ of treating “northern citizens with contempt” and called on the broadcaster to reverse their decision.
The SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he had written to the RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst to “underscore the broadcaster’s obligation to provide services across the island of Ireland”.
The Foyle MP also said that “the decision to geo-block news programming for RTÉ viewers in the North represents a new low” and “creates a hierarchy of Irish citizens”, adding that “commercial custom and practice shouldn’t be allowed to get in the way of something as basic as getting the news”.
The Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games will take place on Friday 26 July and will feature a river parade through Paris along the Seine.
Team Ireland will be hoping to bring home the gold medals with their 133 athletes across 16 different sports.
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A few of the ladies in there need to accept the passage of time…..
@POC: thankfully they’re in charge of their own bodies, not you…
@POC: Some of the AI Journal bots should consider it also
@POC: You misspelled your username: POS
@POC: Demi Moore though, still would, no doubt about that, take a shot at Pamela too, wizard’s sleeve, but who cares
@Jack Hayes: A bit strong don’t you think? Or maybe you just couldn’t resist such a witty retort?
@Meatball Martin: that’s disgusting.
@J B: what would happen if people boycotted them en masses especially unethical laya and vhi .. it is time for something radical people need to commit these companies to the history books and the same goes for EIR
@John Doe: not a word about Pammie !! Good for her with her best known role being CJ in Baywatch before this lol. She looks great and natural subtle makeup I imagine
Mutual Admiration Society’s annual bash!
@Brian Hunt: Peers matter.
Great to see Demi Moore winning, instant horn
@Meatball Martin: this is an example of the family values that you referenced on the Trudeau article?
@Kevin Kerr: Brenny, you scanning all articles again? Free yourself from the obsession and join a gambling site
@J B: it was a bit of a sleazy, creepy film, Redford must be about a hundred years of age now, but Demi, yeah, I still would
@Kevin Kerr: smashing pair of tits
Did nobody teach young Chalamet that’s not how you wear a tie.
@ecrowley ecrowley: Not if you’re at an Irish wedding reception.
@Jack Hayes: I get bate for wearing a tie like that. A precedent has been set now so surely I’ll get away with it.
Love Gary Oldman not bothering with doing anything too fancy! A tux is a tux says he.
That said, Guy Pearse and Colin Farrell are looking well.
@Jimmy The Mink: Daniel Craig also looks classy, agelessly ‘good taste’.
@Jimmy The Mink: also the James Bond lad
They all look like spas, tbf
Demi Moore is one hot looking lady. Beats every other lady pictured above hands down.
Buddy,can you lend me a dress for tonites gig?
Some ladies and men show good style sense, others need some counselling!
As for making a statement, I vote for Glennie!
Colin Farrell where did he get that jacket? Hope he kept the receipt and gets a refund.
Roy
So fa….so good.
Gary Oldman is the only one having a decent outfit among men in photos… is that what’s left ?
have your say