John Scullion

ALT 1 of 2 I am writing in connection with the decision taken by RTÉ to geoblock news and current affairs content in Northern Ireland over the course of the Olympics. As you know, RTÉ news programming has a loyal and engaged audience in the North. Many people, particularly in border counties, rely on RTÉ output as their primary source of news consumption. The decision to geoblock programming will therefore have a significant and detrimental impact on a sizeable number of people here. It is particularly the case that older people rely on television news output and the proposed solution of hosting a reduced programme on the RTÉ player is, respectfully, deficient.

ALT 2 of 2 I understand that your decision has been arrived at as a result of the free-to-air Olympics broadcasting rights. I can appreciate the contractual considerations but a commercial decision that Olympics footage is more important than the obligation to provide public service broadcasting across the island of Ireland is, to your northern viewers, unacceptable. I have written to Warner Bros. Discovery about this issue as well as the BBC and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in Britain. I am also Cc ing this correspondence to Catherine Martin as Minister with responsibility for media. I sincerely hope that a resolution can be found to this issues that does not prejudice people and communities in Northern Ireland.