A MOVE by RTÉ to block news bulletins in the north which may contain coverage of the Olympic Games has been overturned after the broadcaster faced fierce criticism.
On Thursday night, the state broadcaster appeared to bow to pressure when it said it would resume broadcasting news bulletins in Northern Ireland.
They had been blocked on Wednesday due to a rights issue relating to the 2024 Paris games, a decision that had been branded a “farce”.
Viewers who tuned into the main news bulletins on Wednesday were shown a message that the content was not available in their region.
Viewers in the north are normally able to watch the full RTÉ news bulletins but occasionally sporting events which are also broadcast on UK channels cannot be viewed.
RTÉ was heavily criticised over the latest geo-blocking episode with Sinn Féin and SDLP politicians writing to the broadcaster’s director general seeking an explanation, or solution.
Sinn Féin Newry and Armagh MP Dáire Hughes earlier described the initial decision as “completely unacceptable” and said northern viewers would lose out, not only on RTÉ news, but also the build up on the All-Ireland and coverage of Irish participants at the Olympics.
“Geo-blocking of northern viewers has become increasingly prevalent over recent years but blocking RTÉ News output from northern citizens takes this practice up another notch,” he said.
“RTÉ News is viewed by a huge number of people in the north. Political, economic and social developments on this island affect all of us and it is essential that access to news is universal.
“With only three days left until the biggest game in the Gaelic football calendar, the people of Armagh, and indeed across the six counties, will now miss out on important news coverage, reports and match build-up.
“Also, news and reaction to Ireland’s Olympic team, which boasts many northerners, will be blocked too and lock out many citizens from the north from keeping up to date with their progress.”
SDLP MLA and former Armagh GAA player Justin McNulty had branded the geo-blocking “a farce”.
“This is an ongoing saga with RTÉ, and like thousands of others, my patience is growing extremely thin,” Mr McNulty said.
“It is nothing short of a farce. RTÉ are blocking viewers in the north from watching coverage of the Olympic Games, and unbelievably now, news broadcasts containing games footage.
“I recognise that this latest snub of northerners has come as a bolt out of the blue, so a timely resolution may be challenging. However, RTÉ need to be called out - this has gone beyond a joke now.”
Party leader Colum Eastwood, who also contacted Warner Bros Discovery (Olympics rights holders) as well the British culture secretary said: “Olympics footage is an important part of coverage but it can’t come at the expense of northern audiences who rely on the broadcaster for news content.”
In a statement the broadcaster said it had “sought permission” to show coverage of the games in the north, but that it had not been possible.
It said an ‘edited bulletin’ of news would be made available on the RTÉ Player every night during the games.
“RTÉ has rights to broadcast the 2024 Olympic Games in the Republic of Ireland only,” it said.
“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.
“Broadcast rights include use of any footage as part of news coverage and so RTÉ is unfortunately unable to broadcast live or stream any bulletins in Northern Ireland which contain Olympic footage.”
In a new statement released later on Thursday, it maintained it was not permitted to broadcast the Olympic Games in Northern Ireland”.
“However, RTÉ will resume broadcast of its news bulletins in Northern Ireland, including news from the Olympic Games,” it added.
