Former IRTC member says she was not `proponent' of Century

Communications consultant and former IRTC member Ms Terry Prone has said she had "reservations" about the application by Century Radio for a broadcasting licence.

Ms Prone said she was not a "proponent" of Century at the meetings held by the Independent Radio and Television Commission (IRTC) to discuss applications. However, she became "an eventual member of the consensus" which awarded the franchise to the station.

Asked what Century's deficiencies were, she said its application was "predicated almost entirely" on E broadcaster Gay Byrne being part of the schedule, even though he was not named in it. Century's proposed schedule mirrored RTE Radio 1's existing programming, which was a "fatal marketing error".

At that stage, when the applications were being considered, Mr Byrne's name had been linked to the new venture but ultimately he decided not to leave RTE.

Ms Prone said the earlier meetings of the commission tended to be "brain-storming" sessions at which members "put down thoughts rather than making any decision". She was not present at the meeting of January 5th, 1989, which was the first time the members were provided with full documentation and financial analyses for the four licence contenders.

After the applicants made oral presentations to the commission on January 12th, there was an "informal sharing of immediate reactions" among the members, she said, and the matter was deferred to the next meeting.

Ms Prone said she did not revise her view about Century following the oral presentations. As a commission member she did not have any idea at this stage who the successful candidate would be.

The race may have been reduced by one but it was still "very much open".

After the oral presentations, the chairman and secretary of the IRTC contacted Century to ask for more information on the fees it was prepared to pay RTE in return for transmission facilities.

Ms Prone said she couldn't recall a discussion at the meeting of January 18th of this matter.

She said the "view at the table" was that RTE was "pushing its luck and would be helped to see sense".

"My worry was that we seemed to be veering towards giving a licence when a major area wasn't resolved."

If Century failed to reach agreement with RTE, it would "blow a hole" in the figures on which the commission was basing its decision to give the station a licence.

Asked whether she sought an adjournment of the matter, Mr Prone said she didn't.

"I didn't feel strongly enough about it." She didn't regard herself as having any competence in the matter of transmission fees.

The IRTC granted the licence to Century and an announcement was made the same day.